The
Central church is keenly interested in growing – not just in number, but also
in knowledge and spirit. The church
wants new people to come join us. We
also want those who regularly attend to grow in Christ.
The
elders at Central meet the qualifications listed in the Bible in 1 Timothy 3 and
other places. We have developed
this From the Elders information page to describe our approach,
interests, and intentions. Elders
make it a point to greet those who come to services.
Although other men make announcements from time to time, the elders do
this regularly in order to allow new members and visitors to be able to readily
identify those who serve as leaders. The
responsibility for announcements is rotated monthly as part of the effort to be
available to members.
The
following points are intended for anyone worshipping or planning to worship with
us at Central to have a better understanding of how the congregation works:
The
primary responsibility of elders in the Lord’s church is oversight.
We make every effort to be “servant leaders.”
In other words, we recognize that God’s organization chart is different
from one you might find in the corporate world.
An elder is a servant.
We have every intention to serve God first, the local church second, and
our own interests last.
Jesus said in Mt 20:27, “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him
be your servant.”
The hierarchy at Central is simple - Christ is the Head of the body.
The
elders do not come in-between a Christian and the Lord; the elders work as
shepherds guiding the flock toward greater maturity.
Each of the elders at Central makes a prayerful effort to hold “to the
faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort
in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.” (Titus 1:9)
As part of the oversight, elders help organize, schedule, and plan Bible
studies and meetings.
Scripture
teaches that elders can settle disputes that arise in the local congregation
more efficiently than can the entire congregation.
Without qualified leaders, disputes quickly can degenerate into
dissention, wrangling, distraction, and splits.
Although the church universal (all those who are saved) cannot be split,
the church local certainly can be.
Evangelists have a primary role in heading off disputes before they
become a problem.
However, if a dispute does arise in the local church, elders are in a
position to settle things in a way consistent with the New Testament.
Acts
20:28-30 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing
shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to
draw away disciples after them.”
Another area
that is a responsibility of elders is the appointment of deacons.
A congregation must select qualified men from their number and then the
elders appoint the deacons to the work. Acts
6:3 “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report,
full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” Each of the deacons at Central is given one or more areas of
work and the responsibility for carrying out the job.
Although
being an example to the flock is not exclusive to elders (e.g., I Tim 4:12), the
related concept of not lording it over the flock is directed specifically to
elders (1 Pet. 5:3). The elders at
Central make every effort to have an attitude or frame of mind that is
consistent with the Bible.
Philippians
2:3-8: “Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others
better than yourselves.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the
interests of others.
Your
attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a
servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient to death-- even death on a cross.”
Guarding
the flock is not the exclusive responsibility of the elders.
Certainly all Christians and especially evangelists have a role to guard
ourselves and the flock to the extent we are able.
There can be no doubt that elders have a strong role because they are
leaders and because they bear additional accountability for preserving harmony
and unity in the church. Jesus is
the Guardian of our souls (1 Pet. 2:25). Elders
can and should enhance the relationship between Christians and Christ, but no
human can save or condemn another. Elders
cannot prevent a person from sinning nor can elders cleanse anyone from sin.
Christ died for man’s sins. Elders
can guard the atmosphere through oversight (“keep watch over souls”) and
must give account, but elders do not add to the power of the Word or diminish in
any way the grace and cleansing power of Jesus.
The
elders at Central do not vote.
Issues and questions that arise are discussed formally and informally
among the elders and include counseling and clarification with those directly
affected.
Decisions are reached by consensus.
Scripture teaches the need to conduct the local church decently and
orderly (1 Cor. 14:40).
The elders are trustees of the property of the congregation and they make
church budget and funding decisions, as well as “physical plant” decisions
after obtaining input from the church.
Congregational meetings are held periodically, survey forms are
distributed, a suggestion box is used, and elders are always available at
services and other times.