Selection and Appointment of Elders

By Timothy Glover


The Bible Pattern: In the selection of elders, the church is to select their own leaders. The appointment of the church stands between the qualified man and the initiative that is inherent in the eldership. In other words, there can be no self-appointment because of one’s qualifications or desire to lead. We believe a precedent is set for this practice in the following passages.

First, the church in Jerusalem looked among itself to find men to serve tables (Acts 6:5). The decision in Acts 11:26-30 was made by “every man.” We find the whole church gathered together for a particular work or endeavor (Acts 13:1-3 and 14:26-28). Paul and Barnabas were brought on their way by the church (Acts 15:1-3). Acts 15:4, 22, 23, and 25 show that “the whole church” were invited to a certain business meeting regarding the issue of circumcision. The whole multitude were kept informed of the outcome (Acts 15:30). Messengers were selected by the churches to help with alms for the poor saints in Jerusalem (2 Cor., 8:19, 23; Rom 16:23). The epistle of Colossians was to be read “in the church” (Col. 4:16). Matthew 18:17 reads, “Tell it to the church.” Acts 11:22 speaks of the “ears of the church” at Jerusalem. Acts 12:5 speaks of prayer being made “of the church.” Do the elders represent the church or are they not a part of the whole. The church is a collectivity of saints who have come together in a locale to form a working organic body to do what God has authorized them to do.

While we have shown evidence that the whole church was involved in the work, the elders and apostles took the lead and spoke while the multitude kept silence (cf. Acts 15:12). Still, the decision to send men to Antioch and who would go was decided by the apostles, elders and the whole church. This was not a meeting behind closed doors and an announcement of the leaders concerning their decision. It was one in which there was consensus and in which all were made to feel a part. While it is true that leaders may need to confer among themselves (Acts 15:6), they discussed or “considered” (15:6) this matter not to decide for the church. Anyone who is a part of the local work has the right, yea, and obligation to be involved in the work of the local church. oversight or leadership implies others around that require the needed oversight and leadership in discussing the work and/or the execution of the work and it implies the active participation of the members. When uninspired men meet secretly to make decisions for the whole church, they take upon themselves more authority than did the inspired leaders of the first century. When the authority of an apostle was speaking the oracles of God, he could give orders (1 Cor. 16:1-3). But, in matters of judgment, Paul had no commandment of the Lord and it became a matter for the congregation to decide. For example, Corinth was to decide who was going to go with Paul to take the bounty. Paul had no right to decide for the church. Leaders do not do the work for anyone. They only lead others in the execution of their work.

The selection and appointment are two different actions as is seen in Acts 6:3 where the brethren selected the men and the apostles did the appointing which set forth the parameters of their work, their obligations and responsibilities. In the case of Titus 3, the men who were ordained had to have been selected by the church and then appointed to the work by Titus. Paul gave the qualifications and the church was to select the men qualified. Here is a perfect example of leadership combined with the decision of the church. There is no authority for evangelists or special committees to select elders for the church, nor do we find any authority for an eldership selecting men to serve as additional elders. The selecting should be done by the congregation. The process of selection may not be specifically outlined in the selection of elders, but the process of selection in other areas was done by the entire church. We believe this same process is to be applied to the selection of elders.

The Work of the Church or the Work of the Elders – Which? As we have noted, as the church is involved in the selection of elders, they are also involved once elders are appointed. If they can select elders, they should be able to withdraw their desire to be led by one. An elder’s “rule” does not prohibit that possibility. A popular view is that elders rule in matters of expediency seeing that they cannot rule in matters over which God is already ruling through the word. Therefore, elders get together in the back room where all the work, needs, responsibilities, and methods are decided. All the decisions relating to the work is done by them. As a result, the membership do not believe the work to be “our work.” We hear about what “they” decided or are doing, or the elders withdrew from … etc. Good and wise elders will try to integrate the work and activate the members by encouraging them to be a part of the plan, not allowing themselves to become isolated from the flock in their thinking and decisions. They will not go into their secret chambers and come out announcing their decrees or withholding needed information that is kept secret.

At this point, we are once again reminded that the church is the people of God. The church is not the eldership. Paul wrote, “And when I arrive whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem” (1 Cor. 16:3). Was Paul just writing the letter to elders or was he not writing to the church? The congregation decided matters of judgment, the apostles decided matters of faith, and the elders took the lead in matters that involved decisions, organization, and methods employed as well as teaching that upheld the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we need to follow the same pattern. We must first ask whether God has spoken. If the Holy Spirit has addressed an issue, the decision is already made. Determined to do what the Holy Spirit reveals, we may need to decide what method we will employ to carry out the will of God. Such a decision is not the prerogative of the elders alone. They are needed to explain the problems, propose solutions, or perhaps persuade the team toward a certain action that is the wisest and most productive and within the boundaries approved by God. Rather than keeping their ideas to themselves, wise elders will communicate their vision, concerns, and plans for the future. We will have more to say about this in the next issue.



LESSONS ON THE ELDERS

Rule of: Nature of:
Eldership Repercusions