Church Government, Part 5

March, 2007

by: Jack Hughes

• The Church and Church Issues

As we come to the end of our series on church government, I want to use this Calvary Review to explain how the elders at Calvary Bible Church work together to shepherd the flock and why. Many people at Calvary Bible Church know that we have elders and that they oversee the shepherding issues at Calvary Bible Church. But many have no idea what we do or how we do it. So let me see if I can give you a glimpse of what it means to be an elder at Calvary Bible Church.

Selection of Calvary Bible Church Elders

There are two primary texts which give us the necessary qualifications of an elder. They are I Tim. 3:1-7 and Tit. 1:5-9. Other texts, like Acts 20:17-35 and I Pet. 5:1-5 and the entirety of I & II Timothy and Titus have much to say to elders also. Since the Scriptures say that an elder must meet certain qualifications, those are the kind of men we strive to appoint to the office of elder. Yet the Scriptures do not give detailed instructions about how to determine who meets the qualifications of an elder. Because of this we have freedom in how we go about finding qualified men and appointing them to the office. Our procedure involves several steps.

First, we publish the qualifications of elder in the church bulletin for several weeks. During that time we ask the congregation to look at the qualifications of an elder and to submit the names of those men they feel might be qualified to serve. We do this because we want to know who the congregation feels is qualified to serve and lead.

Second, the elders go through the names that are submitted. We consider each person, their present ministry and if they are involved in shepherding the sheep. We consider if they are teaching, discipling, leading, practicing hospitality, etc. Being assigned to the office of an elder doesn’t make you a good shepherd, nor is it the place to be trained to become an elder. So we look for men who are already leading and shepherding the flock. After discussing the various men and their present ministries at Calvary Bible Church the list becomes smaller.

Third, the men on the short list are contacted by one of the elders and asked if they are interested in serving as an elder. Paul says in I Tim. 3:1 that a man must “desire” the work. If the man does desire the work, then we give him some material to read about being an elder. We have him fill out a rather detailed questionnaire. The questionnaire asks him about his doctrinal beliefs, personal walk with the Lord, family, etc. The questionnaire helps us determine if the man’s doctrine, knowledge of Scriptures, and personal walk are exemplary and meet up to the qualifications of an elder spelled out in the Scriptures. The materials given to each interested man also help them understand in more detail the kind of work they are aspiring to.

Fourth, after the potential elder fills out his elder packet and reads the materials, two elders are appointed to interview him. After the interview both elders report to the rest of the elders and share their findings. This is done so we can be reasonably sure that the man’s doctrine is sound and that his personal walk is befitting an elder.

Fifth, if there is no concern about the man or his qualifications, the elders agree to have him put before the congregation to give his testimony. The congregation is asked for a second time to participate in the elder selection process by sharing any concerns they might have about those being considered. This helps us see if the man is above reproach in the eyes of the entire congregation or not.

Sixth, any objections voiced by the congregation are considered and investigated by an elder sub-committee. The sub-committee then reports to the entire group of elders and if it is determined the man is still qualified, the man is appointed to the office of elder.

Now you might read this and wonder why we go through such pains in selecting elders. The answer to that question is that a church is no better than the quality of its leadership. The elders of the church set the example for the rest of the church. If there is a weakness in a church it can almost always be traced back to the elders. Elders are to be examples to the flock and so we labor to make sure every elder we appoint is an example and qualified to do the work. Elders are responsible for the souls of those in their congregation and will give an account to God for how they shepherded the sheep Christ died to save (Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17). So the selection of elders is no light matter. The health of the church depends on the quality of its elders.

Responsibility of Calvary Bible Church Elders

We appoint new elders so that they will be ready to start serving by the first elder business meeting in January. At that first meeting we are required by law to select officers because we are a non-profit organization. So we select a chairman, vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer. Those who hold these titles are not given more power or say in decision making but they fulfill important roles.

The chairman of the elder board fulfills the role of elder administrator. He organizes the meetings and keeps the discussions moving along. He is the point man who makes sure all the issues that need to be addressed are brought up and dealt with in a timely, organized manner.

The vice chairman fills in when the chairman is gone. Though all elders try to be at every meeting, sometimes they just can’t make it. So when the chairman is gone the vice chairman fills in for him.

The secretary takes notes during the elder meeting. The notes leave out details of personal issues and give a summary of what was discussed and what decisions or action items were made. After the minutes are edited and refined, the elder secretary sends them out to be examined by the other elders for accuracy. They are then approved at the next elder meeting.

In addition to the titles and functions mentioned above, all the elders are assigned at least one ministry to oversee at the first business meeting of the year. Each elder is responsible to make sure that the ministries they oversee are sound, biblical, and well organized. They meet with the leaders in those ministries and discuss particular ministry issues and ways that ministry can be improved upon. Sometimes elders will have one or more deacons serving alongside of them to help them oversee a particular ministry. We do all these things so that every ministry at Calvary Bible Church can have a specific elder overseeing it.

In addition to elder oversight responsibilities, every elder has personal ministries they are involved in. All elders are encouraged to disciple men, teach, equip, train, practice hospitality, and do all things the Scriptures require of elders. During the course of the year elders are also assigned action items which are temporary ministry assignments. These include things such as confronting people in sin, counseling, investigating ministry opportunities, etc. An elder is required to do all of these things without neglecting his family, personal walk with the Lord, study time, and work.

Formal Gatherings of Calvary Bible Church Elders

The elders have four basic kinds of gatherings. First is Tuesday morning prayer meetings. Every Tuesday morning at 6:00am the elders, pastors and interns gather to read the Scriptures and pray. The previous Sunday’s prayer requests are waiting for us when we arrive. We read through two or three chapters of a particular book of the Bible, each elder reading several verses. After the reading we discuss key observations. After our time in the word two or three elders, pastors, or interns give a quick update on their ministry and share personal prayer requests. Then we break up in small groups of two or three to pray. Each elder is then responsible to pray through the prayer requests submitted by the congregation during the week. Sometimes quick business issues are dealt with on Tuesday mornings but usually we devote the time to Bible reading and prayer.

The second kind of gatherings the elders have are the once a month business meetings. During the time in between elder meetings, agenda items are submitted and compiled for the next elder business meeting. Everyone is encouraged to have all their agenda items submitted a week before the elder meeting. A copy of the agenda is sent out early the week of the elder meeting so everyone knows what is going to be discussed. This allows each elder time to consider the issues on the agenda so they can come prepared to discuss them.

During the business meeting we begin with prayer. Secondly, one of the elders takes us through a portion of an assigned reading. Every year we read through one or two books on leadership and spend about 15 minutes discussing what we read at the beginning of every business meeting. After we discuss our assigned reading the minutes are approved and we dive into our agenda items. On rare occasions the meeting lasts 2½ hours but usually they last 4 to 5 hours. In making decisions we always try to consider what the Scriptures say first and make all of our decisions based on the truth of God’s Word. In order for something to be approved all the elders have to agree. If there isn’t a unanimous decision, then we postpone the decision until we can do more study or we drop the issue all together.

Elder sub-committee meetings are a third kind of meeting that all elders regularly engage in. At the business meetings individual elders or groups of elders are often given ministry assignments. This usually requires elders to find time to meet in small groups to work on their assignment. The sub-committees, after completing their assignment, report back to the elders the next business meeting.

A fourth kind of gathering that elders have are brainstorming meetings. Elders are encouraged, but not required, to attend brainstorming meetings. These meetings happen about once every two months. During a brainstorming meeting we plan, strategize, consider ministry needs, evaluate our present ministry strengths, weaknesses, etc. Usually one main topic is discussed for the evening and ideas are formed that will be put on the elder agenda for the next business meeting.

So now you know! This is how things are done at Calvary Bible Church. We do our best to select qualified men to serve as elders and then put those who are appointed as elders to work — lots of work. So please pray for your elders. Being an elder is a weighty responsibility. We often have to deal with hurting, sinful, and unhappy people. Satan would love nothing more than to disqualify an elder by leading them into sin. In addition to praying for your elders you can remember the exhortation given to you in Heb. 13:7, 17, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith…” and “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”