Because the work of Elders is so vitally important to the church, elders are to first, be chosen by
GOD if they are to effectively fulfill the role he or she is called by God to fill and must be
adequately trained to fulfill the varied roles and responsibilities required at the elders level of
leadership within the church. "The work of elders is unique among church leaders.As
overseers, they are responsible for everything that is related to the work of the church.As such,
the training and direction of elders fall under the ministerial Association….”(Acknowledgement
page of the Seventh Day Adventist Elders Manual)
Elders are called to a higher standard of leadership than any other role in the church. All other
roles within the church look to the elders for leadership, where the First Elder of any
congregation is second to the Pastor when he/she is present and stands in the role of giving
pastoral leadership in the absence of a pastor as it pertains to the spiritual and practical leadership
of the congregation and the church at business. No other words need to be stated than those
found in the scriptures from the apostle Paul to Timothy and Titus. As they are read, may elders
and the Emmanuel congregation see the gravity of the role and the expectations placed on those
of us who are called to the important tasks of church eldership.
Titus 1: 6-9 states the requirements of an elder plainly, 6 An elder must be blameless,faithful to
his wife, a man whose children believe [b] and are not open to the charge of being wild and
disobedient. 7 Since an overseer manages God’s household,he must be blameless—not
overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest
gain. 8 Rather, he must be hospitable,one who loves what is good,who is self-controlled, upright,
holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so
that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (NIV).
1 Timothy 3:1-7 which duplicates the word given to Titus states, Here is a trustworthy
saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above
reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate,self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,able to
teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,not a lover of
money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do
so in a manner worthy of full [a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own
family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may
become conceited and fall under the same judgmentas the devil.
7 He must also have a good
reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (NIV).
May we, as Emmanuel elders, aspire to grow continually to maintain the standards set by God
for the early church and the church today as we prepare ourselves and God’s people for His soon
return! 1Timothy 1:1 states we are called to a good work! May we be faithful in doing it,
Emmanuel Elders!