Elders of good repute

[C.F.W. Walther]

Just curious as to how many elders have gone through a training session augmented by the pastor on the responsibilities of the elder. Also have been responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of the congregation and pastor and coordinate social ministries? Also qualified for the premiss' set up in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11In the same way, their wives[a (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%203:8-13&version=31#fen-NIV-29727a)] are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.





:scratch:

[BigNorsk]

Well in my congregation, I can answer they all have at least once had training.

Two of the seminary professors came out and presented a day long teaching on what an elder is, what he does, and so on.

All the elders were there, as well as their wives (terrible thing to do to an elder, teach his wife his responsibilities), and several other deacons and members of the congregation.

Marv

[C.F.W. Walther]

I've had some unusuall circumstances with elders and just wondered if training was unilateral in most Lutheran churches. I just think it shooud be.

I've had one elder want to tell me dirty jokes. Another one scamed me on a truck when it was supposed to be in decent condition. Another one is living with a woman and her children and not married. Also one has been in several alchoholic accidents and done considerable damage to himself, thankfully no on else. I know everyone is a sinfull human being but I would think that they should be some kind of an example.

The idea that BigNorsk brought up in another thread about the elders/decons (not bishops) being ordained is something that I've read biblicaly as a calling. This would tighten the gap between clerics and parishoners. Wonder why it's ignored?








:scratch:

[BigNorsk]

The thing that I see as almost the most damaging way people look at serving on the church board or however the functions of elders and deacons is being done in different congregations is that by and large I find people just think of their service as a temporary thing until they can get someone else to take it.

Not every elder serves for life, there are various reasons why a person would step down or be removed and they aren't all for sin, declining health is the major reason. But generally our elders do indeed serve for long times.

We generally don't see someone become a pastor with the idea he's just going to fill in until he can find someone else to stick with the job and then get on with his life. Yet that's very prevalent in positions that are supposed to be making very important decisions and deciding how to serve people.

I'm not surprised when congregations that require everything to go through boards made up of people who don't see their service as a calling from God, but a temporary inconvenience in their life, don't florish.

It seems pretty popular to blame things like declining membership, revenues and such on the few people in the leadership positions in the synod, but I have to say the numbers who actually do join or leave or get active or not have very little to do with the few leaders and much to do with the local congregations.

I would bet, if you go door to door, evangelising this week, that not many who open their doors are going to ask you who the President of the Synod is or what his position is on certain things. They are going to be much more concerned with your local congregation and what is it doing that's going to take care of what they want from a church.

Marv

[Edial]

Just curious as to how many elders have gone through a training session augmented by the pastor on the responsibilities of the elder. Also have been responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of the congregation and pastor and coordinate social ministries? Also qualified for the premiss' set up in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11In the same way, their wives[a (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%203:8-13&version=31#fen-NIV-29727a)] are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.





:scratch:
:D :) .
Biblical definition for an elder? :eek: :)

It is a dying art. :)

But we fight well. That should count for something.
We also say that we have the truth and others better follow us. :)
Oh well.

Thanks,
Ed

[C.F.W. Walther]

:D :) .
Biblical definition for an elder? :eek: :)

It is a dying art. :)

But we fight well. That should count for something.
We also say that we have the truth and others better follow us. :)
Oh well.

Thanks,
Ed

To the Elders:

Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

I TImothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

1 Peter 5:5 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=67&chapter=5&verse=5&version=9&context=verse) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Actually I'm not sure if the conotations for elder and bishop are discribed today as they were in apostolic times



:scratch:

[Edial]

To the Elders:

Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

I TImothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

1 Peter 5:5 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=67&chapter=5&verse=5&version=9&context=verse) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Actually I'm not sure if the conotations for elder and bishop are discribed today as they were in apostolic times



:scratch:
I think that the requirements for elders never really changed. :)

It is that we find ourselves not finding many that do qualify. I think it is a problem.

Thanks,
Ed

[Jim47]

In my church, WELS, the elders are a part of the church council. Elders are nominated by the church council and Pastor and fiannly voted on by the voters for final approval. Our terms of office are 3 years. We are allowed to serve 2 consecutive terms by our constitution and then we have to be out of office for a period of 1 year. Many of the elders have served many terms, sometimes with only a 1 year leave.

As for training, yes we go through a bunch of training. We have monthely meetings and at least 1/2 of this meeting is spent in bible study and other training. I am of the belief that you never reach a state of being fully trained, just as we never reach a state of full sanctifaction in this life.