Officer Nominations - Corey Jackson
Over the next year, we will be nominating, training, and installing church officers (elders and deacons). The nomination period begins now and runs until September 1. All members of our church are invited to nominate men who are members of Trinity Park for the offices of elder and deacon.
As nomination month is now underway, I’ve received a few questions from various folks about how to think through their decision about who to nominate for office. The following is an attempt to answer some of the most frequently asked questions I’ve gotten over the years during the nomination process.
Elders
What is an elder?
An elder is someone who is called to serve a local church in the areas of shepherding, teaching, and overall leadership. Elders are called to guard the vision, direction, and doctrine of the church. They are called to care spiritually for the people of the church. In the Presbyterian form of government, elders serve the church together in what historically has been called a Session.
Where can I find the qualifications for the office of elder in the Bible?
I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 list seventeen qualifications for men who are qualified to serve in this office. Of the seventeen qualities listed, fifteen deal with character, and two deal with theological understanding and teaching ability. As Timothy and Titus were planting the first churches, they were looking for men whose character was shaped by the Gospel. Godly character is EXTREMELY important as you consider who God may be raising up to be our next elders.
After you look for character, nominate men who understand the doctrines of the Bible well and who are capable of teaching others.
How many types of elders are there?
There are two types of elders in the New Testament: Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders.
In I Tim 5:18 we have the clearest reference to Teaching Elders. At Trinity Park, I am currently the only Teaching Elder. Angus is very nearly ordained as a teaching elder in the Free Church of Scotland, and we are currently in conversations about him receiving ordination either through the Free Church or through the PCA.
Ruling Elders are men who are called to shepherd God’s people in God’s Word alongside Teaching Elders. The qualifications and responsibilities of Ruling and Teaching Elders are the same. The main difference is that Ruling Elders serve the church not as paid staff, but in addition to the other vocational work God has called them to do.
One VERY common error to avoid when nominating someone to be an elder: Some people think if you are a successful person, then you’re qualified to be an elder. Being successful at work doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be an elder, but at the same time, it also doesn’t mean you should be an elder. Don't look for someone who is successful; look for men who love Jesus and who love to teach others about him.
Here are 3 questions to ask yourself when nominating someone to be an elder:
Does this person have godly character?
Does this person care for others well spiritually?
Is this person able to teach the Bible faithfully?
Use this Nomination form to submit your nominations for the office of elder.
Deacons
Where do we find the office of deacon in Scripture?
In Acts 6:1-7, the elders were overwhelmed as they attempted to meet both word and deed needs of the church. So in Acts 6, seven men were chosen and ordained to be the first deacons. These believers - importantly - were full of wisdom and of the Holy Spirit. They were called to lead the church’s deed-oriented ministries so that the elders could keep their focus on teaching or word-oriented ministries.
What are the qualifications for the office of deacon?
We find a more specific description of their qualifications in I Tim 3:8-13:
8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Similar to the office of elder, the vast majority of these qualifications have to do with godly character. But we also find another important qualification in verse 9: “they must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.” Like elders, it is vital that deacons keep the doctrine and faith required in the Scriptures.
One VERY common error to fight against when considering who to nominate for the office of deacon: Some people think if you are a responsible business man who’s able to manage the resources of a corporation, then you’re qualified to be a deacon. But while being responsible with corporate resources doesn’t disqualify you from being a deacon, it doesn’t qualify you either. The Diaconate is much more than a committee dedicated to maintaining the building and the budget; they are a fellowship of spiritual leaders who are called to care for the physical needs of God’s people.
So, what questions should you ask yourself when you’re considering who to nominate for the office of deacon?
Does this person have godly character?
Is this person able to care for the practical needs of the church through deed-oriented service?
Would you send this person to represent God’s church by helping someone in a physical or financial crisis?
Use this Nomination form to submit your nominations for the office of deacon.