RM Value 4 - Elders in each local church
Below is a re-post blog from our dear friends at PLANT NIJMEGEN outlining the key values our network of churches (Relational Mission) holds dear. We recently sent a wonderful couple called Ben and Mikka Parker to be part of the core team that is pioneering the church plant. Ben served as an elder at Redeemer, and Mikka was on staff. They helped plant Redeemer in 2015 and are going again. Head to the PLANT NIJMEGEN website to find out more.
In our previous posts we’ve been looking at 3 doctrinal values. In the coming 3 posts we will be looking at 3 leadership values. We seek to build churches with:
1. Elders in each local church
2. Ephesians 4 ministries
3. Servant-hearted leadership.
Elders in each local church because this is the structure for leadership we see in the New Testament churches, Ephesians 4 ministries because they are God-given gifts within the church to bring itself to maturity and Servant-hearted because this is the culture of leadership Jesus modelled to us.
In this blog post we will look at what it means for a church to be led by elders.
Good leaders are a gift. Businesses, schools, sports teams, governments and churches can flourish when good leaders lead well. Leadership brings energy, clarity, direction and helps to unleash creativity to pursue a combined mission. Jesus left his disciples with a clear mission; to reach the nations and make disciples. And he appointed its first leaders; the Apostles, to help and guide his people into this mission. When the mission started to expand into new regions, Apostles in their turn appoint leaders in each of the local churches. These leaders in the New Testament are called elders. They are also at times called overseers or shepherds (Acts 20). These names are used interchangeably and describe different aspects of the role and character of elders. Elders don’t lead exclusively, they are responsible for raising up and releasing many other leaders in the church so it can grow and build itself up.
The term elder describes their maturity and character. Elders are to be mature, faithful, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach and a good leader of their own families (1 Tim 3, Titus 1). The term overseer describes the role of an elder. It is a term that was used for a city official who was responsible for the affairs of the city. Elders are responsible for overseeing the affairs of the church. They do not so alone or exclusively but they bring structure and guidance so everyone can play their part. The term shepherd describes the way elders lead. The job of a shepherd was not glamorous. It meant long days in close proximity with their sheep protecting and guiding them. Elders without character are dangerous. Overseers without deep care for people are cold. Shepherds who bring care but no direction are ineffective. But mature, capable, caring leaders bring fruitfulness.
In the bible the church is never described as an organisation instead the image of a family is used. Therefore, its leadership is structured like a family, not a business. Elders are fathers to the church in the way they lead and care. Therefore the role of elderhip in the bible is always fulfilled by men. Eldership is a specific calling by God for some men to represent the fatherly care of God the father himself to his church. Under their care everyone will find a place to play a part regardless of their age, sex or ethnicity.
Elders are always mentioned in plural in the bible. They are to function like a team and never operate in isolation. Elders shepherd, teach, lead (by example), equip and release others to lead. They are accountable to God, apostles (more about this in future posts), each other and the church and work together with deacons who bring practical oversight in areas of church life to help elders oversee the affairs of the church well. We are called to follow their leadership by active, intelligent and generous participation and invite them to speak into our lives whilst we pray for them with care.
Sadly, there are plenty of examples of leaders in the world that have not functioned well. Often either leadership is dominant or absent. The church is no exception to this. Due to bad experiences it’s easy to approach leadership with suspicion and quick criticism. As a church planting team, we are fully aware that both leaders and followers are still people and not perfect. Yet we are wholeheartedly committed to lead and follow in a way that honours God. It’s for that reason we seek to lead humbly whilst being accountable to our apostolic team, each other and the church community. It’s in the godly care and leadership from elders and the generous submission of the church that we have a unique opportunity to display something of the beautiful relationship between God and his people through Jesus. Jesus did not come to be the boss, but win the hearts of his people by laying down his life for his people. Shepherds after God's own heart do so too. It’s our desire to see Nijmegen filled with people who are able to lead in every area life in the same way.
A church can survive without a building and coffee. Yet no church will function well without leadership. Therefore, It’s our mission to raise up elders who are able to release many others to lead in the area of gifting God has given them. Some elders we will need to lead the church as it gets started, some elders to prepare for future growth and many elders to give away to plant healthy fruitful churches all across the Netherlands and the rest of Europe.
Wouter Vertegaal
Team leader at Plant Nijmegen
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