Not surprisingly, the New Testament views elders as shepherds as well (e.g. Acts ; 1 Peter -4). The elders' mission is to lead, teach, protect and love their church members the way shepherds care for the sheep in a flock, so that the church members will grow up into spiritual maturity (Ephesians -13).
The appointment is the congregation's recognition or affirmation that a prospective elder possesses the biblical qualifications found in 1 Tim. –7 and Titus –9. It is the acknowledgment, “This man is biblically qualified and evidently a gift of Christ to our church” (Eph. ).
Title: Choosing Your Elders Pray. Pursue someone you feel led to ask. Ask. If they decline, you're done. If they agree, share their name with the elders. The elders meet with. Candidates put on ballot if no serious issues. Church votes; super majority of members who vote required.
Elders are given 5 specific responsibilities: Prayer, Preaching, Policy, Protection and Pastoral Care.
Being an Elder is not defined by age, but rather Elders are recognized because they have earned the respect of their community through wisdom, harmony and balance of their actions in their teachings.
The single, overarching qualification of which the rest are supportive is that he is to be “above reproach.” That is, he must be a leader who cannot be accused of anything sinful because he has a sustained reputation for blamelessness.
An elder and a deacon are both given leadership roles to build up the body of Christ. Today, both men and women can be elders in most churches. Also, there is no specific age when someone can be ordained as an elder.
However, in an elder-led system the elders make decisions that are approved or denied by the congregation through a congregational vote. In an elder-rule church no congregational approval is needed in order for the elders to make a decision within the sphere of authority God has granted them (see Question #5).