Church Protocol

If a church is to operate in a decent and orderly fashion, there must be an authority over the house; the Pastor, Bishop and an Overseer etc has been chosen by God to provide vision, knowledge, understanding, sound doctrine, discipline and order.

The church is the most important place where dignity, protocol, respect and reverence should be maintained. Why? Because when we come to the church and its services, we are entering into the Kingdom of God on earth, His habitation, and we choose to honour this sacred place by our attentiveness to what is proper and ordered. At that very moment, we can reflect the image of Christ within us by our actions.

1 Corinthians 14:40

Let all things be done decently and in order.

The term protocol comes from the Greek words meaning “the first glue”. Nowadays, protocol can be understood as the glue which holds official life in the society together. Whether on the local, national or international level, proper protocol is vital in assuring that relations between the officials of organizations and governments conducted with maximum efficiency.

Protocol is defined as the system of rules and acceptable behaviour used at official ceremonies and occasions or a code of ceremonial forms and courtesies of procedures accepted as proper and correct in official dealing.

Protocol in Rank/Hierarchical standing is recognized among persons in the Word of God.

Protocol should be followed because “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace in the church.

Protocol Department.

Introduction

This has been put together to provide guidelines on what is expected from the leaders and members of the Protocol Department in fulfilling their ministry.

The Protocol Department is an arm of the church saddled with the responsibility of providing a hospitable and conducive environment for visiting Guest Ministers (both Local and International) with the sole aim of making them feel at home outside their home.

The Protocol Team also caters for the well-being of the Resident Pastor and facilitate his ministry by providing requisite support services to assist him/her deliver God`s message with no hindrance.

- Attending all meetings and services in the Lord’s house

- Following the routine duties according to the fundamental and principle ideas of a church

- Overseeing protocol generally for a pastor

- Protocolling for guest ministers

- Coordinating people who wish to meet a pastor

- Manning all the public areas in the building, including the entrance and sanctuary (the area around the altar)

- Identifying ministers and other special guests and honouring them appropriately

- Following the formalities during special meetings

- Taking care of a pastor at all the stages of the event, meeting or service in or outside the building. (Fluids, cloth, oil, etc…)

- Taking care of guest ministers (processing their documents, arranging their accommodation, transportation and solving other logistics issues)

- Being always polite and helpful to the pastor and ministers

- Performing all assignments made by the pastor.

Hebrews 13:2

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

The Armor Bearer

The Armor bearer was a person responsible for the care of a king, officer or other leader. His job was to refresh, protect and assist his officer.

An Armor bearer or personal assistant to the senior pastor should have a strong desire to assist the Pastor, ministry leaders, and ministry guests. There is a reason God gave us spiritual gifts and talents to equip us for ministry.

The Duties of an Armor Bearer

- To provide strength to his leader

- To exalt and uplift his leader

- To have a deep-down sense of respects for the leader, and acceptance for and tolerance of, the leader’s personality and their way of doing things.

- Must instinctively understand the leader’s thoughts.

- Must be able to repel any kind of attack against his leader, especially his back.

- Keeps watch while his leader rests

- Cares for his belongings

- Reacts with total intolerance to any false accusations against his leader (rumours, gossip, talking behind his back)

- Demonstrate extreme loyalty

1 Samuel 16:21

And David came to Saul and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

The Protocol Members are like the ‘Special Services” section of the Church. Their area of focus is on the Pastorate and Guest Ministers. The impression which the Protocol Members make on guest ministers and the associates of the guest ministers will greatly affect their perception of the Church. In order to carry out this purpose, the key activities that the Protocol Department performs include:

1. Preliminary Engagement with Guest Prior to the scheduled arrival of Guest Minister, preliminary engagement is established with the guest to introduce the protocol and seek information on specific needs of the guest that should be taken care of during the visit. These include: