Old Men (Elders)
I’ve been asked from time to time to comment on my interpretation of biblical Elders, and how we apply it in our own church life—so here’s a brief overview of my thoughts.
In Old Testament times older men (and women) of a community were known as elders. The governed the family-centered communities and made all major decisions.
Moses would often call the elders together to keep them informed of news from God. Exodus 4:29&39 Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the sons of Israel; and Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses He then performed the signs in the sight of the people. Or to give directions from God, Exodus 12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb.
At Mount Sinai, he had seventy elders with him. Moses did not record how the seventy were chosen. Later, his journal says that, “He gathered seventy men of the elders of the people. (Numbers 11:25) He stationed them around the Tabernacle and they prophesied.
2. Under the rule of the Israelite kings, elders still functioned, along with tribal heads, and patriarchal leaders, for spiritual leadership. I Kings 8:1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the city of David, which is Zion.
Each town had their own group of elders. I Samuel 16:4 So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, "Do you come in peace?” Ezra 10:14 "Let our leaders represent the whole assembly and let all those in our cities who have married foreign wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each city, until the fierce anger of our God on account of this matter is turned away from us."
3. After Israel’s return from exile in Babylon, the elders made up a ruling group called the Sanhedrin. They were the governing council of Jews.
4. In Jesus’ time the elders were still respected as community leaders. They joined with the priests and scribes in opposition to Jesus’ ministry. Matthew 27:12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer.
5. After Jesus’ resurrection, in the churches elders were appointed from each congregation. Acts 14:23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Paul the Apostle and his team seemed to do the appointing.
6. The Greek term presbuteros, from where we get the word presbytery, simply means an old man. It was also used of older women. Presbuterion was an assembly of older men. (Interestingly, the NAS Bible translators, who seem to have a bias against women elders, translated the feminine word as old women rather than women elders (I Timothy 5:2).) Church history tells us that anyone over forty years old was considered to be an elder, and was therefore given special recognition and respect.
7. The terms bishop (overseer – episcope) and elder were used interchangeably in the New Testament church. See Acts 20:17 with Acts 20:28, and also Titus 1:5 with Titus 1:7. A high bar was set for spiritual leaders in both I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 by the Apostle Paul. Their duties involved spiritual oversight of the congregation and teaching of the Word.
8. God used the word elders to describe the spiritual heads of heaven. Twenty-four elders sit around the throne of God. They seem to be leaders of worship. Revelation 5:8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
APPLICATION:
Because the cultures of Moses’ and Jesus’ days were so different from our own, applying eldership in our North American culture is difficult. The picture of eldership in the New Testament is also vague. Perhaps the reason for the little explanation is two-fold:
- Everyone, Christian and pagan alike, understood the respected place of elders in community life and so explanation would have been redundant.
- Perhaps eldership was never intended by God to have a legalistic application. We should use elders within our own context and traditions as they can serve us best.
There are three main styles of government in churches today:
1. Most common is a democratic system. (The word democratic means rule of the people or mob-rule.) Because our Canadian and American governmental systems are designed as democracies, Christians have adapted political democracies to the Church. We call this a Congregational system of government.
They work like this: Any major issues must be agreed upon by a majority of members. To make governing easier, the congregation of members vote for men (usually men only qualify in Congregational churches) or women whom they feel qualify to represent them and their ideas.
The Board of Representatives carries the weight of rulership in the church. They (or a specially appointed search committee) hire a pastor, and the pastor-leaders work under the covering at the discretion of the Board.
The Board are elected for a term of office by the membership and are accountable to the membership.
2. Many churches operate by Eldership in leadership. These are called Presbyterian styled churches.
Although systems vary from church to church, typically the Elders, who are considered spiritual leaders, usually older men, are elected (or appointed) by the membership. Terms may be limited or perpetual. They operate somewhat like the Senate of our countries.
The lead pastor may be one of the board of elders. He will meet with them regularly, perhaps weekly, to discuss all the business and ministry of the church.
Often different elders will carry unique assignments e.g., finance, facilities, worship and music, youth, children, etc. The elders will make most decisions and are trusted by the congregation.
Other churches use an Episcopal model (Bishop-led) which runs top-down, rather than bottom-up. The Roman Catholic and Anglican churches use this system. Roman Catholics, for example fall under the leadership of the Pope, his Cardinals, Archbishops, bishops, priests, etc. Decisions are made at the top levels and the congregation does not have much say.
4. In Foursquare churches, we use what we call a modified Episcopal style of government. In a diagram it would look like this:
Note well that each of the four systems I’ve mentioned can work well or poorly. The reason is that each system is composed of flawed people. Each would consider their system a theocracy (God-ruled). God rules through the congregation, a Board, Eldership, or pastor. Each has positives and strengths but also has weaknesses.
Pastors are chosen by the Unit Supervisors. Church councils are chosen however the individual church decides, by election or by selection. The Council serves at the pleasure of the pastor as counselors to him or her. They serve in a limited term (4 – 6 years) and help make decisions on finance, facilities and business. They are not a ruling board, but should nevertheless be highly respected.
In our church (Northside Church) we select council members of various ages (20’s to 60’s), occupations, both men and women. They have a two-year term and may serve three terms. As Lead Pastor, I submit to their counsel, just as I, as a husband, submit to my wife’s counsel. Nevertheless, I carry the final voice in our congregation and therefore set the vision and direction of our church.
Elders in our church are also submissive and supportive of the pastoral office. In our church I call anyone, over forty, who has a good reputation and is a maturing believer, an elder. We have perhaps two hundred elders whom I can call together to give counsel on future plans and vision. We may meet three or four times a year and they are the first to be informed about any major change. They do not vote, but all have freedom to express their thoughts and ideas. We would pray together for God’s mind on new direction.
Associate Pastors, in our congregation, are chosen by the Lead Pastor or Executive Pastor. They are then hired by the Church Council, their salary is set by the Church Council and they can be dismissed only by the Church Council. Dismissal for any pastor could come because of immorality, heresy or inability to perform their duties.
In addition to the larger eldership of Northside Church, each pastor is expected to choose four to six elders who know him or her personally, and who can watch over their spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health and well-being. The relationship between elders and pastors must be open, frank, loving and godly.
The term Pastor is also unclear in our New Testaments. We use the term to describe the spiritual leaders of a congregation, but perhaps that is not accurate. Pastors (used interchangeably with elders and bishops) in the Bible seem to be caretakers of small home churches. They likely all had other jobs.
Pastors in Ephesians 4:11 are gifted caregivers, like shepherds are of sheep, of a group of people. Our home group leaders and counselors serve more as pastors than some of the men and women we call Pastors.
My point is that the Bible model of Church structure is unclear. It was a home-church structure in a family-centered society. We live in a much different world today, and must find a system that works for us. We should be very careful not to be judgmental of other systems.
Acts 17:24-28 "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'
Ultimately, we would all agree that Church should be a Theocracy (God-ruled).
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He is our Shepherd (pastor), the Guardian of our souls.
I Peter 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. (Jesus)
We, (pastors, bishops, elders, leaders) serve at his pleasure and bidding to do his will. Our call and our gifting from God will determine what his will is.
