Acts 15:22
The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
In the readings today from the Acts of the Apostles and in John's gospel, we hear about authority. In Acts, some people are upset at how the Good News is being spread and some have a problem with the teachings and rules of being a follower of Christ (we now call Christians). So the apostles got together, discussed the matter, appointed two members, Barsabbas and Silas, to accompany Paul and Barnabas to deliver a letter to the people of Antioch and Syria. They had the law. The group prayed, discussed and issued the decree. It gave clarity to what the Christians were asking. By going through the process, it set the precedent for the leaders of the church to discern and pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit.
This discernment, governance and leadership has continued for 2000 years. It has had its moments, break ups, challenges, etc., but at the end of the day the authority of Christ passed on through the holy fathers has thrived. Nations and governments have come and gone, but the Church, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit lives on. Like a parent educating or disciplining a child, one must take time to discern what the best course of action might be, pray about it and execute it. Pray today for your local pastor, the leaders and volunteers of your church, that they make the right decisions for their community, and that the church community will stop gossip or questioning authority, but instead work in charity and clarity for the future of the Church.
