Pastor’s Corner June 2008

The following was published in our monthly newsletter, the Redeemer Report.

Electing new elders and deacons at Redeemer

There are two ordained offices in our church–elder and deacon. In Scripture we find both teaching and ruling elders. The teaching elder or pastor is one who labors in the study of God’s Word and prayer (Acts 6:4; I Jn.5:17, Eph. 4:11). Ruling elders are elected to represent and serve local congregations (Acts 20:28; I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Along with pastors they are responsible for the spiritual oversight of the church. The deacon is the other church office found in the N. T. (mentioned in Philippians 1:1). His responsibilities are listed in Acts 6:1-6 and his qualifications in I Tim. 3:8-13. Deacons minister largely to the physical needs of the church and, in our day, they oversee the physical property also.

Both elders and deacons are identified and elected by the local congregation they are called to serve. We currently have ten active elders (three teaching elders and seven ruling elders) and four deacons. I am glad to report that we have five newly eligible men who can be nominated by the congregation for the offices of elder and deacon. Steve Baker and Travis Shanahan for the office of elder. Clint Anderson, Griff Merchant, and Larry Morse for the office of deacon. Nominations for these offices will be open for the entire month of June. To nominate one of these men, please complete a nomination form located on the coffee table and return it to the church office (or, an electronic copy can be emailed upon request).

How does one become an elder or deacon at Redeemer? Our Book of Church Order gives the general guidelines, but briefly stated, a man must be biblically qualified to serve as an elder or deacon based on the requirements of 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. The process for becoming an elder or deacon at Redeemer is a careful, lengthy one.

First, to be eligible for nomination, a man must have completed the annual Leadership Training Class that is offered every Fall. The class provides a study of the biblical method of leadership (with Jesus as THE model), instruction on how to rightly interpret Scripture, and various other leadership topical studies. There are reading assignments, memory verses, and three required inductive bible studies to be completed.

Second, men who are interested in pursuing further training toward the offices of elder or deacon meet with the pastors separately (Pastor Tony trains the elder candidates and Pastor Nathan the deacon candidates) for a 3-4 month small group study of their potential office. The candidates are given various reading assignments, scripture studies, and theological training toward their preparation for potentially serving in an ordained role. Their wives also fill out a candid questionnaire evaluating their husband’s biblical qualifications. A man is eligible for nomination only after he has completed these first two steps.

Third, a member of Redeemer must nominate one or more of the eligible men by filling out a nomination form that will require thorough knowledge of the man’s spiritual qualifications for the office.Fourth, the Session must examine nominees in the areas of: calling to the office, personal holiness, biblical and theological knowledge. All candidates must subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms to be presented for election to an ordained office at Redeemer. Each candidate takes a written exam on bible and theology before being presented to the congregation.

Fifth, the Session will call for a congregational meeting to vote on the officer candidates who have completed the process above. There is no more important vote in a Presbyterian Church than the election of men to serve as elders and deacons.

I am personally very encouraged by the current crop of potential nominees. Please lift these men in prayer and consider whether you are able to nominate one or more of them to the offices they have been identified with.

In the Lamb,
Pastor Tony Felich