San Jose Church of Christ

Q: Who is in charge of your congregation?

We currently have two elders who provide oversight to the congregation. These elders have essentially been selected and appointed by congregation, with an evangelist acting as a third party to aid in the process. There is a strong Scriptural precedent for each congregation having elders or overseers (also called pastors, shepherds or bishops).

Q: Who runs your weekly services?

All of the male members in the congregation are given the opportunity to take turns in leading or organizing the different parts of the assemblies: giving exhortations, praying, reading, song leading, speaking at the Lord's Supper, etc. At other times during weekly meetings, we try to give everyone an opportunity to contribute in his/her own way, because everyone has something worthwhile to offer. We feel and believe there is a strong scriptural basis for this:

1 Cor 14:26
What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. (NIV)

Q: Do you support a preacher, minister, or pastor?

All of the male members of the congregation take turns in presenting exhortations to the congregation, and it is felt that the meetings of the early Church (as recorded in the New Testament) consisted of different members taking part in a similar manner. Paying one man to give sermons and teach classes exclusively is not something we feel mirrors the scriptural examples.

We help support two evangelists, Charles Fry, who lives with his family in Bakersfield, CA, and Roger Wanassan, who is a citizen of the Philippines and member of the church of Christ in his home town. Charles Fry meets with us once a quarter and offers a thoughtful, timely lesson relevant to the needs of the congregation. He speaks on Saturday afternoon and follows through on the topic chosen the following Sunday morning and afternoon. Charles has also aided in appointing elders over the congregation. He is a member of the Bakersfield, CA, church of Christ. Should you be curious about him, feel free to browse his website and read some of the many faith-related articles he has written @ www.livwat.com. Our funds also help support other evangelists besides Roger and Charles and also aid in the work of other brethren in the Philippines, as well as any other needs that are presented to us. The spread of the Gospel is very important and must be a high priority for all Christians, no matter the material cost.

Q: What classes are usually offered and who teaches them?

Please see our schedule of current classes offered on Sunday mornings for more information. Sunday evening class/discussion is a discussion for all in the auditorium. We also have evenings of singing, Bible readings, and Sharing of thoughts and scriptures relevant to our individual lives. We have group/choral singing and all are welcome to come sing along with us. Please consult our schedule for the dates and times of those events.

Q: Do you offer any classes for children or young teens?

We currently offer one children's class on Sunday morning. We can accommodate children of all ages in that class.

Q: Do you have clothing standards or a dress code that you endorse?

We don't have a dress code for men or women, but dressing decently is always encouraged. God can see the heart (Acts 15:8) and isn't necessarily concerned with outer appearances because they can be unfair representations of character. Our meetings tend to be conducted in a relatively informal manner, within reason. We don't want formality to serve as a distraction to the goal: worshiping God and edifying one another. But we also support the idea that meetings should be done decently and in order, so a healthy balance is always necessary.