HOME

Guidelines for Elders at NewSong

According to our bylaws the Board of Elders at NewSong shall exercise authority on behalf of Christ, establishing and maintaining the policies and practices of the Church, to the glory of God.

Qualifications. All Elders must be and remain members of the Church in good standing during their tenure. Elders shall be persons of mature Christian faith who have demonstrated exemplary Christian character and maturity and be capable of efficiently discharging the duties that pertain to this office.

The following is a list of biblical qualifications an elder should possess. Elders aren’t expected to be perfect people, but if they are clearly and persistently lacking in the qualities listed below, they should not be serving as an elder. An elder should be:

1. above reproach (lit. "blameless") 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7. This qualification is the summation of all of the rest. It means that there is nothing in the elder’s life that would justify a legitimate accusation of misconduct or call the person’s character into question.
2. sexually pure and faithful (lit. "a one-woman man") 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6. We do not believe this verse forbids women from serving as elders. We believe it means whether one is single or married, they must be living a sexually pure life. For a married elder, it also means that he/she is faithfully devoted to loving their spouse (Ephesians 5:25; 1 Peter 3:7).
3. temperate (moderate, not given to excess) 1 Timothy 3:2. In all areas of life, an elder must be calm, well-balanced, and capable of clear thinking and sound judgment.
4. sober-minded (a sensible, serious person) 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8. This does not mean that an elder can’t laugh, joke or play. It means they lead a disciplined life, not allowing frivolous activities to distract them from more serious and important concerns.
5. of good behavior (respectable, orderly) 1 Timothy 3:2. The opposite of the Greek in this case is chaos (utter confusion). An elder's outward behavior must demonstrate decency, orderliness, and self-control.
6. hospitable (lit. "one who loves strangers") 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8. An elder must be one who shows genuine kindness and hospitality, not only to members of the church, but also to people they do not know well.
7. able to teach (lit. "skilled in teaching") 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9. An elder should be an able teacher and defender of the truth (cf. 2 Timothy 2:2, 24; 2:15; Titus 2:7-8).
8. not given to wine (lit. "not a drinker" or "not addicted to wine") 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7. Though not an absolute prohibition, this is a serious warning that an elder cannot be preoccupied with alcohol or known as a “drinker.”
9. not violent (lit. not "a giver of blows," or "a striker") 1Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7. An elder must solve problems and settle disputes peacefully, using persuasive words and a calm demeanor, not fists or other weapons.
10. gentle (patient, gracious, forgiving) 1 Timothy 3:3; 2 Timothy 2:24. An elder must not hold grudges or be slow to forgive. They must patiently bear with those who are needy, difficult, reluctant to change, or slow to learn.
11. not quick-tempered (slow to anger) Titus 1:7; James 1:19-20. Anger in itself is not always a sin. There is a righteous sort of anger. An elder, though, must recognize and control any propensity to anger.
12. not quarrelsome (not argumentative) 1 Timothy 3:3; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; James 3:13-18. While they must be willing and able to defend the truth, elders must not allow themselves to become embroiled in hostile disputes or petty arguments.
13. just (righteous or upright) Titus 1:8. Elders are known for doing what is right. They live lives of practical righteousness, trying to reflect God's view in every decision they make.
14. holy (lit. "devout" or "set apart to God") Titus 1:8. An elder must be firmly committed to God and His Word. They must be faithful to the ministry and to biblical doctrine.
15. self-controlled (or self-disciplined) Titus 1:8. Elders must be disciplined in terms of their response to physical desires for food, pleasure, comfort, money, sleep, sex, or anything else which could cause them to stumble.
16. not covetous (not a lover of money) 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:2. An elder cannot be motivated in the ministry by financial gain or be greedy.
17. must handle their own house well (a good manager and leader) 1 Timothy 3:4; Titus 1:6 An elder must manage their own household well including children (if they have children), personal finances, and other aspects of the household.
18. not a novice (not a new or immature believer) 1 Timothy 3:6. An elder must be a mature believer, especially in relation to others in their own church.
19. must have a good testimony among outsiders (well respected even by unbelievers in the community) 1 Timothy 3:7. An elder must have a consistently good testimony in all places and with all people (aside from those who would persecute them or accuse them falsely), even outside the church.
20. must serve, not by compulsion, but willingly . . . eagerly (they must desire to serve) 1 Peter 5:2; 1 Timothy 3:1. Elders must not be pressured into service if it is not their personal desire to serve in this capacity. An elder's desire to serve must be God-given and their motives pure.
21. not self-willed (not anxious to control others or to have their own way) Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:3. An elder must not be anxious to dominate or control others. Elders should be good “team players.”
22. an example to the flock: 1 Peter 5:3; Titus 2:7 An elder will not be perfect, but they must lead by instruction and example, according to God's Word.