We are stuck in the selection of elders for our church, Only one brother qualifies to be an elder. In the absence of a church eldership, who does the selecting of a faithful brother to lead the church? Please help. We very urgently need the answer.<\/p>\n\t
The design of the local church is such that one person never leads it. Elders are always mentioned in plurality in the Scriptures, so if you have only one man qualified, the church must wait until they have two or men qualified to be elders.<\/p>\n
Regarding the selection of elders, we take a hint from the appointment of the first deacons, recorded in Acts 6. “Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them<\/i>” (Acts 6:2-6). Even though the apostles were inspired men, they did not select the men to be appointed. Instead, the congregation was asked to select the men based on the qualifications given to them. Once the congregation selected the men, the apostles then appointed them to the position.<\/p>\n
Later, preachers were used to appoint elders. Lists of qualifications were sent to two preachers (Timothy and Titus) and Titus was specifically commanded to appoint elders as part of his duties. In addition, we find two other preachers, Barnabas and Paul, appointing elders in the areas where they worked. “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed<\/i>” (Acts 14:23). Thus, we learn that appointment to the eldership was not limited to just the apostles.<\/p>\n
However, don’t confuse appointment with selection. The church is to select qualified men and a preacher is to appoint them to the office.<\/p>\n\t
I agree with you. Thanks for the clarification.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: We are stuck in the selection of elders for our church, Only one brother qualifies to be an elder. In the absence of a church eldership, who does the selecting of a faithful brother to lead the church? Please help. We very urgently need the answer. Answer: The design of the local church is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[123,667],"class_list":["post-20574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-elders","tag-organization-of-the-church"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9489,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-the-current-eldership-select-additional-elders\/","url_meta":{"origin":20574,"position":0},"title":"Should the current eldership select additional elders?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 20, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is it scripturally correct for elders to choose another elder and have him installed by an outside evangelist? The process I'm speaking of was one where two elders announced to a group of the members that the elders would be \"selecting\" the new elder(s) and deacon(s). Shouldn't the \"selection\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31472,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-a-woman-be-on-the-committee-to-select-elders\/","url_meta":{"origin":20574,"position":1},"title":"Should a woman be on the committee to select elders?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, I attend the church of Christ in a small town. We are looking at appointing elders in our congregation.\u00a0 There is what I feel a potential problem, since we are so small, most of the men who have been elected as potential elders leave very little left to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41570,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-i-leave-a-congregation-with-no-elders-for-one-that-has-elders\/","url_meta":{"origin":20574,"position":2},"title":"Should I leave a congregation with no elders for one that has elders?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 14, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I worship at a church of Christ that has no elders. There are qualified men who do not desire the office. There is a sound church of Christ nearby that has elders. Am I putting my salvation in jeopardy? Should I move my membership? My desire is to be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":18265,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-a-person-leave-a-church-that-doesnt-have-elders-or-deacons\/","url_meta":{"origin":20574,"position":3},"title":"Should a person leave a church that doesn’t have elders or deacons?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 27, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: How long should a person attend a church that does not have any elders or deacons?\u00a0 What are some of the problems associated with a church not having any\u00a0elders or deacons? Answer: The follow-on question is: Are there no elders because none one currently attending is qualified, or are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19244,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-happens-when-one-of-a-congregations-two-elders-moves\/","url_meta":{"origin":20574,"position":4},"title":"What happens when one of a congregation’s two elders moves?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: When one elder relocates to another district and there is no one to replace him, who leads the church? Is it the remaining one elder? Please explain to me with clear scripture references because we have this problem at our congregation. Answer: A congregation with only one man qualified\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":38493,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-a-church-without-elders-not-following-the-scriptures\/","url_meta":{"origin":20574,"position":5},"title":"Is a church without elders not following the Scriptures?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 17, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: There are three churches of Christ in my town. I have attended all three. There is one, smaller than the other churches, that has had no elders or deacons for about 15 years. My wife likes to go there. 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