In this four-part series, Chuck Gianotti examines the role and practical implications of a full-time elder as part of a team of elders in the local church.
Lecture Outline Detailed Outline Remember ItHaving one or more elders who 1) have a large capacity, 2) can live on a shorter workweek, 3) are retired, 4) are independently wealthy.
Having elders and full-time elder who: 1) are biblically qualified as elders, 2) have strong sense of plurality of leadership, 3) support the full-time elder well 4) don’t have attitude of “That’s what we pay him for.”
- Which do you think is better: having a full-time elder or not having a full-time elder? Why?
- How can you know when the church is ready for a full-time elder?
- How do you deal with jealousy when one elder feels he should be doing more of the teaching or preaching, but another is given more opportunity?
- Talk to the pastors or full-time elders at two other churches to find out how they balance the shepherding responsibilities between the full-time elder and the rest of the elders?
- Write down a list of some practices the elders might adopt to guard against the congregation treating the full-time worker as “the pastor.”