Our Position on Biblical Eldership

 

Well the results are in!

 

Following the Special Called Business Meeting on Sunday, September 27, the ballots have been tabulated and the votes counted, and the body of Metro East Baptist Church has elected the following men as its first Elders:

     Robert Bragg

     Steve Buskirk

     Warren Hansen

     Tom Harwell

     Doug Holt

     John Ulrich

     Greg Wickham

     Russ Yost, Sr.

Please continue to pray for these men as they serve within this capacity here at Metro East.

 

What are the requirements for an Elder?

 

There are a couple of places in Scripture where the requirements of an elder are directly mentioned (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). There are probably a number of ways to categorize these.  We would put them under three general headings:

A. Their character has to be godly:

• Above reproach (1Tim; Titus)
• Well thought of by outsiders (1Tim.)
• Upright (Titus)
• Holy (Titus)
• Sober-minded (1Tim); disciplined (Titus)
• Self-controlled (1Tim; Titus)
• Respectable (1Tim)
• Hospitable (1Tim; Titus)
• Not arrogant (Titus)
• Not a drunkard (1Tim; Titus)
• Not violent (1Tim; Titus)
• Not quarrelsome (1Tim); not quick tempered (Titus)
• Not a lover of money (1Tim); not greedy for gain (Titus)
• Not a recent convert (1Tim)
• Lover of good (Titus)

B. Their family life is to be in check:

• Husband of one wife (1Tim; Titus), click here for a more detailed discussion of this topic.
• Must manage his own house well (1Tim)
• Keeping his children submissive (1Tim); children are believers, not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination (Titus)

C. They have to be able to handle the word of God:

• Able to teach (1 Tim); able to give instruction in sound doctrine (Titus)
• Able to refute those who contradict sound doctrine (Titus)
• Holding to the trustworthy word as taught (Titus)

 

          Passages that Relate to Elders

 

The actual word ‘elder’ (presbyteros) is used 66 times in the NT. It often refers to the elders that ruled the nation of Israel in the Sanhedrin (cf. Mk. 14:43), or just as in English, to people who are older (cf. Lk. 15:25). But several times, it refers to those who are given the responsibility of leading the church. The following passages mention elders (and overseers) directly:

Acts 11:29-30  The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 14:23  Paul and Barnabas appointed elders? for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Acts 15:1-3, 22. Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question… 22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

Acts 16:4. As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.

Acts 20:17-18, 28-31. From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia…. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.?  Be shepherds of the church of God,? which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

Acts 21:17  When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present.

Phil. 1:1. To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers? and deacons:

1 Tim. 3:1-13 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

1 Tim. 4:14. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

1 Tim. 5:17-20. The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,”? and “The worker deserves his wages.” 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.

Titus 1.5-9. 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. 6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer? is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

1 Pet. 5:1-4. To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

James 5:13-16  Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

To download and read this "Passages that Relate to Elders" section in .pdf format, click here. 

 

          Elder Information from our By-Laws

 

This is a compilation of what our by-laws state or directly imply about the role of elders in our church. The purpose is so that we can get a grasp of what the by-laws envision, as elders are enmeshed in several places.  Note that these are the individual statements that have been isolated from their context. In some of them, the context clearly explains what is meant. In most cases, I’ve tried only to interpret them if the interpretation is absolutely clear. The headings are also my interpretation.

 

• Requirements:
• Voting male members.
• Member in good standing for at least a year.
• Received appropriate training under board of elders.
• Has served in functions requiring responsible leadership.
• Qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:2-7, and 1 Peter 4:19-5:4.
• Ordained upon the authority of a Southern Baptist Church.
• Number:
• Established according to the church needs as recommended by the Sr. Pastor, and approved by active elders or deacons.

• Appointment Mechanism:
• Voting members recommend elders/deacons to the board of elders.
• Elders examine them to see if they meet qualifications
• Elders may re-instate a previously certified elder or deacon
• On the Sunday before the election, elders are to publish names of approved candidates.
• Congregation votes by secret ballot for each candidate in favor or against.
• Candidates receiving a majority vote in their favor are elected.
• Elders and Deacons are ordained
• The Senior Pastor is a member of the board of Elders

• Term:
• Both Elders and Deacons serve for Three Years
• They may be divested of office by church discipline, or by a 2/3 vote of the congregation. They may also resign from office.

• Function:

     Leadership

• Jointly with the Pastor, lead the church in the service of Christ.
• Support the Sr. Pastor’s preaching and teaching ministry
• Coordinate and disseminate the vision for the church
• Oversee all matters concerning the conduct of public worship.
• Promote spiritual growth and evangelistic witness of the congregation.
• Final authority on all matters except as are delegated to such other boards herein and subject only to the authority of the congregation.

     Trouble-Shooting

• Watch diligently over the people committed to their charge to prevent the corruption of doctrine or morals.
• Evils they cannot correct by private admonition they should bring to the notice of the board.
• Ensure doctrinal integrity.

     Nurture

• Visit people, especially sick and mourning.
• Pray with and for the people.
• Choose to reveal information when uncertain how to advise someone, when in imminent danger, when discipline is needed, or when required by law to report suspected child abuse.

     Oversee the Membership Process

• Interview prospective members.
• Execute required member discipline
• Oversee exit interview process.

     Oversee the Staff

• Establish, maintain, and execute a process whereby the Sr. Pastor and ministerial staff are helpd accountable for their Spiritual Life, family responsibilities, and overall conduct and behavior.
• Nominate a pulpit committee of seven members to seek a senior Pastor when the office is vacant, and decide whether to recommend candidates to the church.
• Approve all pastoral staff members before they are voted on by the church.
• Vote along with personnel committee and church council to terminate a Pastoral Staff member, which vote must be ratified by the congregation within two weeks.

     Oversee the Deacons

• Delegate ministry to the Board of Deacons.
• Certify first time and restored nominees for Deacon or Elder positions
• Publish all approved nominees for voting

     Oversee the Church Council

• Church council is subject to the authority set forth in the bylaws to the Board of Elders.
• One at large member of the Church Council should come from the board of elders.
• Church council can be convened at the request of two members of the board of Elders.

     Manage the Membership

• Remove people who request to be removed
• Help resolve their problem if they can
• Help them find another church if they can’t
• Abstain from removing membership if discipline is in effect
• Remove people who cannot be found, join another church
• Recommend for a church vote people who have been removed upon repentance, reformation, or explanation for restoration.

     Manage Church Documents

• Allow members to inspect and copy Church Council minutes, Congregational meeting minutes, congregational rolls, accounting records, articles of incorporation.
• Limit access to any records that contain confidential information.

To download and read this "Elder Information from our By-Laws" section in .pdf format, click here. 

 

          Elder Approval Process

          Approved April 15, 2009

Concerning Timeline: Our general goal is that the elders be appointed by the time the new Sr. Pastor is secured. This gives candidates the ability to meet the men he will be working with. At the same time, we feel the interim leadership should stay in place until the new Senior is found. This will give to the church both needed stability for the present, and hope for the benefits that elders can bring in the future. Items that are already done are in italics.

 

Preparation for Elders

I. Todd teaches on the New Testament view of Elders.

II. New By-laws approved, calling for elders.

III. Nominations initiated.

 

Groundwork for Resumption of Elder Selection

I. Set the Process

   A. Approve a tentative timeline for getting elders installed.

   B. Develop a means of reporting progress to the congregation.

Post the process and relevant information on the website.

II. Understand our Philosophy of Eldership in General.

   A. Develop a general consensus of what Scripture teaches regarding elders.

      1. Isolate passages that teach about elders.

      2. Agree on the basics that are taught about elders in Scripture by developing and reviewing a checklist of elder beliefs.

   B. Review current by-laws for all information relevant to elders.

Actual Approval Process

I. Nominations Taken. Voting members recommend elders to the board of Deacons.

II. Short List Developed. Todd works with Deacons to examine them on paper and see if they meet initial qualifications for Elders. A short list is developed.

• The initial review included the following:
• Is this a male who has been a member in good standing for at least a year?
• Has this person served in functions requiring responsible leadership?
• Are there any glaring contradictions of 1 Tim. 3:2-7 or 1 Peter 4:19-5:4?
• Is this person known to be unavailable for some reason?

III. Logistical Recommendations Stated. A one page position paper is developed on key questions:

   A. The Deacon board agrees on the key questions:

      1. How do Pastoral Staff members fit with the Elder Board?

      2. How many elders does MEBC need? How do we stagger the terms so that they don’t rotate at once?

      3. What is the general job-description and time commitment for our elders?

   B. The Deacon board makes assignments to work on the questions.

   C. A one-page paper is produced on each issue which (1) states the issue, (2) lists possible solutions, (3) evaluates them, naming the solution the Deacons plan to adopt.

   D. The paper is posted on the website for the congregation to review.

 

IV. Initial Contact with Candidates. Once question 3 is answered, Short list candidates are contacted to see if they would be willing to serve as Elders.

   1. The Deacons review the short list to see if candidates are still viable.

   2. Candidates are told that they are on the short list.

   3. They are asked if they would be willing to be reviewed further.

   4. The review process is outlined.

   5. They are told that neither we nor they are obligated by this next step.

V. Candidates Interviewed. Further interviews are conducted with each of the willing candidates to check on their fit for the job of Elder at MEBC.

      A. Deacon Board agrees on interview process. This could include the following:

• A retreat with candidates, staff, and Deacons and their wives
• A questionnaire filled out by the candidate and his wife.
• A questionnaire about candidates’ suitability filled out by Deacons and Pastoral Staff and their wives.
• A questionnaire about candidates’ suitability filled out by those to whom they have ministered.

      B. Deacons agrees on questionnaire content.

      C. The process and questionnaire are executed.

      D. A background check is executed by the Church office.

      E. The final list of candidates are asked one final time if they are willing to serve.

VI. On the Sunday before the election, Deacons are to publish names of approved candidates.

VII. Congregation votes by Secret Ballot in favor or against

VIII. Candidates receiving a majority vote in their favor are approved.

IX. Elders are ordained.

 

To download and read this "Elder Approval Process" section in .pdf format, click here. 

 

          Questions and Answers

To download and read a document written by John Ulrich entitled, "Elders Questions and Answers," which will hopefully answer any questions you may have regarding Elders in .pdf format, click here.  If you still have unresolved questions and would like to e-mail John Ulrich, click here.

 

          Frequently Asked Questions

In response to questions that the deacons have received with the upcoming Elder Selection Vote at the Special Called Business Meeting scheduled for Sunday, September 27, they will post the most asked questions with their responses following. 

     1.  Who are the deacons?

Randy Lair, Ernie Castro, Ed Clampitt, Pete Morris, Larry Haynes, Wes Garton, Joe Beck, and Jeff Claybrooks (Chairman).

      2. Why are John and Doug the only 2 pastoral staff members on the slate to be voted on with the elder nominees?

The only default staff member on the Elders is the Sr. Pastor per the bylaws. We debated the staff relationship with the elders and in the end decided that as the bylaws do not call for any actual relationship, that any staff member, other than the Sr. Pastor, is like any other member and may be a candidate. We also discussed how so much of what happens is addressed in some form by the staff and consequently felt that some additional staff presence should be accorded at least initially. Hopefully a new Sr. Pastor will be identified soon, but until then as we get going this made the most sense to us. Again we debated how many staff and finally agreed that Doug and John, if they were willing, made the most sense. We hope the new elders will also involve the other staff as advisors and we will share that hope with them, but what and how they do it will be their call.

In the end we have recommended six laymen and 2 pastors. If all are elected, which I hope will be the case, then with the arrival of a new Sr. Pastor we will have nine elders which seems to be a reasonable number of people to start this process.