Chapter Four:  An Elder by Any Other Name. . . Recognizing the Elders in the Church

By Dr. Steve Davis

What you will get out of this chapter: 

1) Not all who are Elders have the title of “Elder.” And, not all who have the title of  ”Elder” (or Board Member, or Minister, or Reverend)  are Elders, indeed!

2) How a person becomes an Elder – the type of vote it takes

3) You’ll understand why churches that change pastors every few years never experience long term growth. 

4) Why it generally takes at least five years for a Pastor to be recognized as a Leader.

Many churches, denominations and movements don’t use the title, “Elder.” Some quasi-Christian movements DO use the title.  Just because a movement does not use the title “elder” to designate their senior leaders, it does not mean that they are missing the mark biblically. And, just because a man comes in with the title of Elder, does not mean that he is an Elder at all, by scriptural functionality and office. The title is not as important as the functionality of the office of Elder.  The word “elder” refers to one who is older, more mature, and it is a relative term. In other words, among a group of twenty year olds, someone who is in his mid thirties may be called “Pops,” or “the old man.” On the other hand, when the thirty-five year old visits the Senior Center, he is now called “young man,” and soon recognized his own lack of age and experience.

How does a person become an Elder?  Are the Elders the oldest men in the church? The members who have attended the church the longest?  Does the congregation call a business meeting and pick out the most influential and persuasive people in the congregation and grant them tie title “Elder?” Do they pick the ones with the most friends and family members in the church? Or, do they get together and pick the ones they think will be the most easily influenced by the more dominant members of the congregation?  

In many churches, it’s common for the men whose families have been in the church the longest to be elected to the Board, and from that position begin to make and enforce policy. Not only do these men make local church policy, but they commonly become the puppet masters of the Pastor. They rule the Pastor with threats, coercion and the promise that he will not be “re-elected” as their pastor if he does not cooperate with them.

Biblically, Elders are NOT chosen by a group of church members getting together and writing `yes' or `no' on pieces of folded paper, that they then drop into an offering plate!  Elders are chosen by the Holy Spirit of God.  He raises up men who are examples to the flock, men with clear reputations of being faithful to God’s Word, men of prayer, men of love and with hearts to serve the people through their service to God. When a man has the reputation of being loyal to God, obedient to the Scriptures above all else, and is walking in love, he is in position to be recognized as an elder among God’s people. The Holy Spirit selects these men and equips them. In John 15:16, Jesus was talking to the Apostles, not to the multitudes when He said: "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you...." 

How the early church recognized an Elder when replacing Judas.  When Judas betrayed Jesus and then committed suicide, his office was left open. It isn’t God’s will for ANY of the offices among His people to be left open or unfilled. Did the Apostles call the multitude together to vote on the most popular devotee of Jesus? No. Even when appointing a replacement for Judas, the hundred and twenty (Acts1:15) didn't select by popular vote who they would like as an overseer. Peter said they needed a replacement for one who "was numbered with us (the Apostles), and had obtained part of this ministry." (Acts1:17), literally, one who had already been trained, taught and instructed by the Lord, had experience and had a track record of effective ministry. Peter went on to quote the principle from Psalms, in Acts 1:20,"...his bishoprick (literally his office or charge) let another take."  After going over the objective and measurable qualifications, they RECOGNIZED that two men among them were qualified. But, they only had one opening to fill. (Acts 1:21‑22). 

 Then they prayed and asked God, who knew the hearts of all men, to reveal which one HE had chosen, which one had the HEART for the oversight of God's people.  Acts 1:24‑25, "And they prayed, and said, Thou Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two Thou has chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship...."

God still ordains Elders in His church. We don’t have to refer to them as elders, but we must let them function as biblical elders. God "has set some in the church to be first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly evangelists," (1 Cor. 12:28) then "pastors and teachers to edify the saints"  (Ephesians. 4:11).  Ephesians. 4:12 says that these ministries are given to build up the saints to do the work of the ministry. God will continue to supply these Elders until the whole of the Church comes into the area of maturity and perfection in the ministry of the Gospel. 

So, how does the local church discover whom God has chosen and ordained?  We need to observe, be aware, PRAY . . . and wait!  It is not a matter of getting in a hurry and deciding to "try out" different men whose names and contact information comes to a "search committee," It's not asking several total strangers to come and present their best sermon (or the best one they can find on the Internet!) and then voting for the most popular, charming "winner‑types" as the church's spiritual leadership. The elder selected by God may not be the greatest orator, the best looking or even the most likeable. But he will be the one God has selected for leadership in the local church.

Why churches that change pastors every few years never experience long term growth. Jesus told of other problems with "hiring" strangers as shepherds to His flock. He said in John 10:5, “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”  People won’t follow the leadership of someone they don’t know well. A new Pastor can’t reasonably expect the people who hired him to follow him into areas that they haven’t been in before.

Here’s a sad but common scenario. A Pastor is feeling ineffective at the church where he is serving. He has given the people his best prayers, teaching, preaching and services. He’s loved them and has poured his heart out before the Lord for them. Then, in the meeting where they vote on whether he will remain as their Pastor, two or three obstinate individuals rally the people to vote to not renew him, and to look for another Pastor.  Brokenhearted, he goes home and begins to pack his belongings into cardboard boxes and starts searching for a church who needs a Pastor – and he hopes they will pick him! Maybe this new congregation will love him, listen to him and follow him in the things of God! And, in many ways, the new congregation is getting a wounded leader, one who will not allow himself to become so vulnerable to the people that they will have the power to break his heart.

Now, at the new church, it’s a similar situation. Their previous Pastor was a man that they loved, served and supported. They were sure he loved them! He preached to them, prayed with them, lead their children to the Lord and visited them. And suddenly, out of the blue, he announced that  he would be leaving! He had found a larger church with a wealthier congregation on the other side of the state, and they wanted him for a Pastor!

So we have a brokenhearted congregation searching for a new man to love, lead and guide them. And this time, they aren’t going to let him get into their hearts! They couldn’t stand to go through the heartache of their shepherd rejecting them, when they haven’t even done anything wrong! Now, they will keep him at a distance, and their wounded new leader will do the same! And they both will suffer the pain of ineffectiveness and fruitlessness – and a mutual lack of fulfillment.

How many Pastors and churches have experienced this frustration!  A pastor is picked by the flock to come in and be a leader, and then the flock does not listen to them! Why? The new "shepherd" is a stranger to the flock, and "a stranger they will not follow!" They might eat the food he prepares, and drink from the still waters they are laying beside, but when it is time to take action, or go where they haven't been before, they will not follow his leading! In fact, they will leave the church before following him! This is why it is common to take at least five years for a Pastor to actually enter the position of Leadership in the local church. For the first four years of his ministry he is more of a Chaplain and service provider. It is usually well into the fifth year that the flock is willing to follow him into new territory.

He has by the fifth year established himself as no stranger, but the true shepherd of the flock.  His people have gotten by now to know his heart. They have seen how he deals with conflict and those who would cause harm. They have heard what he has received from the Lord. They have felt the fervor of his spirit and the power of his prayers for them. They also have seen how he treats his fail, how he handles money, how he interacts in the community. And, if he is ruling well, they are now confidently able to follow him as he takes the church into areas they have not been before.

This is a primary reason why denominations and congregations who change pastors every year or even every three to five years rarely have any real growth or spiritual direction: They are literally sheep without a shepherd, and sheep without a shepherd will inevitably be scattered.

As the Holy Spirit moves, chooses and equips, Elders emerge from within the Body of Christ.  He chooses those that have the heart for the work He has called them to.  A "step by step" exploration of this process that will be dealt with a few chapters later.

Copyright Steven L. Davis  www.stevedavis.org