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:
a) Flight details and other logistic arrangements/journey instructions
b) Preferred hotel or alternative accommodation arrangements
c) Meals and special needs. This communication must be established at least one month before scheduled arrival date.
The protocol Officer functions as coordinator for visits of distinguished persons or guest ministers. Usually, most of the planning should be clearly defined and worked out by church authority. The Protocol Officer’s duty is to carry out the plan. The procedures outlined, are usually provided primary for the guidance of the Protocol Officer since he /she is charged with the responsibility of making all arrangements for the visit and ensuring all the departments concerned are informed of their responsibilities and duties in connection with the visit. Upon receiving notification of the impending visit, the Protocol Officer should:
- Establish a status file folder (details, likes, dislikes, what is needed)
- Advise involved persons/departments of the upcoming visit.
- With the Pastors guidelines and preferences, develop a detailed schedule for visit/event.
- Distribute copies of the schedule to the persons concerned. When time permits, send a copy of the schedule to the visitor prior to the arrival as a matter of courtesy.
- Arrange with the motor pool for transportation for the visitor.
- Arrange for lodging and food.
- Select and brief escort persons or couples, as appropriate.
- Ensure all personnel concerned are informed of the visitor’s security clearance status.
The Core Values of the Protocol Department
Every Protocol Member should be:
1. SPIRITUAL:
Since we understand that the physical is controlled by the spiritual, the Protocol Department takes our spiritual lives especially prayers and studying of the word very seriously. John 6:63 (NKJV) “It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh profits nothing”:
2. POLITE AND CHEERFUL:
as we will be interacting with people from different backgrounds the Protocol Members will always maintain a polite and cheerful appearance with all.
3. ORGANZED:
as a department that is organize the travel, accommodation and other related matters of Guest Ministers, every member is expected to have a high level of organization shown in their individual lives as well.
4. SUBMISSIVE:
We are to submit to each other and the church leadership and Guest Ministers, out of respect for God. Even though some aspects of the work may look. Eph. 5:21 “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God”
5. EXCELLENCE:
Our Protocol Members are committed to efficiency and excellence, always looking for ways to improve - because our God is a God of Excellence.
6. PATIENT:
Our Protocol Members are always committed to exhibiting patience having in mind that a lot of people come with different burdens.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Spiritual Responsibility
All members in the Protocol Department are expected to maintain a high level of spirituality at all times to enable them effectively to serve the ministers of God. Therefore, each Protocol Department member is expected to:
a) Spend quality time praying and studying the Word of God - Acts 6:4 “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word”
b) Be full of the Holy Spirit such that it shows in the level of excellence of your work - Daniel 6:3 “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him”
Elisha was also a minister to Elijah and eventually became a great man of God in Israel. I Kings 19:21 “Then he (Elisha) arose, went after Elijah, and ministered unto him”
Recognize God still calls and appoints leaders and assistants today. Remember our Lord Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Gain the mindset of an Armor bearer. You are a God-appointed assistant called to support the man or woman of God. Begin to look at your assistantship as ministry unto the Lord.
Protect or facilitate your leader’s time. In the book of Acts, Stephen and Phillip were among the seven assigned to take care of the details of ministry while the Apostles ministered before the Lord.
Discern your leader’s spirit. Sometimes your officer is operating in their God-ordained office under the anointing and other times they are just being themselves.
Respect them in either.
When it’s time to relax with your leader, be a good friend and relax. When it’s time to take care of the Father’s business and His people, slip back into the working mode with them.
Guard against familiarity. Familiarity will affect how others look at your leader. If you are being too familiar at inappropriate times, it will cause respect for your leader to drain.
Remain respectful of authority.
Be a gracious representative. Know that in your serving, you are representing God and your officer. If you must defer someone to protect your leader’s time, (as in the example give above), be gracious. You can be gentle but firm with God’s sheep.
Be one of their strongest allies. Show that you are always for them. In word and action, support your authority.
If you discover criticism in others, work to show the good side or intention of your leader’s heart.
