Elders are a team of godly, qualified, and vetted men who pastorally care over a local congregation of believers by leading, feeding, and protecting them under the leadership of Jesus.
QUALIFICATIONS OF ELDERS
SUMMARY STATEMENT: A wise, godly, servant leader that has been tested personally, in their household, in the church, and in their community and has consistently exhibited the character and leadership of Christ in all realms of life and demonstrated repentance and humility when they have failed.
Specific qualifications for elders *
Overall requirements
Above reproach (x3)
Sober-minded (x2)
Holding firm to the Gospel
Lover of good / upright / holy (x3) ("what do you gravitate towards when you are alone")
Not a recent convert
Personal Character
Disciplined / Self-controlled (x2) ("self-possessed, of sound mind")
Not a drunkard (x2) ("not controlled by anything except the Holy Spirit")
Not violent, but gentle (x3)
Not quarrelsome
Not greedy
Manages household well
Public Reputation
Husband of one wife (x2) ("one woman man", polygamy, the focus of eldership requires one wife)
Resectable / Not arrogant (x2)
Hospitable (x2)
Able to teach / instruct in doctrine (x2)
Able to rebuke contradictions to sound doctrine
Children are submissive / believers (x2) ("not about the what, but about the why")
Well thought of by outsiders
(summarizing Acts 20, 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, 1 Peter 5)
FUNCTIONS OF ELDERS
SUMMARY STATEMENT: Elders function by doing three things: (1) LEADING through others-focused, servant leadership. (2) FEEDING through Gospel-centric teaching, theology, and modeling. (3) PROTECTING through careful, loving oversight.
Function 1: LEAD through others-focused, servant leadership
"So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory" (1 Peter 5:1-4 ESV)
Shepherd with Oversight: To look upon, care for at the cost of your comfort and your convenience
Not under compulsion, but willingly (they want to do it, don't have to)
Some people are pastors because they can't do anything else. Have no other skill (Bitter/Passive)
Some people are pastors because they want to do it! (Joy-filled/Bold)
Not for shameful gain, but eagerly (pure motives)
They don’t want something for themselves, they want something for others
Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock (servant leadership)
Some people are pastors because they want power (Controlling/Obsessive/Fear-provoking)
Some people are pastors because they want to serve others and model the Gospel so others thrive
Others focused, servant leadership - Not a board of men making decisions, but challenging, servant, pastors
Function 2: FEED through Gospel-centric teaching, theology, and modeling
"...able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it" (Titus 1:9b)
Able to teach - not necessarily on a Sunday morning, but expound on Scripture in a way that others understand and respond to it
Holding firm to Gospel theology (character/knowledge/wisdom) - not being easily swayed by others.
Modeling Gospel culture in how they respond to others (sober-minded, able to rebuke and correct in love and grace) and in how they lead their family (an elder should be an example of a godly man for the rest of the church)
Function 3: PROTECT through careful, loving oversight
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert... In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:28-31, 35 ESV)
Exhortation: Getting behind and pushing people forward towards the good
Admonishment: Getting in front and holding people back from the bad
Church discipline: Calling people to repent from persistent and harmful sins (which might mean people leave or are asked to leave to protect the church from persistent harm) - not fake/false/phony. True repentance = life change.
PROCESS FOR ORDAINING ELDERS
Nomination
Nominations will be accepted by church members after they have listened to the elder qualifications training
Potential male elders who have been consistently attending Redeeming Hope for a minimum of one year can be nominated by sitting elders, elder-advisors, or church members in good standing
The Elder Team will initially screen the nominees according to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and by majority vote decide to move forward to a pre-assessment process
An Elder will communicate with each screened nominee to investigate if they aspire to serve and set up initial meeting
Pre-Assessment
The nominee fills out the Pre-Assessment packet
The nominee's spouse (if applicable) fills out the Spousal Questionnaire
The nominee and wife (if married) are interviewed in person by at least two sitting elders to determine calling, family alignment, timing, and willingness to be assessed
The Elder team will complete four reference checks on the nominee– household, work, church and neighbor
The elders present the pre-exam findings to the entire elder team and by majority vote decide to move forward to an affirmation and assessment process
Assessment
The nominee is given an elder assessment based on character, ministry experience, theology and cultural alignment with Redeeming Hope
The nominee will be presented with a preparation plan in writing based on the elder assessment
The nominee will decide whether or not to move forward to the preparation process
Preparation
Nominee presented to the church and the church is asked to give input on the nominees, especially if they have any reservations/concerns
The nominee will attend elder team meetings as a non-voting member to offer input (for a minimum of 6 meetings)
The nominee's spouse will attend elder spouse meetings
The nominee will attend SWW and take any personality tests as recommended (ie, DISC, Strength'sFinder, Enneagram)
The nominee will be observed and given feedback from a public teaching setting
The nominee will participate in key areas of ministry within our church and be given feedback
The nominee will engage in the preparation process for a minimum of six months
The elders will brief the entire elder team upon completion of the preparation process and by majority vote decide to move forward to a final examination process
Examination and Installation
The church is updated in a public setting on the nominee’s completion of the development process and invited again to give input on the nominee as they approach examination/installation
The nominee will take the elder exam administered by a team of two sitting elders and/or elder-advisors
Upon successful completion the nominee will be publicly installed as an elder and all necessary legal documents will be updated to reflect that change
TEACHINGS ON ELDERSHIP
What Is An Elder?
Acts 20:17-31 | Derek Levendusky
Who Is An Elder?
1 Timothy 3:1-7 | Joshua Young