Elders/ Overseers

Biblical Teaching

The terms "elders" and "overseers" are interchangeable and designate the primary spiritual leaders of the church (Titus 1:5, 7; Acts 20: 17, 28). The term "elder" emphasizes maturity and "overseer" emphasizes the leadership responsibility.   Ideally the local church has a plurality of elders (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 4:14; 5:17; Titus 1:5; James 5:14).   Elders are equal in authority, but not equal in influence.  Their authority is to be expressed in loving leadership and not lording over the flock (1 Peter 5:3; Hebrews 13:17).  God has designated men as elder/overseers (see "Women in Ministry" document).

Elders have final responsibility before God for prayer ministry (James 5:14), ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4) including teaching and guarding the church's doctrine (Acts 20:27-31; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:9), the administration of the church (1 Timothy 3:5), and shepherding the flock (1 Peter 5:2).

Elders are responsible for the whole flock, but they are not the only ones who shepherd. The gift of pastor (Ephesians 4:11) involves shepherding, but is different from the office of elder/overseer.   We use the term "pastor" for some of our leaders, whether men or women, who direct ministries.  They shepherd part of the flock under the elders' authority.  Elders are "pastors" (1 Peter 5:1-2), but we distinguish their office by the term "elder" or "overseer".  We use the term "deacon" for the office held by men and women who serve under the elders to meet practical needs in the church.

Elders must be blameless in character (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), able to teach Scripture (1 Timothy 3:2; 5:17), and answer those who contradict it (Titus 1:9). An elder must be the "husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2; 3:12).  We understand that this qualification does not exclude an unmarried person, someone remarried after the death of a spouse, nor necessarily one who has divorced and remarried.  The phrase describes a reputation as a "faithful" husband or a "one-wife kind of man" (see Divorce and Remarriage document). 

Elders are public leaders, and so valid accusation of blame should only be accepted by two or three witnesses and result in public rebuke (1 Timothy 5:19-20).

 In Scripture elders were selected by the original church planter (Acts 14:23) or by other elders (Titus 1:5), with recognition from the congregation for its leaders (Acts 6:3; 15:22-23).  Scripture does not describe how elders should organize themselves, so this is determined by church size, cultural context and specific needs of the body.