Leadership

Mark Huntington

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Mark was raised in a home in which Christ was honored; as a result, he trusted the Saviour at a young age and has been a student of the Word for over 40 years. He and his wife endeavor to rear their children in the ways of the Lord. In addition to ministry within the assembly, they are involved in cross-cultural and international Gospel and discipleship work.

What the Elders Do

Christ is center, the head of church ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."]Colossians 1:18[/icetooltip], [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?"]1 Timothy 3:5[/icetooltip]), to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,). In addition, Scripture makes it clear that all believers are priests before God, with Christ as our High priest ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."]1 Peter 2:9-10[/icetooltip], [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man."]Hebrews 7:28-8:2[/icetooltip]). Nevertheless, there is also human leadership established by which the Lord administers His Church ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably."]Hebrews 13:17-18[/icetooltip], [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake."]Romans 13:1-5[/icetooltip]).

Two terms are used when referring to those in church leadership: elder and overseer (the latter rendered bishop in some translations). Elder denotes maturity, including spiritual but also chronological, mental, and emotional; while overseer is a functional description. Throughout scripture, there is always a plurality of elders (e.g. [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul."]Acts 13:1[/icetooltip], [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed."]Acts 14:23[/icetooltip], [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also."]Acts 15:35[/icetooltip], [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."]Acts 20:17, 28[/icetooltip], [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present."]Acts 21:18[/icetooltip]; [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints— that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us."]1 Corinthians 16:15-16[/icetooltip]; [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves."]1 Thessalonians 5:12-13[/icetooltip]; [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine."]1 Timothy 5:17[/icetooltip]; [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—"]Titus 1:5[/icetooltip]; [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:"]Philippians 1:1[/icetooltip]; [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you."]Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24[/icetooltip]; [icetooltip placement=" title="bottom"And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,"]James 5:15, 19[/icetooltip]; [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:"]1 Peter 1:1, 5:1[/icetooltip]). it is elders (plural) of the church (singular), never the other way around.

Elders have a number of responsibilities spelled out in the Word.

Shepherding ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."]1 Peter 5:2-4[/icetooltip]) refers to leading, steering, tending, etc. Sometime translated “pastor”, this refers to a gift and a function, not a position. Thus, elders are not the only ones engaged in shepherding (but the earthly responsibility to see that it happens is theirs!).

Another responsibility is teaching ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness... These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."]1 Timothy 4:6-7, 11-13[/icetooltip]; [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."]2 Timothy 4:2-4[/icetooltip]). The elders have the responsibility to see that the body is taught (though elders have no monopoly on the activity of teaching! Like shepherding, teaching is also a gift and function). Not all teachers will be elders, but all elders must be teachers.

Related to shepherding and teaching is guarding the truth ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us."]2 Timothy 1:12-14[/icetooltip]). While others may teach, elders must ensure that teaching is not error or heresy, and they are to refute any errors that confront the church ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict."]Titus 1:9[/icetooltip]).

The responsibilities of the Elders extend beyond the church: they are to be active in evangelism ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."]2 Timothy 4:5[/icetooltip]). As with other functions, elders do this work themselves and must ensure that it occurs, but aren’t the sole “practitioners” of the activity.

The qualifications of elders are given in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. They are quite clear and include having a good reputation with outsiders, being the husband of one wife (only married men can be elders), being circumspect and vigilant, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine, not contentious, gentle, not materialistic, managing their household well, and not a recent convert. Elders are appointed to their office by God ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."]Acts 20:28[/icetooltip]) and recognized by the church ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed."]Acts 14:23[/icetooltip], [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—"]Titus 1:5[/icetooltip]).

Overseers, as human, are fallible and may fall into sin. Other elders must guard against error and correct them, but such correction isn’t solely the purview of elders. Overseers who sin are to be corrected by the assembly, publicly if they continue to sin ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear."]1 Timothy 5:19-20[/icetooltip]).

In addition to elders/overseers, the Bible also speaks of deacons (lit. servants). The role of the deacon in Scripture focuses on service to the saints in meeting both physical and spiritual needs ([icetooltip placement="bottom" title="Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea... And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark."]Acts 11:29, 12:25[/icetooltip], [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,"]Romans 15:31[/icetooltip], [icetooltip placement="bottom" title="imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints... For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,"]2 Corinthians 8:4, 9:12[/icetooltip]). The qualifications of deacons are spelled out clearly in the same passages in I Timothy and Titus that instruct us on the qualifications of elders.