Introduction

An elder, like any other church officer, is a ministering servant of God. God asks the church to be a community of people sharing a common purpose and fellowship, continually growing in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.

Duties of the Elder

The ministry of an elder can best be described in the following ways:

1. Visitation. Nurture develops on a horizontal level in the church, with members offering encouragement and spiritual counsel to one another. Even the pastor is nurtured through the membership of the church, and an elder can be a vital element in this. The elder can actively visit members in their homes, encourage others to do so, and assist in the training of prospective members.

2. Commitment. The elder should be committed to the outreach of the church. The congregation needs to know that its leaders have a clear vision of the mission of the church. When an elder enthusiastically models a commitment of his or her time to outreach ministry, others catch the same spirit and commit themselves to the mission of the church. An elder should schedule time for ministering to non-members.

3. Worship leadership. The involvement and leadership of an elder can make a tremendous difference in the weekly church service. Quality leadership and participation can transform what could otherwise be a mundane ritual into meaningful celebration and praise. Skills in worship leadership, such as the reading of scripture, offering public prayers, planning the order of service, and delivering the sermon, should be developed.

4. A spiritual mentor. The spiritual life of an elder should constantly lead members of the church to seek a deeper spiritual experience for themselves. I Timothy, chapter 3, describes the Christian life of an elder in these words: “... above reproach,... temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,... gentle” An elder should model, by his or her devotional life, Christian personality and spiritual interest, a higher ideal for each member to reach. The elder should reflect the fruits of the Spirit in his or her relationship with others: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

5. Church Administration. An elder should always attempt to make a positive contribution to the organization and progress of the church. While doing this, he or she should not try to dominate or control but rather enable others to participate in decision-making in the church and ministry. An elder often serves in an advisory capacity to various departments, committees, and projects. In doing this, the elder provides unity among the various programs of the church, communicates progress to the church board, and encourages a unified mission.