The Elders at Southeast Christian Church
Responsibilities of the Elders of Southeast Christian Church
The Southeast Christian Church elders have a three-fold task. They serve as:
1. The board of directors of a 501.c.3 non-profit corporation
2. Elders of a local congregation of God's Church
3. Members of the congregation
- As the board of directors of a 501.c.3 non-profit corporation they:
A. Make policy (normally recommended by the senior pastor or staff)
B. Make corporate and contractual decisions
C. Delegate responsibility
D. Serve as a sounding board
- As elders of a local congregation of God's Church they work (in conjunction with the ministry staff) to:
A. Teach God's Word (including making decisions on difficult biblical issues)
B. Pray
C. Equip members for ministry
D. Maintain unity (includes dealing with conflict and false teaching)
- As members of the congregation the elders follow the leadership of:
A. The ministry staff (who have been delegated responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the church)
B. Other appointed servant leaders
Selection Process
- Elder chairman solicits Elder nominees at elders meeting.
- Entire eldership affirms or denies recommendation for elder nominees.
- Any elder candidate must have been a member of Southeast for a minimum of 6 months prior to their selection. This will afford the elders opportunity to assess their qualifications.
- Nominations should be considered on the basis of needs of the Body, chemistry with existing elder board, rotational schedule, and gifts and passions of nominee.
- Sr. Ministry will contact potential candidates to determine interest, explain the process, explain the Biblical qualifications, explain responsibilities, and provide a questionnaire and spiritual gift assessment.
- Elder candidate completes spiritual gifts assessment, and questionnaires.
- Elder chairman identifies two members of the elders to work with the Sr. Minister in interviewing candidates at the Elders meeting.
- Interviews with candidates & spouses concluded before the next upcoming elders meeting.
- List of candidates finalized at elders meeting.
- Presentation to the congregation to affirm selection.
Biblical Qualifications for Elder
The passages in 1 Timothy 3:1-11 and Titus 1:5-9 form the basis for Elder qualifications.
1 Tim 3:1-11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
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. 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. 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. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 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. (NIV)
Expectations for Elders
- Spirituality – strong Bible-based faith
- Giftedness – has to be gifted as a leader
- Passion – a strong desire to serve
- Experience – understanding of church and church doctrine
- Chemistry – of candidate with other Elders
- Proven Service – proven himself through effective ministry involvement
- If divorced, each case will be considered individually and not within five years of the divorce.