Please read the following carefully before submitting a name for Elder consideration at the bottom.

BIBLICAL QUALIFICATIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES OF ELDERS

TWO BIBLICAL OFFICES: ELDERS & DEACONS
The primary spiritual leaders of a congregation are the elders, who are also called overseers or pastors in the New Testament. Elders teach or preach the Word and shepherd the souls of those under their care (Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:2; 5:17; Titus 1:9; Heb. 13:17). Deacons, too, have a crucial role in the life and the health of the local church, but their role is different from the elders’. The biblical role of deacons is to take care of the physical and logistical needs of the church so that the elders can concentrate on their primary calling.

This distinction is based on the pattern found in Acts 6:1–6.
1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

The apostles were devoted “to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (v. 4). Since this was their primary calling, seven men were chosen to handle more practical matters in order to allow the apostles the freedom to continue with their work.  This division of labor is similar to what we see with the offices of elder and deacon. Like the apostles, the elders’ primary role is one of preaching the Word of God. Like the seven, deacons serve the congregation in whatever practical needs may arise.

1 Tim 3:1   “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task”.  The office of Elder is a high calling, it is a work of the greatest importance, and designed for the greatest good: the elder is concerned with no less than the eternal life and joy of immortal souls.  As Jesus told Paul in Acts 26:17-18, “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ELDERS
There are several passages in the Scriptures that detail the qualifications of Elders.  While the similarities of the qualifications for deacons and elders/overseers in 1 Timothy 3 are striking, the main difference between an elder and a deacon is a difference of gifts and calling, not character.

There should be a sincere desire to hold the office of Elder.  That man should earnestly desire the opportunity of bringing greater glory to God, and of doing the greatest good to the souls of men by this calling.   The question that should be posed to those who offer themselves for this position is:  "Do you think you are being led by the Holy Spirit to assume this office?”
Now in order to faithfully do the work to fulfill the responsibilities of this office, the workman must meet God’s qualifications, to validate God’s calling.

“Since an overseer (elder) is entrusted with God's work, he must…”    (Titus 1:7)

1. Be above reproach and blameless    (1 Tim 3:2) (Titus 1:6) An elder must not be connected with any scandal; he must avoid any cause for blame, because this would create a prejudice towards his ministry and a negative reflection upon the Lord, His church and His leaders.

2. Be the husband of but one wife   (2x) (1 Tim 3:2) (Titus 1:6) The best interpretation of this difficult phrase is to understand it as referring to the faithfulness of a husband toward his wife. He must be a “one-woman man.” That is, there must be no other woman in his life to whom he relates in an intimate way either emotionally or physically.

3. Be temperate     (1 Tim 3:2) An elder must be careful in watching over himself and the souls of those who he is an overseer of.  He must seek all opportunities of improving their wellbeing.  He should be vigilant, because as we see in 1 Pet. 5:8. 4, our adversary, the devil, goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.   An elder must be moderate in all his actions, comforts and material desires.

4. Be self-controlled    (2x)  (1 Tim 3:2) (Titus 1:8) He must be self-disciplined, not governed by emotions or impulsiveness, and able to resist pride and other temptations.

5. Be respectable     (1 Tim 3:2) He must live a life worthy of respect, and deal even with even enemies respectfully.

6. Be hospitable    (2x)  (1 Tim 3:2) (Titus 1:8) He must be generous and hospitable to friends and strangers, as one who truly loves mankind, especially those in the family of God.

7. Be able to teach     (1 Tim 3:2) He must be one who is both able and willing to communicate to others the knowledge which God has given him, one who is well instructed in spiritual truths and ready to take every opportunity to them share in season and out of season.

8. Not be given to drunkenness  (2x)  (1 Tim 3:3) (Titus 1:7) He must be one who is not mastered by anything or anyone, but the Holy Spirit.

9. Not be violent    (2x)  (1 Tim 3:3) (Titus 1:7)

10. Not be overbearing     (Titus 1:7)

11. Not be quick-tempered     (Titus 1:7)

12. Not be quarrelsome     (1 Tim 3:3) He must not be contentious or be violent towards anyone, physically, verbally or even in his heart.  He should be a man of peace and do everything in love.  

13. Not pursue dishonest gain     (Titus 1:7)

14. Not be a lover of money     (1 Tim 3:3) He must not be greedy towards money or compromise his ministry due to fear of financial loss, or the possibility of financial gain.  He should have no regard to the wealth of this world, but must live above it.

15. Be gentle     (1 Tim 3:3) He must be kind, patient and longsuffering towards others.

16. Be one who loves what is good (Titus 1:8) He is a man lives out the teaching of Paul in:  Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise,   dwell on these things.

17. Be upright  (Titus 1:8)

18. Be holy  (Titus 1:8) He models Christ as he follows the leading of the H.S. and serves others in the power of the Spirit.

19. Be disciplined  (Titus 1:8) He resists temptations, and is committed to prayer and the regular study of God’s Word in order to conform his thoughts, words and actions to the will of God.

20. Manage his own family well  (1 Tim 3:4) He is the respected head of his family, and lovingly leads them as he faithfully follows God’s will.

21. Be one whose children believe  (Titus 1:6, 1 Tim 3:4-5) See that his children obey him with proper respect, and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.  (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must be one who keeps his family in good order that he may set a good example to other husbands and fathers in the church.  In this way he gives proof of his ability to take care of the church of God.  The families of elders ought to be good examples to all other families.  If elders do not have the respect of their wives and children, they will not gain the respect of adults in their congregation.  

22. Not be a new convert (or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil).   (1 Tim 3:6) He must not be one who has recently come to the Lord, or one who has only a superficial knowledge of the Lord and His Word.  One such as this is prone to become prideful and fall into the consequences that Satan fell into.  The more a man knows God, the less prideful they tend to be.  The Lord must put men who love Him through fires to test their faith, reveal their weaknesses, and destroy their self- deception, self-reliance and pride.  We should all be mindful of pride.  It has the power to turn angels into demons.

23. Have a good reputation with outsiders (so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap).  (1Tim 3:7) He must have a good reputation among his neighbors and community, and without any justified charges against his words or actions.  The devil can use a bad reputation to stumble others and turn them against the Lord, His Gospel and Church.  

24. 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.     (Titus 1:9) He must be one fulfilling ‘The Great Commission’ in Mt 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”  And, 2 Tim 2:2, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

25. Be an example to the flock.     (1 Pet 5:3) (Titus 2:7) People want to see a sermon before they will listen to one.  The lives of the elders are the living model of the gospel to the church.  The elders set the example of the love, truth, joy and power of Christ by their faithfulness to God.  In the eyes of the congregation, their actions and words define the Lord’s expectations for believers in the Church.  Paul said in 1Cor 11:1, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ”.  As shepherds, most of the sheep will follow their elders wherever they lead them (Jim Jones is an example of this principle).  The Lord has told us His expectations and the accountability of spiritual leaders, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Lk 12:48 NIV).  “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Heb 13:17 ESV).  

We believe the spiritual authority and responsibility entrusted to elders scripturally places them in the highest calling and office in all creation.  Therefore, they will be subject to the greatest accountability and rewards from the Lord.