1 Peter 5:1–4

[1] So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:

[2] shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

[3] not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. [4] And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (ESV)

Numbers 11:10-17

[10] Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the LORD blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased. [11] Moses said to the LORD, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

[12] Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers?

[13] Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’

[14] I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.

[15] If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.”

[16] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you.

[17] And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone. (ESV)

NOTE: The elders were appointed to share the burden of ministry with Moses who was crumbling under its weight and they continued to shepherd the people throughout Deuteronomy and Joshua.

John 21:15-19

[15] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

[16] He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

[17] He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

[18] Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”

[19] (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

NOTE: Jesus extends the shepherd metaphor from the Old Testament and from his own teaching about Himself to Peter, the lead under-shepherd of the early church.

Acts 20:17-18, 28-32

[17] Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

[18] And when they came to him, he said to them…

[28] Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

[29] I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

[30] and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

[31] Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

[32] And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

[1] The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

[2] Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

[3] not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

[4] He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,

[5] for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

[6] He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

[7] Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Hebrews 13:17

[17] Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

This synopsis of the elder office at CHBC is intended to serve four audiences.

First, it is intended to serve our church members. We hope this document is informative, clarifying, and most of all a tool for prayer. Your elders need your prayers. Furthermore, your life with Christ will flourish in proportion to the elders’ faithfulness, wisdom, and godliness—all of which are gifts from God obtained through prayer.

Second, it is intended to serve men who aspire to the elder office. One who aspires to be an elder “desires a noble task” (1 Tim 3:1). Here, you will find the qualifications for the elder office and an outline of elders’ responsibilities. Strive to grow in the qualifying virtues and excel in these responsibilities even as an ordinary member of the church before you hold an office.

Third, it is intended to serve our deacons. One of the deacons’ essential functions is to extend the ministry of the elders. To do so, they must know what the elders’ ministry is. This document describes that ministry and offers suggestions for prayer and support of the elders.

Fourth, it is intended to serve our elders. We hope that this brief synopsis will energize you for your work, convict you of sin, spur you on to love and good deeds, clarify your responsibilities as an elder of CHBC, and shape your prayer life.

Our Lord gave elders to local churches as a gift (Eph 4:11-12) to rule and teach for the health and maturation of the saints. Therefore, elders do well to recall David’s words about authority used well: “The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth” (2 Sam 23:3-4). May God bless your labors for the glory of his name and the good of the saints of CHBC.

Elders are stewards of Christ’s Church. Elders of local churches shepherd the souls of their sheep (1 Pet 5:1-5) through the public teaching and preaching of God’s word, administration of the sacraments, private instruction, preservation and defense of the gospel, and oversight (Acts 20:17-38; 1 Tim 3:1-7; Tit 1:6-9).

Elders are biblically qualified men (Acts 20:17-38; 1 Tim 2:12-14, 3:1-7; 2 Tim 2:24-25; Tit 1:6-9; 1 Pet 5:1-5), elected to their office by the congregation and entrusted with the responsibilities described in the subsequent sections. Elders should earnestly seek to grow in grace, especially in those graces which qualify them for their office (see the citations above). These include:

• An elder is above reproach, upright, respectable, and well thought of by outsiders (1 Tim 3:2, 7; Tit 1:6-7): While no one is without sin, and elder should not engage in patterns of serious public, unrepentant, and notorious sin. In general, his Christian character should be known and evident to all, both within and outside the church, so that he is esteemed not only for his position of authority but much more for his Christ-like character.
• An elder is the husband of one wife (1 Tim 3:2; Tit 1:6): An elder should exemplify chastity. If he is married, he should be faithful to his wife, repudiating all forms of sexual immorality. If he is not married, he should not engage in any sexual behavior. He should seek to please the Lord in sexual purity, either within marriage or as an unmarried man in chastity. 
• An elder is sober-minded (1 Tim 3:2): An elder should be self-controlled, watchful, and prepared for suffering. He should have a realistic view of the days in which we live—the Church will suffer; Satan seeks to devour the people of God; Christ will soon return. This view of the world should affect his conduct. (See 2 Tim 4:5; Tit 2:2; 1 Pet 1:13, 4:7, 5:8.).
• An elder is self-controlled and disciplined (1 Tim 3:2; Tit 1:7-8): An elder’s life should not be marked by confusion, distraction, laziness, or negligence. Rather, he should be dutiful, hard-working, and able to control his own body in holiness and honor (1 Thess 4:3-5). He should act on his priorities, and his priorities should be defined by the word of God.
• An elder is hospitable (1 Tim 3:2; Tit 1:8): An elder is not selfish with his time and space. He opens his calendar and his home to the flock. He is available, as possible. He takes initiative to get to know members of his flock, serve them, and provide for them.
• An elder is able to teach, holding firm to the trustworthy word as taught, able to give instruction in sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict it (1 Tim 3:2; 2 Tim 2:24; Tit 1:9): An elder should be a man of the Scriptures. He should know God’s word, both in its individual parts and in doctrinal summaries. He must not doubt God’s word; rather, he should count it trustworthy. It should be his first and constant recourse for wisdom and instruction in righteousness. Furthermore, he should be able to communicate its teachingspositively, understandably, clearly, and helpfully. He should also be able to recognize counterfeit and false teaching and refute it from the word of God. Finally, he should be able to rebuke those who propagate false teaching, which implies that he must be courageous and willing to stand for the truth.
• An elder is not a drunkard (1 Tim 3:3; Tit 1:7): An elder should be responsible and moderate should he choose to consume alcohol. He should exercise self-control and moderation in whatever he chooses to consume (Eph 5:18; 1 Tim 4:3-4).
• An elder is not violent nor quick-tempered but gentle and kind, particularly toward his opponents (1 Tim 3:3; 2 Tim 2:24-25; Tit 1:7): An elder should not be given to fits of rage or have a short temper. He should not express anger physically in any way. Rather, he should deal with his flock gently. This is especially true of his conduct toward opponents, both within and outside the church. His attitude and behavior toward them should be utterly meek, kind, and understanding, even in instances when he must be assertive.
• An elder is not quarrelsome (1 Tim 3:3; 2 Tim 2:24): An elder does not pick fights. He does not engage in speculative arguments (1 Tim 6:2-4). Rather, he aims for peace, is charitable in tone and speech, insofar as the word of God will allow. In all things he trusts the Holy Spirit to do the inner work of correction. 
• An elder is not a lover of money or greedy for gain (1 Tim 3:3; Tit 1:7): An elder should not love money (Matt 6:19-24; 1 Tim 6:2-10). He should not seek advantage through his position of leadership, especially monetary advantage. The pursuit of money and inordinate focus on career should not mark an elder.
• An elder manages his household well, keep his children submissive with dignity and ensuring that they are faithful and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination (1 Tim 3:4; Tit 1:6): An elder should not become consumed by his duties at church. His primary responsibility is his family. His actions should demonstrate this priority to all other responsibilities. Furthermore, his parenting and discipleship of his children should be evident in their conduct. (This does not mean that his children must be perfectly behaved or become believers. Rather, in general, his children should respect him and his authority.)
• An elder is not a recent convert (1 Tim 3:6): Recent converts “may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.” There is no minimum duration of one’s Christian profession for the office of elder, but an elder should have a stable, consistent, and time-tested profession of faith.
• An elder is not arrogant (Tit 1:7): An elder is not wise in his own sight (Rom 12:16). He does not think more highly of himself than he ought but considers others more significant than himself (Rom 12:3; Phil 2:1-11). He does not grow prideful in his position of authority and stature, but uses his role to serve the flock, especially the weak (Mark 10:42-45).
• An elder is a lover of good (Tit 1:7): An elder delights in God’s law (Ps 119:1-176), esteeming it holy, righteous, and good (Rom 7:12), the embodiment of all knowledge and truth (Rom 2:20). From the heart, he seeks to do God’s will, and desires the same for his flock (Rom 6:17).
• An elder is holy (Tit 1:7): An elder strives for purity in all his conduct (1 Pet 1:13-16; 1 John 3:3). He engages with and loves the world yet is not compromised by it. Rather, he hates sin and separates himself from it for the sake of his soul, his witness, and his example to the flock (1 Tim 6:11).
• An elder patiently endures evil (2 Tim 2:24): An elder, because he is a Christian, is not only a partaker of the glory that is going to be revealed but also a partaker of suffering (Rom 8:17; 1 Pet 4:13, 5:1). When evil and suffering come upon him, whether in general or explicitly for his Christian witness, he bears it patiently (1 Cor 13:7), fixing his hope on the Lord’s return and his future vindication (Rev 3:9).
• The term ‘pastor’ and ‘Board of Elders’ are synonymous. All staff pastors are elders, theologically. But not all pastors will necessarily serve on the governing board of elders. These non-governing staff elders will focus on teaching, shepherding, praying, and leading respective ministries. They may rotate on and off the board, given term limits, proportion of lay elders to staff elder limitations, or the necessity of the situation.

A number of biblical texts elaborate an elder’s job description (Acts 20:17-38; 1 Tim 2:12-14, 3:1-7; 2 Tim 2:24-25; Tit 1:6-9; 1 Pet 5:1-5). From these texts, we can distill four areas of responsibility that define what an elder does in and for God’s church: elders feed, lead, protect, and nurture their flock.

1. Elders feed. The flock is fed through the faithful ministry of the word, undertaken prayerfully. Elders nourish their flock on accurate teaching, sound doctrine, the refutation of error, and appropriate rebuke, admonishment, consolation, and exhortation from God’s word (1 Tim 4:6; 2 Tim 4:1-2).
2. Elders lead. The flock is led through the elders’ ministry of the word, to be sure, but also through the example of their godly lives (Heb 13:17; 1 Pet 5:2-3), which must be visible to the flock, and through their efforts to provide direction and structure for the church by means of governance.
3. Elders protect. The flock is protected as elders guard against false doctrine. They guard through the ministry of the word, through conversation, and through their exemplary lives, which adorns true doctrine (Acts 20:28-31). Elders also discern which doctrines are essential and must be contended for, and which are non-essential.
4. Elders nurture. The flock is nurtured through the elders’ primary focuses: the ministry of the word and prayer (Acts 6:1-6). The elders attend to the needs of each sheep and administer the spiritual medicine that each sheep needs. Elders help the sheep to suffer well and they seek out sheep that have gone astray.

You will notice that the elders’ primary ministries—of the word and prayer (Acts 6:1-6)—are woven throughout the four areas of responsibility above. We will not include these essential ministries in every category below. It will suffice to say that at the top of an elder’s priority list are prayer for all the saints (Eph 6:18) and the ministry of the word.

While every elder can pray both in private and in public settings such as elder meetings and public worship, the ministry of the word will take different forms for each elder. Some will be engaged in preaching during Lord’s Day worship. Others may teach in other public settings, such as Sunday school, kids and youth ministries, or church workshops and conferences. Elders should instruct in private settings, too. (In Acts 20:20, Paul commends his own example of “teaching… and house to house.”) In short, word and prayer ministries are basic in an elder’s job description.

Below, we clarify how these four areas of responsibility take concrete shape at CHBC.

Elders Feed

• Ministry of the Word: Elders preach and teach the word of God to the saints during Lord’s Day worship (preaching, reading Scripture, and leading in prayer); in other public settings such as Sunday school classes, kids and youth ministries, or church workshops and conferences; and in private, “from house to house” and in a variety of other settings. (For more on private instruction, see “Elders Nurture” below.)
• Ministry of the Sacraments: Elders administer the sacraments. They oversee the distribution of the Lord’s Supper during public worship and administer baptism. They also examine candidates for baptism (and consequently the Lord’s Supper) and church membership (for more, see “Elders Protect” below).

Elders Lead

• Example: Elders set an example for the flock concerning the life of a disciple of Christ. Elders should be exemplary with respect to their doctrine, spirituality, and conduct.
• Governance: The elders prayerfully determine and articulate the missional goals of the church (“ends”) according to biblical witness and wisdom. They monitor for effectiveness the internal processes created to advance the “ends.” They establish broad policies and limitations for the administration of the church. They set and monitor limitations on the church’s senior leader. Finally, they oversee the budget process and constraints.
• Other Duties: The elders preside at congregational meetings. Collectively, the Board of Elders serve as the Board of Directors of CHBC for business and legal purposes.

Elders Protect

• Discipline: In cases of church discipline, the elders are the final court of appeals and make judgments concerning the outcomes of such cases.
• Baptism, Confirmation, and Membership: Elders examine candidates for baptism, confirmation, and church membership, assessing that candidates’ professions of faith are credible and helping them appreciate the significance of the step they are taking to be enfolded into the body of the church.
• Refuting False Doctrine: Elders refute false doctrine and guard the flock against it. They are especially attentive to false doctrine that appears to be taking root among the members.

Elders Nurture

• Prayer: Elders are engaged in regular and fervent prayer for the church, including all her members, her ordinary ministry (word and sacrament), and her missional ends, among much else.
• Shepherding: Elders shepherd the flock in general, but they are especially attentive to cases of discipline, serious sin (e.g., marital infidelity), and serious suffering (e.g., the death of a husband).
• System of Care: Elders are primarily responsible for the spiritual aspect of the parish-centered system of care. Elders build relationships with members in their assigned parish(es), discern needs for spiritual or material care in conjunction with the deacons, instruct the ignorant, counsel the uncertain, disciple the believers, and help other parish members to “speak the truth in love” to their brothers and sisters (Eph 4:15).
• Building Relationships: Elders endeavor to be familiar with our members to discern spiritual needs, promote unity, and otherwise love the brothers and sisters.

1. Confess how you have walked contrary to the qualifications for elders. Ask God to help you put your sins to death by the Spirit (Rom 8:13). Ask him to give you the virtues described in the qualifications in greater measure.
2. Make supplication for all the saints (Eph 6:18), that they would grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18).
3. Pray “that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Phil 1:9-11).
4. Pray that the word of God may go forth from you and your brothers with power and full conviction and the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 1:5).

1. Ask God to help them put their sins to death by the Spirit (Rom 8:13). Ask him to give them the virtues described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and elsewhere in greater measure.
2. Pray that the Lord would encourage them in their ministry, making all grace abound to them so that they may be equipped for every good work (2 Cor 9:6-15).
3. Pray that they would abound in the work of the Lord (1 Cor 15:58), especially in their biblically defined responsibilities of leading, feeding, protecting, and nurturing the flock.
4. Ask the Lord to give them wisdom (Prov 2:6) to lead, feed, protect, and nurture the flock according to his will.

If you have any questions, please contact Jay Baas (Elder Chair).