When I was growing up, my dad was clerk of session at our church. He took his role very seriously.
He taught the adult Bible study class. I can still picture him at our dining room table, poring over books and maps as he prepared to teach the book of Acts.
He played intermediary between rival factions and feuding pastors. I will never forget that, as conservative as Dad was, our home was a safe place for even the most liberal associate pastors.
And he helped keep the session on track. One of his most useful weapons to ensure efficient meetings was to smoke huge cigars, a practice shared by the pastor. Needless to say, this tactic is no longer possible in most churches. Sadly, I have yet to find a suitable substitute.
It is my father’s calling as a ruling elder that guides my understanding to this day. Like our late moderator, Cindy Bolbach, Dad understood that the strength of the church rests not only on the educated clergy (i.e., teaching elders), but also on the wise leadership of ruling elders.
Yet a number of snakes tempt us to weaken the role of ruling elders. Depending on the size and history of a congregation, some are tempted to embrace the model of pastor as CEO and ruling elders as a corporate board focused on fiduciary matters … or pastor as nonprofit director with ruling elders deployed as volunteers to run programs or raise money … or pastor as therapist/chaplain and ruling elders as the management team … or pastor as professor and ruling elders the students – a remnant of the 19th century German school’s influence.
Please don’t misunderstand. All of these roles have merit, and needs vary with each congregation. But none of those roles carries the essential responsibility of ruling elders: to serve as spiritual leaders of the church alongside teaching elders.
This is not a new practice. Moses was instructed to appoint 70 elders to rule alongside him (Numbers 11:16). Jesus chose 12 disciples, training them to go out (Matthew 10:1). Very early in the church, as the Way spread, elders were called alongside apostles: “After they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe” (Acts 14:23).
This role of elders – those to whom the church is entrusted – is still crucial. It is not just Presbyterians who feel this way. Recently I’ve gotten to know Shane Stanford, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis, Tenn. Shane and I are co-hosting the video component of the Covenant Bible Study, a 24-week Bible survey being produced by Abingdon Press.
Shane is an exceptional man. A hemophiliac who contracted AIDS in his youth, he has championed the cause of the marginalized in myriad ways. Shane’s church is successful by every common measure: inspiring worship, engaged members, generous mission, clear objectives, secure finances and plenty of staff.
Yet when Shane and I were recording the Bible study on 1 Timothy, I learned that his church has decided to add elders. Why? Because it’s not enough to have preaching and teaching elders, they’ve discovered. They also need elders who rule well (1 Tim. 5:17). As Shane put it, “We need leaders who aren’t just invested in one particular ministry or another. We need some wise elders who make sure that we are accountable to our mission and values as a congregation.”
That’s the key role of ruling elders: to make sure our churches stay on track with their mission and values. While other functions are important – fiduciary responsibility, program leadership, stewardship advocacy, infrastructure management, lifelong learning and more – they cannot supersede the primary calling.
There is no single way to protect this sacred calling. Instead, a congregation might choose from varied means to the same end. I would love to hear from others! Here are some ideas to get started:
- Expect ruling elders to exercise their spiritual leadership in one or more public arena of the church – beyond the more sequestered work of committees and session. As they discern their gifts, they might be offered a range of options, such as:
- Participating in worship leadership on a regular (and visible) basis by reading Scripture, offering prayers, ushering, welcoming baptisands, serving communion, greeting with the pastor.
- Accompanying the pastor on home and hospital visits – or in place of the pastor – where appropriate. This could provide opportunities to practice praying out loud (which is daunting to many very faithful people).
- Leading adult classes, teaching children’s Sunday school or serving as a youth adviser.
- Participating in mission opportunities and encouraging their friends to serve alongside them.
- Train ruling elders not only in the how-tos of church governance but also in theology and Bible – not just prior to ordination, but with time set aside at every session meeting.
- As elders complete their term of active service, engage in spiritual discernment about how Christ is calling them to continue to use their gifts.
- Above all, encourage ruling elders to regularly and intentionally ask this core question of every aspect of ministry: Are we “majoring in the minors,” or are we on track with Christ’s vision for our central mission and values?
