Despite what the New Testament communicates, the doctrine of biblical eldership has been sorely misunderstood. Even churches that claim to be governed by a plurality of elders have redefined eldership so that its noble purpose has been eclipsed by the ordained pastor and his staff.
To clarify biblical eldership in light of contemporary church practices, I present the following five, distinguishing features of a New Testament, Christian eldership:
- Pastoral leadership
- Shared leadership
- Male leadership
- Qualified leadership
- Servant leadership
Next chapter: Biblical Evidence for Pastoral Leadership by the Plurality of Elders