THE ELDER ROLE
(Presenters Outline)
Purpose and Function
1. Elders minister to the congregation, providespiritual leadership and accountability. 2. They direct the spiritual and administrativeaffairs of the church.
3. They provide a brotherhood of support and accountability for the pastor.
4. They are responsible for administering church discipline.
Elders provide Spiritual Leadership
1. The Pastor is the leadelder and is responsible preaching, teaching and shepherding.
2. The other elders are on equal spiritual and are to be ministering to the congregation such as teaching the Word, counseling members, encouraging leaders and serving in any other ways prescribed by Scripture, as well as directing the affairs of the church that are not being administered by teams.
Elders Provide a Brotherhood of Support and Accountability for the Pastor
1. Elders must be committed to the Pastor.
2. Elders act as a buffer between the Pastor and his critics.
3. Elders are a support and accountability group for the Pastor.
4. Elders advocate for the pastor in matters of compensation and rest.
Elders as a Decision Making Body
1) Elders are called to direct the affairs of the church with the leadership of thePastor but acting as a body in unity and consensus.
2) Elders make ministry decisions whenteams cannot reach consensus on an issue.
3) Elders act as a safety net when the functional structure does not exist or breaks down.
4) Elders make all the decisions concerning church discipline.
Qualifications
1. A man that has never heard and answered a call from God on his life to serve in the ministry is notqualified to be an elder.
2. According to I Timothy 3:1-12 an Elder must:
Acknowledge the gravity of the role of a scriptural office.
Be someone with a good testimony in his home, the church and the community
Be someone who is seeking righteousness.
If married, have one wife and be engaged in a biblical marriage as laid out in scripture.
Be able to control their personal emotions and actions to seek whatGod’s will in situations.
Berespected by the church, by family and community and respect others as well.
Be willing to open his homeand give of his time to meet and the serve the people in the church.
Spend time in God’s Word and be able and willing to instruct others about the scriptures.
Not be under the influence of any substance that impairs his ability to make sound decisions.
Be able to handle situations calmly without becoming abusive in any way.
Never cause dissension in the church if the matter is not required by scripture.
Be someone who is not consumed with the desire for worldly possessions.
Be leading his family the way God directs in Scripture and be involved in the lives of his family.
Not be a new Christian, meeting a minimum level of maturity as outlined in Hebrews 6:1-2.
Be in good standing and havecredibility with those in the culture outside the church.
Look to God’s Word for the direction to lead the church.
Have been tested by active service and demonstrating adequate depth of knowledge of scripture.
Have an understanding of and desire to see that the church mission and values are upheld.
Not have a spouse or family member who serves as paid or volunteer staff.
Be willing to rearrange their daily schedules to fulfill scriptural duties.
Be able to take a neutral position and seek only Gods direction based on Scripture in matters.
Be men of age and maturity.
3. Best practice would be for an Elder to be an active resident member of the church for no less than two (2) years, however if there are no called, scripturally qualified men in the congregation to serve as elders then the elder does not have to be a member of the church.
Confidentiality
1. All discussions between the elders are strictly confidential; this includes not discussing elder issues with the spouses of elders or other church members.
2. Breaking confidentiality is grounds for removal.
3. Elders do not meet without all the elders present including the pastor if this is possible
4. Great care must be taken when elders discuss issues involving other elders especially the pastor. Any discussions about others elders without them present must be 100% Holy Spirit led and the best practice would be to include the party in those discussions especially if a meeting is being held.
4. The Pastor-Elder and Elder-Elder relationships must be 100% transparent.