The appointment of elders is a significant practice within the early Christian church, rooted in the New Testament and serving as a foundational element for church governance and spiritual oversight. Elders, also referred to as "presbyters" in some translations, are entrusted with the leadership, teaching, and pastoral care of the congregation.

Biblical Basis

The New Testament provides several references to the appointment and role of elders. In Acts 14:23, Paul and Barnabas, during their missionary journeys, "appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed" . This passage highlights the practice of appointing elders as a deliberate and prayerful process, emphasizing the spiritual responsibility involved.

In Titus 1:5, Paul instructs Titus, "The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you" . This directive underscores the importance of establishing a structured leadership within the church to ensure sound doctrine and order.

Qualifications of Elders

The qualifications for elders are detailed in the pastoral epistles, particularly in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. These passages outline the moral and spiritual character required for those who would serve as elders. An elder must be "above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2). Additionally, they must not be "a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil" (1 Timothy 3:6).

Titus 1:7-9 further elaborates that an elder must be "blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined" . These qualifications emphasize the need for spiritual maturity and integrity in those who lead the church.

Role and Responsibilities

Elders are charged with shepherding the flock, providing spiritual oversight, and ensuring the teaching of sound doctrine. In 1 Peter 5:1-3, Peter exhorts the elders, "Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them—not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock" . This passage highlights the pastoral and exemplary nature of the elder's role.

The elders are also responsible for teaching and defending the faith. In Titus 1:9, Paul states that an elder "must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it" . This underscores the elder's role in maintaining doctrinal purity and providing instruction.

Process of Appointment

The process of appointing elders involves discernment, prayer, and often the laying on of hands, as seen in 1 Timothy 4:14, where Paul reminds Timothy, "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you" . This act symbolizes the conferring of authority and the recognition of God's calling on the individual.

The appointment of elders is a communal and spiritual endeavor, requiring the input and affirmation of the existing church leadership and congregation. It is a practice that ensures the continuity of faithful leadership and the spiritual health of the church community.