Elders

Our Church Wants a Plurality of Elders, But We Don’t Know Where to Start

By Dave Harvey | 05.17.2021

Transitioning to a plurality of elders is an urgent topic—for both planters and pastors who don’t yet have this structure. Why? Because the quality of your elder plurality determines in large part the health of your church. It really is that important.

10 Brief Reflections on an Elder’s Character

By Brandon Freeman | 02.01.2021

We must realize that character isn’t only necessary for ministry; character is itself a ministry.

Five Reflections on Pastoral Disagreements

By Andy Naselli | 05.28.2020

When you and your fellow pastors don’t think unanimously about a practical shepherding issue, you should disagree with your fellow pastors with love and respect and without any anger or bitterness.

Fighting the Temptations of Successful Leadership

By Jonathan Leeman | 04.02.2020

Good leadership aims for equality. The trouble is, good leadership creates clout, which strongly tempts leaders to forget the aim.

Embracing the Joys and Sacrifices of Our Distinct Roles

By Erik Raymond | 9Marks Journal: Complementarianism: A Moment of Reckoning | 12.10.2019

When we follow Jesus, our whole lives are to be a sacrifice.

Mailbag #88: Must Elders Agree on Tongues & Prophecy? . . . How Can We Wisely Hire a Pastor from Outside the Church?

By D. Russell, J. Rinne | 08.09.2019

— How much agreement must elders have on the issue of tongues and prophecy? — In a congregational church, how should we hire a new pastor from the outside? How can we give enough time for the church to properly vet the candidate?

What Lay Elders Need to Know

By Bradley Larson | 06.10.2019

Lay eldership is a high calling. But elders must recall that while the office they hold is important, they’re merely there to do Christ’s bidding.

Mailbag #82: How to Confront Those Who Rarely Attend Church . . . How Does 1 Timothy 5:17’s “Double Honor” Apply to Non-Staff Elders?

By A. Duty, J. Rinne | 04.26.2019

— How should pastors confront members or regular attenders who are mere consumers or whose attendance is inconsistent? — How do you apply 1 Timothy 5:17’s “double honor” to non-paid elders? Is it even right to use this passage when determining paid elder compensation?

Mailbag #79: How Should Vocational Pastors Approach Their Own Giving to the Church? . . . How Do Deacons Relate to Elders?

By J. Dunlop, J. de Koning | 03.29.2019

— Should vocational ministers tithe? Should a church then count on 10% of that staff member’s salary toward the budget? — Are deacons there just to “do what they’re told” by the elders? Should deacons be used as a means to develop future elders?

Mailbag #75: Does a Wife’s Alcoholism Disqualify a Deacon? . . . Should the Qualifications of a “Youth Pastor” Be Different? . . . Responding When We Feel “Pressured” to Join a Church

By A. Menikoff, A. Duty, P. Tibayan | 02.22.2019

Does a Wife’s Alcoholism Disqualify a Deacon? . . . Should the Qualifications of a “Youth Pastor” Be Different? . . . Responding When We Feel “Pressured” to Join a Church