What is an elder?
Believing that the spiritual leadership of the Lord's Church should be pace-setters in spiritual matters, an example to the flock, and persons of vision and faith, we believe that an elder is well-grounded in the faith, the Word of God and a pray’er.
As an elder they are experienced in the Christian walk and they have many life experiences which help them share their hard earned wisdom through mentoring, training and teaching. They are committed to helping the individual participants of the church family apply God’s Word to their lives by both their example and personal influence.
As a shepherd they must be connected to the people. A shepherd lives with his sheep and watches over them. They protect the sheep from outside attack and from disease within. They know when to gently nudge a person in the right direction and when to boldly confront the person. They know how to comfort and encourage the flock when there is fear and how to lead the flock when there is confusion.
An elders sets the pace in their faithful stewardship of time, service and finances. They show the importance of harmony and unity in the body through their support of the Sr. Pastor and staff and their encouragement of the Ministry and Home Group Leaders.
Elders don’t hold an office they live a life and make a difference in the lives of the people they serve.
What are the requirements to become an elder at FCC?
The apostle Paul gives us clear guidance in scripture about the kind of person it takes to be an elder.
“It is a true saying that if someone wants to be an elder, he desires an honorable responsibility. For an elder must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exhibit self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, peace loving, and not one who loves money. He must manage his own family well, with children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church?
An elder must not be a new Christian, because he might be proud of being chosen so soon, and the Devil will use that pride to make him fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not fall into the Devil's trap and be disgraced.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 (The Living Bible)
Trevis Butcher
Contact Trevis at: elders@fcclewistown.org
Tim McConkey
Contact Tim at: elders@fcclewistown.org