Dear Cornerstone family,
In Timothy Witmer’s work, The Shepherd Leader, he makes the argument that under shepherds––officers in the church–– are to pattern their work after the ministry of the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. Studying the ministry of Jesus and the New Testament’s instruction to officers, Witmer distills the calling of under shepherds to four essential tasks:
Knowing the Sheep – “I am the good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father” (John 10:14-15)
Feeding the Sheep – “I will feed my flock, declares the Lord” (Ezekiel 34:14-15)
Leading the Sheep – “He led forth his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock” (Psalm 78:52)
Protecting the Sheep – “Be on guard for yourself and for the flock... I know that after my departure savage wolveswill come in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:28-29)
Based on the instruction above and the qualifications for the offices found in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1, it is our custom to regularly nominate, train, and elect men for the two offices of elder and deacon. These two roles are designed by God and set apart to provide the necessary spiritual and physical oversight the church needs.
Toward that end, Mr. Mitchell was nominated by you, the congregation, for office during our 2022 nomination cycle. Over the last year, he has been trained and then recently examined in the areas of Christian character, the Bible, the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, the Book of Church Order, and the qualifications for church office. At our March meeting, the elders of Cornerstone unanimously recommended that you elect Mr. Mark Mitchell for the office of deacon.
In order for you to get to know Mark better, important biographical and familial information as well as notes regarding Mark’s past and present church service is provided below. If you are a member of Cornerstone and would like to know Mark better before the election, please know that he would welcome you reaching out to him. We want you to have all the information you need in order to vote your conscience during our congregational meeting on Sunday, April 16, at 9:45 a.m. in The Chapel.
Born: July 13, 1984 - Havertown, PA (outside of Philadelphia)
Vocation: Director, IT Project Management at Surgery Partners, Brentwood TN
Family: Married to Emily (seven years), son, Mark William (4), daughter, Margaret
(21 months), Baby #3 (due May 2023)
Ministry Gifting: Administration, Creative Communication, Knowledge,
Shepherding
Church Service: Mark serves as Home Fellowship Group Co-Leader, Men’s
Ministry Team, and Music Ministry. Emily serves on the Women’s Ministry Team,
Nursery Volunteer, and Children’s Sunday School Assistant.
Recommended Office: Deacon
If you have any questions about the nomination, training, and election process, do not hesitate to reach out to the church office. We would be more than happy to answer your questions.
Your servant,
