By Jerran Jackson

 

A small congregation near ours was served by two elders. One died. No one else in the congregation was ready and willing to serve as an elder. The one remaining elder did not feel right about continuing to serve, because, he said, “The New Testament always speaks about a group of elders.” He resigned, and the church continued without elders for a few years. 

How would you evaluate this decision? What was the effect on the church? Do congregations need elders? Paul told Titus, “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you” (Titus 1:5). The churches Paul had planted in Crete were functioning without elders. But Paul felt this was unfinished business. His practice was to appoint elders in each church (Acts 14:23). And Paul directed Titus to do the same. 

 

The Role of Elders

A friend of mine, said, “If we thought more about why we need elders, that might help us select the right guys more often.” Why do we need elders? The New Testament gives the answer in several forms. “Take care of God’s church” (1Timothy 3:5). “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers” (1 Peter 5:2). Be “examples to the flock” (v. 3). “Encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:9). “Direct the affairs of the church well” (1 Timothy 5:17). “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). 

Elders serve as assistant shepherds under the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). Jesus is “the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (2:25). A man in our church serves as an “elder” over hogs, cattle, horses, goats, and an alpaca. He doesn’t own most of these animals, but he oversees their care. He makes sure they have enough good pasture and feed. He gives special attention to the injured or ill ones. And he encourages their growth, aiming for the day when they are ready for their final journey. Elders in the church do the same thing. 

Unlike my friend who works with animals, shepherds of God’s flock need the consent of their flock. Elders need a relationship with the people in their congregation that will enable them to guide, care for, teach, and even correct Jesus’ followers. Many churches are too large for the elders to have personal interaction with each member. Nevertheless, they can direct well the affairs of the church if the congregation knows who they are, and if they have what Aretha Franklin wanted: R-E-S-P-E-C-T. 

 

Respect for Elders

Elders gain and hold respect through character. Character shows itself in choices and interactions. Paul emphasized, “Keep watch over yourselves” (Acts 20:28). “Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness” (Titus 1:7, NIV 1984). Peter said elders must be “not greedy for money, but eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2). One of our elders worked as a bank officer, but he is not greedy. One of our elders likes beer, but he is never drunk. One of our elders will correct you if you speak unjustly, but he is not quick-tempered. Our leaders have character, but they are not “characters.” 

Elders must make hard choices. They must know when to “encourage with sound doctrine” and when to “refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:9). Accordingly, elders must understand the gospel and be able to express it. This is one of the reasons Christ’s assistant shepherds are called elders; they must be mature. Maturity does not refer to age. Paul wrote, “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap” (1 Timothy 3:6, 7). Maturity pursues humility and reputable behavior instead of conceit. 

 

Relationships of Elders

An elder’s family relationships also are critical. An elder must be “the husband of but one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6). Paul’s literal phrase, “one woman man,” says it well; an elder’s heart must be devoted to his wife. This will help him remain blameless. Whether a divorced man can serve as an elder depends on the circumstances. What took place before the man became a Christian cannot be used to evaluate him. 

The Bible specifies conditions under which a divorced Christian can remarry. Years ago, the wife of one of our men walked out on him. He remarried later, and now he serves as one of our elders. But what about a divorced man who has not remarried? Whether he can serve as a shepherd of the flock of God depends on what led to the divorce; “the overseer must be above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:2). 

There is value in looking at a man’s relationship with his children also. Paul explains that an overseer “must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect,” and adds, “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?” (1 Timothy 3:4, 5). 

Helping my children grow has improved my pastoral care. God is training me in patience, perseverance, forgiveness, discipline, and self-discipline. A man’s interactions with his family help prepare him to care for God’s church. 

Can a never-married man be an overseer? Paul never calls himself an elder, yet Paul gives himself as an example to the elders in Ephesus (Acts 20:18-21, 31, NIV). And Paul points out the advantage singleness provides for serving the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:32-34). At the same time, Paul describes an elder as a “one woman man.” In 1 Timothy 5:9, Paul says a widow worthy of church support must be a “one man woman.” The meaning is that she must not be immoral. This shows that Paul’s phrase “one woman man” refers more to morality than to marital status. 

Can a godly woman serve as an elder? The Bible does not offer this option. Paul speaks about elders in 1 Timothy; he also wrote, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man” (1 Timothy 2:12). One of the functions of the elder is to teach. In addition, Hebrews 13:17 speaks about men who keep watch over the church as having authority. This restricts the eldership to men. 

Elders can be hard to find or develop. The temptation arises to recruit or welcome anyone who is willing to serve regardless of his relationships, character, or choices. Paul specifically warns Timothy, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands” (1 Timothy 5:22). Leaders and congregations must be careful about to whom they entrust church oversight. “If we thought more about why we need elders, that might help us select the right guys more often.” 

Like Paul, these men must be able to say, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). They must watch over the church with joy (Hebrews 13:17). And they must “be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28, NIV 1984). This noble task deserves willing servants whose lives show they are ready. 

 

Jerran Jackson serves with terrific elders at Clarksburg Christian Church in Clarksburg, Indiana.

 

Resources for Elders

 

Answer: His Call

By David Roadcup, Jim Estep, and Gary Johnson

(College Press, 2009)

 

Reflect: His Character

By David Roadcup, Jim Estep, and Gary Johnson

(College Press, 2009)

 

Lead: His Church

By David Roadcup, Jim Estep, and Gary Johnson

(College Press, 2010)

 

Enjoy: His People

By David Roadcup, Jim Estep, and Gary Johnson

(College Press, 2011)

 

The Elder and His Work 

by David Dickson 

(P & R Publishing, 2004)

 

Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons 

by Thabiti M. Anyabwile 

(Crossway Books, 2012)

 

Biblical Eldership 

by Alexander Strauch 

(Lewis & Roth, 1988)

 

Eldership in Action: Through Biblical Governance of the Church

by Richard H. Swartley 

(ECS Ministries, 2005)

 

The Elder: Today’s Ministry Rooted in All of Scripture 

by Cornelis Van Dam 

(P & R Publishing, 2009)