Deliberate Church: Chapter 13

Section 3: Gathering Elders
Chapter 13: The Importance of Elders

Introduction
“New Testament churches are to be congregationally governed yet led by a plurality of elders who are released by servant deacons to devote themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer.”

Brief Biblical Background
Acts 20:17-38 – Shows that elder, pastor, and overseer are interchangeable terms in the NT
1 Timothy 3:1-13 – Distinguishes the office of elder from that of deacon
Acts 6:1-4 – Clarifies the distinction between elders and deacons

The Practicality of Plurality
Advantages of having a plurality of elders:
1. It balances pastoral weakness
2. It diffuses congregational criticism
3. It adds pastoral wisdom
4. It indigenizes leadership
5. It enables corrective discipline
6. It defuses “us vs. him”