1. Eldership:
In the
Disciples
Tradition
Welcome

2. Purposes To enhance elders as a community of ministry
To form elders in the spiritual aspects of their identity
To be introduced to the ministry functions of elders

3. Overview Eldership: God’s call, your vocation
God’s resources for your ministry
Experience
Scripture
Tradition
Your ministry

4. Eldership
Formation

5. (learners with the Master)
Vocation
Filling Up
Disciples
(learners with the Master)
Receiving
Students
Being
Contemplative
Pouring Out
Apostles
(sent out)
Giving
Teachers
Doing
Active

6. Most frequently asked by Elders
2 FAQ’s
Most frequently asked by Elders
WHY? (Formation)
WHAT? (Function)

7. God’s Resources for Your Ministry
Experience
(Seen through the eyes of faith)
Scripture
Tradition

8. A moment of grace
My life was touched by an elder
I was privileged to touch another life

9. ELDERSHIP: IN SCRIPTURE

10. Eldership in Scripture
II-III John
Acts 15:1-29
Acts 20:17-18, 25-29
I Peter
Teacher
Overseer
Shepherd

11. 2 John
3 John
[1] The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth,
[2] because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us for ever:
[3]Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.
[1] The elder to the beloved Ga'ius, whom I love in the truth. [2] Beloved, I pray
that all may go well with
you and that you may be in health; I know that it is well with your soul. [3] For I greatly rejoiced when some of the brethren arrived and testified to the truth of your life, as indeed you do follow the truth. [4] No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth.

12. Eldership Voices (track 4)

13. I Peter 5
[1] So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed.
[2] Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly,
[3] not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock.
[4] And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory.

14. ELDERSHIP: IN THE DISCIPLES TRADITION

15. Disciples Theology of Ministry
Christ’s Ministry (not ours)
Bequeathed to the Church
Specific Functions

16. Gifts and Graces
Qualifications
“Re-presentation”
Communal
Inner Call
Validation/authorization
Support

17. Evangelists
Elders
Teachers
Shepherds
Overseers
Presiders
Deacons

18. Ronald Osborn summarizes our tradition of the eldership:
The office of ministry in a Christian congregation
rested primarily in the eldership, a select body of
upright men ordained to preside over the life of the
church, to exercise pastoral oversight, to teach the
word of God, to maintain discipline, to minister at the
table, to set an example to the flock. In a given
congregation, most, if not all, of these men earned
their living at secular vocations. But they were
appointed to minister in the church of God.
The genius of our tradition is that ELDERS dispense
grace, not just clergy.

19. Eldership
Functions

20. Rating Your Congregation’s Eldership
UNIT II
ITEM EIGHTEEN
Rating Your Congregation’s Eldership
What quantity of the traditional elder functions is your eldership performing? Take a moment to reflect quietly and mark each functional area with an assessment number. Use a one (1) to indicate the lowest assessment and a six (6) for the highest assessment. After giving your number to the tabulator of the group, fell free to share your reasons for your assessment with your group.
TEACHING
SHEPHERDING
OVERSEEING

21. ELDERSHIP: AS ELDERS TEACH

22. ELDERSHIP: AS ELDERS SHEPHERD

23. ELDERSHIP: AS ELDERS CELEBRATE THE LORD’S SUPPER

24. Table Prayer Structure THANKSGIVING (Eucharist) Creator/Father
REMEMBRANCE (Anamnesis)
INVOCATION (Epiklesis)
COMMITMENT (Koinonia)
Creator/Father
Redeemer/Son
Transformer/Holy Spirit
Ministry/Church

25. ELDERSHIP: AS ELDERS OVERSEE

26. Course Purposes
1. To improve congregation’s knowledge and understanding of the ministry of eldership, and characteristics desired of those in that ministry.
2. To foster elders and their congregations in becoming support communities of ministry.
3. To claim identity from biblical and historical rootage for the eldership.
4. To help perceive and practice eldership as a ministry with flexibility.

27. Course Purposes (con’t)
5. To enable knowledgeable and effective ministry as teachers, shepherds, celebrants of the Lord’s Supper, and overseers.
6. To encourage communication and support in ministry among clergy, diaconate, and eldership.
7. To offer ways to enrich the life of prayer of individuals and groups.
8. To offer guidance for the ongoing life of the eldership.

28. Eldership Voices (track 20)