A Summary of Biblical Eldership

Elders compose the official oversight body of the local church. The office is open to all men who meet Scriptural qualifications and have a Spirit-imparted desire to jointly oversee the spiritual welfare of God's household. A biblical eldership is a humble, servant body who sacrificially and lovingly care for the family of God. The elders jointly govern the church under the leadership of Christ. The resulting interplay helps lighten the workload and balances out the deficiencies of any one man. The plurality of elders adds greater perspective and wisdom to decisions that need to be made. Some of the responsibilities of the elder are:

1. Building and maintaining strong personal character; being self-disciplined--a disciple of Jesus Christ
2. Becoming a man of sound doctrine
3. Protecting the flock from false teachers
4. Corporate and individual teaching & preaching
5. Counseling
6. Being hospitable
7. Judging issues
8. Caring for the poor
9. Praying for the sick and others

Qualifications for Spiritual Leadership

When the apostle Paul describes the qualifications of leaders in the early church, he speaks almost exclusively about character issues. Here is his list of leadership qualities from 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and elsewhere:

A desire to shepherd the flock; above reproach; a one woman man; temperate; self-controlled; respectable; hospitable; able to teach; not given to much wine; not violent; gentle; not quarrelsome; not a lover of money; manages his family well; not a recent convert; has a good reputation with outsiders; not overbearing; not quick-tempered; a lover of what is good; upright and holy; and holds firm to the trustworthy message.