Biblical Elder Leadership

The justification for elder leadership at Mercy Church is primarily scriptural, drawing from both the Old and New Testaments.

Key points supporting the justification for elders include:

• Historical Presence: Elders have consistently held positions of oversight and leadership within the faith community throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

• New Testament Directives: The Apostle Paul instructed young pastors Timothy (in Ephesus) and Titus (in Crete) to establish church leadership through the selection of elders, as detailed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

• Biblical Examples (Dwaine Cline's Case): Dwaine Cline, Lead Pastor at James North Baptist and Executive Director for the Gospel Coalition – Canada, outlines a comprehensive biblical case for elders providing leadership in the local church. His points include:

  • Old Testament Governance: Elders provided oversight to clans within the tribes of Israel, governing and representing them (Exod. 3:16-17, 17:5-7, 18:9-12).

  • Davidic Monarchy: Elders played a crucial role in the establishment of David’s throne (2 Sam. 3:17-18, 5:3, 17:15, 19:11-12).

  • Temple Consecration: Elders were present at the consecration of the Temple (1 Kings 8:1-5).

  • Exile and Post-Exile: Elders are mentioned during and after the exile (Ezek. 8:1, 14:1, 20:1-3; Ezra 10:16).

  • Gospels and Acts: Ruling elders of Israel are mentioned in the Gospels and the Book of Acts (Matt. 16:21, 21:23, 26:47-59; Mark 8:31, 11:27-28; Acts 4:5-12, 4:23, 6:12, 23:14).

  • Revelation: Elders are also mentioned in Revelation, holding some level of authority (Rev. 4:4-11, 5:5-8, 7:11-13, 11:16, 14:3, 19:4).

• Terminology: The term “elder” (Hebrew: zaqen; Greek: presbyteros) in both the Old and New Testaments signifies someone of advanced age who held an office of leadership among God's people. The terms "elder," "overseer," and "bishop" (Greek: episkopoi) are used interchangeably. Mercy Church primarily uses "elder" due to its greater familiarity in many non-denominational churches and to distinguish it from the modern use of "bishop" in particular Christian traditions.

• Types of Elders: A distinction is made in 1 Timothy 5:17 between pastor-elders, who both lead and dedicate significant time to preaching and teaching, and ruling elders, whose primary role is directing the affairs of the church. The general term "elder" encompasses those who provide leadership and oversight to the local church.

DThe qualifications for elders at Mercy Church are laid out in the biblical books of 1 Timothy and Titus. These passages emphasize both character and competency, particularly in leadership and teaching.

Key Qualifications for Elders:

• Desire for the Role: An individual should not only be willing but also desirous of the elder role and committed to carrying out its work. Aspiring to be an overseer is considered a "noble task".

• Above Reproach/Blameless: An elder's spiritual life must be of such high quality that it serves as an example for others, making it difficult for charges to be brought against them. This is a foundational quality mentioned in both 1 Timothy and Titus.

• Faithful to Spouse: An elder must be faithful to his wife, implying a loving, sacrificial, and caring leadership in his home. However, this does not mean an elder must be married, as it would contradict the examples of Paul and Jesus, and Paul's teaching on singleness (1 Corinthians 7).

• Manages Own Family Well: An elder must manage his own family well, ensuring his children obey him in a respectful manner. His care for his family serves as a model for his ability to lead the church, and significant challenges at home could hinder his ability to care for the church. The children should be raised in the faith, even if they are currently inactive or struggling.

• Temperament and Character:

  • Temperate/Not Given to Drunkenness: Not indulging in much wine or drunkenness.

  • Self-Controlled/Disciplined: Exercising discipline over one's life.

  • Respectable/Upright/Holy: Demonstrating a lifestyle worthy of respect.

  • Hospitable: Willing to entertain and invite others—both believers and non-believers—into their homes.

  • Not Violent/Gentle: Not physically violent, quick-tempered, or quarrelsome.

  • Not Pursuing Dishonest Gain/Lover of Money: Not greedy, materialistic, or miserly.

  • Loves What is Good: Having an affinity for goodness.

• Able to Teach: An elder must be competent in teaching the Word of God. The Greek term didaktikos means "skilled or apt in teaching," implying the ability to convey knowledge effectively, along with the wisdom and patience to instruct others. This does not necessarily mean preaching publicly on Sunday mornings, but rather the ability to instruct others in various forms regarding biblical truths and wisdom, assuming a strong grounding in biblical theology and worldview.

• Not a Recent Convert: A new convert lacks the necessary spiritual maturity and experience to serve as an elder.

• Good Reputation with Outsiders: An elder must have a good reputation with non-Christians in both character and actions, to avoid disgracing the church or falling into the devil's trap.

• Holds Firmly to Sound Doctrine: An elder must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, enabling him to encourage others with sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Key roles include teaching sound doctrine, leading the church according to it, and refuting false doctrine.

Gender-Specific Qualification (Complementarianism):

Mercy Church operates as a complementarian church, believing that while men and women are equal in essence and value, they are called to serve in different functions within the local church. Based on this belief, the role of elder (overseer-leadership) is reserved for men. This stance is supported by a biblical foundation that includes:

• Both men and women are created in God's image and given the cultural mandate.

• Both are held responsible for the fall, though Adam is the primary representative.

• In the New Testament, men and women served close to Christ, but only men were appointed as apostles.

• Both men and women prophesied and are called to use their spiritual gifts.

• Only male elders were appointed in the New Testament (e.g., Paul, Timothy, Titus) and during the first few centuries of the post-apostolic church.

• Extra-biblical historical documents like the Council of Laodicea (c. 360 A.D.), Council of Nimes (c. 396 A.D.), and Council of Carthage (398 A.D.) indicate women served in various important roles but not as elders.

• 1 Timothy 2:11-14 is cited as clearly reserving the role of elder for men, based on God's created design.

The responsibilities of elders at Mercy Church are primarily derived from the biblical passages of 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5. These responsibilities encompass teaching, leading, disciplining, modeling a Christ-centered life, and praying.

Here are the key responsibilities:

• Teaching Role: Elders are given a primary teaching role within the local church. While not all elders are necessarily required to preach regularly on Sunday mornings, all elders must have the ability to rightly divide the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15) and instruct others from them. This instruction can occur in various settings, such as in the home, in a mentoring relationship, or within a small group. This necessitates that elders are well-grounded in biblical theology and worldview.

• Leading Biblically: Elders are to lead the church biblically, using the Word of God and the Holy Spirit's guidance as the foundation for the church's life and function. They are to lead according to God's Word and apply godly wisdom, especially in matters not explicitly stated in the Bible, by operating within biblical guidelines.

• Discipline of Members: Elders are called to discipline members of the Body of Christ. This is understood as part of their shepherding role, which includes both leadership and guidance, as well as godly discipline when necessary (1 Corinthians 5). While the broader church community is involved in loving correction (Matthew 18), eldership intervenes when issues surpass the congregation's ability to resolve them.

• Modeling a Christian Lifestyle: Elders are expected to model a Christian lifestyle. Similar to Paul's call to the Philippian Church to follow him as he follows Christ (Philippians 4), elders are to be men of excellent character who demonstrate what it means to live out the Christian life for the local church. This aligns with qualifications such as being "above reproach," "temperate," "self-controlled," "respectable," "gentle," and having a "good reputation with outsiders".

• Praying: Elders are expected to pray. The church as a whole should be committed to seeking God and His will through prayer. As elders lead the church towards its mission, they should do so prayerfully, being at the forefront of directing the church. Additionally, James 5 specifically mentions the responsibility of elders to pray for those who are ill.