Elders and the Church

What is an elder?

            The concept of Elder (aged, mature, example among the people) is definitely tied to the concept of overseer (supervisor, looks after) and shepherd (pastoring the flock).  However, in I Peter 5, Elder is the noun, oversight and shepherd are the verbs.  We should be careful not to assign titles where they are unnecessary.  The less titles in the church the better.

            Taking a broad overview of scripture leads me to this conclusion.  Elders are mature men of the faith, equipped and called by God to set an example for the church in word and deed.

            This means that they are to be examples of what it is to follow Christ, prior to being recognized as an elder.  Whether it is an outsider or part of the family, others should look at an elder and think, “that is what it means to be a Christian.”  Not perfection, but a Gospel-centered, humble lifestyle that seeks to give God glory in every area.

            It also means that they should already be teaching others how to follow Christ.  They should be leading a Gospel Community, regularly involved with both believers and unbelievers.  All of their relationships should be intentional disciple making relationships.  One should be recognized as an elder among the people, not handed a title.

What does an elder do?

            In 1 Timothy 3, the term elder is not used, but the noun form of overseer is.  The description of this “office” is very similar to Titus 1 where Paul writes about elders.  It is probably safe to assume that the usage of Elder and Overseer is fairly interchangeable.  This makes a great deal of sense based on the OT usage of elders.  They were to look after the people, make judgments, and lead families in following God’s ways.

            It would seem that the responsibility of an elder should be to oversee the Gospel Communities.  This is where we live out our faith.  The best way to do this would be through two methods.

1)  Coaching the Gospel Community leaders in a cluster

2)  Meeting regularly to discuss matters related to the extended church family (teaching, discipline, support, planting, sending, etc)

            Elders, like everyone else in the church, should work within their gifting.  Some are teachers, some are pastors, some are prophets, etc.  No two elders are alike.  We must celebrate our differences so we can become a more holistic body.  Because of this, some elders will be paid by the church, some will not.  Some will focus on the gathering, some on church planting, some on global missions, some on gospel communities.  It will depend largely on their gifting by the Spirit.  What a freeing concept!

How do we recognize elders?

            As mentioned before, men become elders not through titles or elections, but through living as an example.  Therefore, we do not appoint, approve, or vote in an elder, rather we recognize elders that God has raised up.  They should be confirmed through a system.

            I Timothy 3 says, “if anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.”  The aspiration to be recognized as an elder should first come from the individual.  They may be encouraged by others and even “recruited” by current elders, but ultimately the individual should have to take the first step.

            Once they have submitted themselves, the elders should conduct a thorough investigation.  How are they doing leading their family?  How are they doing leading their Gospel Community?  What kind of reputation do they have at work or in their neighborhood?  This process should involve interviewing both the potential elder, his family, his Gospel Community, and several outsiders.

            After enough information has been gathered about the potential elder, the elder body should discuss whether the individual meets the criteria of scripture.  There are other factors that should come into play as well.  The 4 C’s (from North Point):

            -Character (I Tim 3, Titus 1, and I Peter 5)

            -Competence (can they coach others and teach people)

            -Chemistry (is “now” the right time for them with the current team)

            -Culture (do we agree doctrinally and philosophically)

How long should an elder serve?

            When we see the church as family, this question seems a bit odd.  Eldership is a role that the elder should continually aspire to.  In fact, if at any point he does not want the responsibility of eldership, he has neglected the first qualification in I Timothy 3.  Elders are elders for life, because that is who they are.

            However, because being an elder is based on who you are and not what you do, if the individual ceases to be worthy of the recognition of elder, he should also be stripped of the title.  All elders should be formally evaluated yearly and informally evaluated every day.  If the elder is failing to fulfill his calling as an elder, he needs to repent and take appropriate action.  If he refuses to act on his own, then the other elders must take actions to bring him to repentance and reconciliation.