Necessity of an Eldership

A few years ago, concern was expressed over a shortage of capable preachers. Today, however, we face an even greater problem: a shortage of shepherds. More and more congregations are operating without elders, and in many areas, elders seem to be an endangered species. How can a congregation exist for fifteen or twenty years, and never have at least two men qualified to serve as elders?

Reasons for Elders in the Local Church

God has specified that the local church be organized. The one true God is a God of harmony and unity. He did not leave the earth without form but created it with an elaborate system of order. The unity and harmony of the Bible—unmatched by any other book—clearly demonstrate God’s orderly nature. It would be completely inconsistent with God’s character to leave the church without established order.

The New Testament shows that God intended the church to be fully organized. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11). A lack of organization leads to confusion, which destroys peace. God is not the author of confusion, but of peace and order (1 Cor. 14:33).

God has commanded that congregations have elderships. Through approved apostolic examples, God has given authority for elders in every local church. While returning from their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in congregations such as Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (Acts 14:23). Paul also instructed Titus to appoint elders in every city on the island of Crete: “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1:5).

This responsibility was not optional—neither for Titus nor for the congregations. It is God’s will that someone oversee the church, shepherd the flock, and rule the congregation (1 Pet. 5:2; Heb. 13:17; Acts 20:28). Elders are the divinely appointed men entrusted with this work.

The Importance of Elders

Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the importance of elders. Paul and Barnabas delivered benevolent funds to the elders, who then distributed them to needy saints (Acts 11:27–30). Elders were named alongside the apostles at the Jerusalem meeting concerning circumcision (Acts 15:1–22). Paul appointed elders and provided detailed qualifications for them (Acts 14:23; 1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). He also held an extended discussion with the Ephesian elders at Miletus (Acts 20:17–32). Peter, himself an elder, exhorted fellow elders in 1 Peter 5:1–4. All of this demonstrates the critical role elders played in the early church.

Elderships are a manifestation of the manifold wisdom of God (Eph. 3:11). God’s organization of the New Testament church clearly reflects divine wisdom. No institution has been subjected to more humanly devised organizational changes than the church. God’s design stands in sharp contrast to human innovation.

Man would never have chosen the qualifications God established for elders, which is why many attempt to alter or dismiss them. Man would not have seen the wisdom of a plurality of elders, nor the wisdom of limiting their oversight to a single local congregation. Human inability to understand God’s design has led many to trust their own wisdom instead. Yet God’s ways are higher than man’s ways (Isa. 55:8–9).

The Need for Shepherd Leadership

The church desperately needs the leadership of qualified elders. Like a flock, the church requires shepherds for guidance and care. Sheep are dependent creatures that cannot survive without leadership. Jesus recognized this truth when He saw the crowds “like sheep not having a shepherd” and was moved with compassion for them (Mark 6:34).

Sheep do not fare well without a caring shepherd. Scripture shows that when God’s people lack proper leadership, serious problems arise. Through Ezekiel, God condemned the leaders of Israel who failed to shepherd the flock, allowing it to become scattered and preyed upon (Ezek. 34:5, 8). God views ineffective or absent leadership in the same way today.

Every congregation needs leaders who can make sound, scriptural decisions. When elders are absent, decisions often devolve into political maneuvering. In some congregations, even boys as young as ten are given the same decision-making authority as mature men. Elders are God’s appointed decision-makers for the church. Their age and life experience equip them to handle complex spiritual matters—experience that younger men simply do not yet possess.

No Substitute for Elders

A great deal of work must be done by qualified men (1 Tim. 3:1). The spiritual care of a congregation requires men capable of handling the complexities of human relationships and spiritual needs. Wayward members must be admonished and restored. The flock must be fed, protected, and guided. Although a church can exist without elders, no adequate substitute exists. God calls the work of an elder a “good work” (1 Tim. 3:1), emphasizing that it is both necessary and active.

There is no scriptural substitute for qualified elders. Business meetings are not an adequate replacement. They may serve as a temporary expedient when qualified men are unavailable, but many congregations have allowed them to become the norm rather than the exception. No matter how efficiently conducted, a business meeting cannot shepherd, oversee, and rule the church as elders are commanded to do.

Spiritually minded men are not substitutes for elders. Neither are preachers. Making a preacher the “pastor” is a denominational concept, not a biblical one. Christ’s law provides no alternative arrangement.

Elders and Spiritual Stability

Elders play a vital role in preventing doctrinal error and apostasy (Acts 20:29–31). While it is true that some elderships have caused problems, faithful elders can identify and confront false teachers before they destroy the flock. The spiritual well-being of the church—and even of the nation—depends heavily on the leadership of elders, preachers, and other godly men who promote righteousness (Prov. 14:34).

A lack of leadership inevitably leads to a lack of growth. Proper growth requires nourishment, protection, and guidance, all of which godly elders can provide. Many hardworking congregations fail to grow or expand the borders of God’s kingdom because they have neglected to develop elders. A future lesson will focus on preparing and developing elders for the next generation.

By Daniel R. Vess