1. LCC East District Congregational Leaders’ Workshop Saturday April 23, 2016

2. 1. Welcome and Introduction 2. Opening Prayer 3. Your thoughts on the Role of An Elder ◦ Why Should a Congregation Have Elders ◦ What are the Responsibilities of an Elder ◦ What Spiritual Gifts or Talents should an Elder Have ◦ What Makes an Effective Elder 4. Why Should a Congregation have Elders 5. Responsibilities of An Elder 6. Character of An Elder 7. What Makes an Effective Elder 8. Other Ways in Which an Elder Can be Effective 9. How Should Elders be Organized to Care and Serve 10. Concluding Thoughts and Reflections 11. Closing Prayer

3.  Presenters – Rudy Beharrysingh & Jeff Kriwetz Christ Our King Lutheran Church Mississauga, Ontario  Attendees – Introduction  Opening Prayer

4.  Why should a congregation have Elders  Responsibilities & Purpose of Elders  Spiritual Gifts or Talents required  What makes an Effective Elder

5.  Sharing God’s Care for One Another ◦ A Planning Guide for the Board of Elders  Author – Peter L. Steinke  The Caring Elder ◦ A Training Manual for Serving  Author – Victor A. Constien

6.  Caring Within Communities ◦ Goal of Christianity is to make communities of people through their common faith in Christ ◦ Community is a face-to-face group ◦ Each has the liability to care for the other ◦ Congregation becomes a community s people share in God’s Word and Sacraments ◦ As a community, congregation depends notonly on the pastor, but on each other for personal care

7.  How are Elders viewed ◦ What do you think?

8.  Elders are ordinary people, not qualified to guide one’s spiritual life  Elders are just part of the organizational setup  Congregations don’t do a good job of training elders  Elders in Old and New Testaments were viewed differently than today’s elders

9.  Acted for the whole people of Israel  Took God’s Word from Moses to the people  Hebrew word for Elders means ‘bearded ones’ ◦ Age, wisdom, experience, influence  Served as judicial and military leaders  Elders were leaders in the exodus of Israel from Egypt  Kings used them for advice and support

10.  Sanhedrin in Jesus’ time was Council of Elders  In first church in Antioch, elders handled administrative duties; apostles preached  Elders appointed as guardians of God’s people as churches were formed by Paul & Barnabas  After apostles left, Elders preserved teaching of the apostles  Elders expected to be models for believers

11.  God does not mandate elders  Pastors are required to exercise the Office of the Keys

12.  Close relationship with the Pastor ◦ Assistants to the Pastor ◦ Work in close relationship to the Pastor ◦ Help generate excitement for the Word of God ◦ Provide support for preaching and teaching the Word ◦ If team ministry with two pastors, elders help to strengthen relationship between the pastors

13.  General Expectations ◦ Model Christian worship ◦ Feel responsible for spiritual welfare of members  Motivators for meaningful membership  Vessels through whom God shares His love  Agents of warnings and comfort ◦ Elders seek total spiritual health of members ◦ Assist the pastor in spiritual welfare activities

14.  Pray for the pastor and his family  Ensure Word of God is preached in truth and purity  Assist Pastor in counseling difficult cases  Encourage spiritual growth of church members  Direct and supervise visits to church members  Get to know members

15.  Determine membership eligibility  Exercise church discipline  Maintain proper relationship with LCC  Engage in member conservation  Supervise instruction for children, youth, adults for baptism, confirmation  Friendly welcome for visitors  Assist and advise auxiliary organizations

16.  Participate in elders’ training  Handle vacancy situations  Prepare budget for pastoral & worship supplies

17.  Assist as readers  Assist in distributing the Lord’s Supper  Accompany Pastor in visits to sick to serve Communion  Represent the congregation in baptisms  May assist in marriages or funerals  May assist in greeting visitors

18.  Elders first appointed at Antioch ◦ Good Christian behaviour ◦ Filled with the Holy Spirit ◦ Filled with wisdom  Current requirements for an Elder ◦ Stable, balanced Christian character ◦ Able to handle more practical assignments ◦ Model Christians

19.  Elders as described by Paul in 1 Tim. 3: 8-13 ◦ Serious and sincere ◦ Not greedy ◦ Belief in forgiving mercy of God through Christ ◦ Blameless, above reproach ◦ A model for Christian marriage ◦ Good managers of the children & household

20.  Willingness to learn and grow in God’s grace  Demonstrate a strong faith  Participate in worship services & Bible study  Pray regularly for church members  Work with their families to strengthen relations  Exhibit mental and emotional stability  Able to cultivate good relationships  Willing to forgive

21.  Elders act to help liberate people from the power of sin  Elders search for opportunities to lighten the burden of others  Elders act through the Holy Spirit working in them  Elders act with Godly wisdom

22.  Jesus came to serve, not to be served (Matt. 20:28)  Elders lead by serving  Elders minister with loving care  Elders role is personal & person-centred  Elders provide care for the church members  Elders take care, not take charge  Care can take many forms  Elders serve one by one

23.  An elder lets the one seeking the care to set the agenda  Elders love people as they are  He cares without imposing conditions  He does not show grumpiness or body language  Elders are caring without being pushy  Courage to care comes from Word & Sacraments

24.  Elders work at Worship ◦ Support Word and Sacrament ministry through prayer, reflection and participation ◦ Faithful worship leads to growth in service of God  Elders engage in Private Worship ◦ Daily reading of the Bible, meditation & prayer ◦ Assures Elder of his reconciliation with God through Christ

25.  Elders Worship with Their families ◦ Elders do daily devotions with their families  Elders Worship at Meeting Too ◦ Elders study about prayer ◦ Elders do Bible study  Elders as Ushers at Services ◦ Elders help those with physical needs  Elders Pray  In visits, meetings, at home

26.  Elders Get into Their Bibles ◦ Elders study to learn and teach God’s Word ◦ Elders learn to face challenges to their faith ◦ Elders discover the transcending peace of God ◦ Elders are empowered to put Jesus first

27.  Through small group Bible studies  Through home visits  Through home Bible study sessions  Through contacts with families ◦ Being aware of family life events ◦ Caring for the weak, straying, or careless ◦ Through witnessing ◦ Through giving them what they need – the Word of God

28.  Through support in times of need ◦ When someone is sick ◦ When someone is dying ◦ When someone is grieving  Through fellowship  Though good stewardship

29.  Board of Elders  Organizing in Zones

30.  Review of responses to beginning questions: ◦ Why should a congregation have Elders ◦ Responsibilities & Purpose of Elders ◦ Spiritual Gifts or Talents required ◦ What makes an Effective Elder

31.  Church of Jesus is a hospital for sinners  Ideas presented are ideals to strive for  Practices you can employ to be a better Elder  Thanks for attending  Closing Prayer