Freedom Fellowship Elder Qualification Guidelines

Freedom Fellowship Elders are put forth by the congregation and undergo a robust screening and interview process before they are eligible for election to the Elder body. Accepting the volunteer role of Elder is not something to be taken lightly; Elders make extensive time commitments and take on deep spiritual responsibility in leading Freedom Fellowship, and we are grateful for their selfless service on our behalf.

Elder Prerequisites

• Elders must have attended Freedom for at least two years.
• Elders must be participating members of Freedom Fellowship and set a biblical example of tithing.
• Elders must have participated in a small group.
• Elders must have served in a church leadership role.
• Elders must have demonstrated a willingness to serve multiple ministries within the church.
• Elders must be known to be of good reputation and demonstrates a servant heart.

Examples of Time Commitment for Elders

• Elders’ meeting—at least one evening per month.
• Elders’ retreat—one weekend per year.
• Four to six hours (on average) per month for review of Elder body materials, policies, correspondence, meeting preparation, and team conference calls.
• In addition to the regular Elders' meeting, additional ministry responsibilities may require additional hours each month, depending on the ministry requirements.
• If serious issues arise that require immediate attention by the Elder body, additional hours may be required outside of regular Elders' meetings.
• Essentially, on call to be available for communication within 24 hours. Much of elder communication can be successfully handled by text and email.

Scriptural Overview of the Role of Elder

General Overview

Scripture verses that address the role of an Elder: Titus 1:5,9; I Peter 5:1–4; Acts 20:28–31; James 5:14

At Freedom Fellowship, our Elders:

• Carry the ultimate responsibility and authority to see that the church remains on a true biblical course; that its members are being appropriately shepherded, that the body is being fed through insightful and accurate biblical teaching, and that the life of the church is being well managed with the assistance of competent and godly leaders.
• Guard the body of Christ against harmful influences, confronting those who are contradicting biblical truth or continuing in a pattern of sinful behavior.
• Shepherd the church by being an example and role model.
• Care about the spiritual and physical well being of members; pray regularly for the sick.

Specific Duties

The Elders of Freedom Fellowship are responsible for the following, but may delegate to qualified others in the body so these duties are carried out effectively.

Provide Spiritual Oversight

• Ensure our ministries support the Statement of Beliefs
• Confront false teaching and behavior contradictory to biblical truth and implement appropriate church discipline
• Honor Baptism and Communion as instituted by Christ
• Review and evaluate teaching and curricula for biblical accuracy and consistency with Freedom values
• Encourage benevolence ministry

Shepherding

• Participate (as needed) in the biblical process of conflict resolution outlined by Jesus in Matthew 18
• Direct people into appropriate processes for guidance, assistance, and problem resolution
• Respond to communication from the church body, Servant Leaders, or public

Manage the Church

• Affirm the annual Freedom budget
• Encourage the Servant Leaders, teaching ministers, and other volunteers
• Remove any leader who requires dismissal for cause
• Maintain accountability among the Elder body
• Delegate to qualified Servant Leaders,  members of Freedom, and/or outside experts as needed
• Delegate to qualified teams to meet a functional need:

Intercessory Prayer

• Encourage and affirm the intercessory prayer by Servant Leaders and the Prayer Team
• As an Elder group, pray for the sick as needed

Essential Components of an Elder

The biblical teaching on church leadership begins and ends with the character of the individuals who are called to the leadership team of the church. Our evaluation of individuals who aspire to serve as Elders at Freedom Fellowship of NWA includes a comprehensive process to evaluate the “Five Cs,” with the primary focus on Character.

1. First “C”—Character (1 Timothy 3:2–7 and Titus 1:6–9)

• Above reproach—Elders must lead by example and demonstrate a lifestyle free from patterns of sin.
• Husband of one wife—Elders, if married, must be devoted spouses.
• Temperate—Elders must be self-controlled, enslaved to nothing, and free from excesses.
• Prudent—Elders must be sober, sensible, wise, balanced in judgment, not given to quick, superficial decisions based on immature thinking.
• Respectable—Elders must demonstrate a well-ordered life and honorable behavior.
• Hospitable—Elders must be unselfish with personal resources, willing to share blessings with others.
• Able to teach—Elders must be able to communicate truth and sound doctrine in a non-argumentative way. (may be large group setting, small group setting, or one-to-one)
• Not addicted to wine—Elders must be free from addictions and willing to limit their liberty for the sake of others.
• Not pugnacious or quick-tempered—Elders must be gentle, patient, and able to exercise self-control in difficult situations.
• Uncontentious—Elders must not be given to quarreling or selfish argumentation.
• Free from the love of money—Elders must not be stingy, greedy, or for sordid gain, or preoccupied with amassing material things.
• Manage own household—Elders must have a well-ordered household and a healthy family life.
• Not a new convert/not a new believer—Elders must not be new believers. They must have been a Christian long enough to demonstrate the reality of their conversion and depth of spirituality.
• Good reputation with outsiders—Elders must be well-respected by unbelievers and free from hypocrisy.
• Not self-willed—Elders must not be stubborn, or prone to forcing their opinions on others or abusing authority. They must be servant-minded.
• Loving what is good—Elders must desire the will of God in every decision.
• Just—Elders must desire to be fair and impartial. Their judgments must be based on scriptural principles and allow for due process.
• Devout—Elders must be devoted Christ followers, seeking to be conformed to His image. They must be committed to prayer, worship, the study of Scripture, and the guarding of their spiritual walk.
• Holding fast the faithful Word—Elders must be stable in the faith, obedient to the Word of God, and continually seeking to be led by the Holy Spirit.

2. Second “C”—Competence: Defined as specific, spiritual gifts and abilities, combined with skills acquired through training and life experience.

3. Third “C”—Chemistry: The intangible quality of being able to “fit” within the existing team. The ability to blend into and enrich the current circle of community and relational harmony within the Elder body and the body at large.

4. Fourth “C”—Courage: The ability, when needed, to enter into difficult exchanges and defend the faith, the church, and individuals in ways that preserve and maintain the community. The ability to speak the truth in love without destructive results.

5. Fifth “C”—Calling: The ability to sense God’s calling on one’s life for a particular season of service to the body of Christ: “It seems good to us and the Holy Spirit”, Acts 15:28.

Characteristics/Skills of Elders

• Able to keep confidential information
• Spiritual maturity
• Able to exhort in sound doctrine
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Team player
• Humility
• Conflict-resolution skills

Spiritual Gifts in the Elder Body

The spiritual gifts of discernment, wisdom, teaching, and leadership are most often considered foundational for those who serve in the Elder body; however, the presence of other gifts such as administration, encouragement, and mercy greatly enhance Elder functioning. This does not diminish the value of all other spiritual gifts.

1. Discernment

The gift of discernment is God’s grace to distinguish between truth and error. It is the ability to discern the spirits, differentiating between good and evil, right and wrong. Scripture references are: 1 Corinthians 12:10; Acts 5:1–4; and Matthew 16:21–23.

2. Wisdom

The gift of wisdom is God’s grace to apply spiritual truths effectively to meet needs in specific situations. Scripture references are: 1 Corinthians 12:8; James 3:13–18; 1 Corinthians 2:3–14; and Jeremiah 9:23–24. People with this gift:

• Focus on the unseen consequences in determining what next steps to take.
• Receive an understanding of what is necessary to meet the needs of the body.
• Provide divinely guided or given solutions in the midst of conflict and confusion.
• Hear the Spirit provide direction for God’s best in a given situation.
• Apply spiritual truth in specific and practical ways.

3. Teaching

The gift of teaching is God’s grace to understand, clearly explain, and apply the Word of God, causing greater Christ-likeness in the lives of listeners. Scripture references are: Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28–29; Acts 18: 24–28; and 2 Timothy 2:2. People with this gift:

• Communicate biblical truth that inspires greater application and obedience to the Word.
• Challenge listeners simply and practically with the truths of Scripture.
• Present the whole counsel of God for maximum life change.
• Give attention to detail and accuracy.
• Are committed to consistent personal time of biblical study and reflection.

4. Leadership

The gift of leadership is God’s grace and ability to envision the future of the church coupled with a humble heart to serve others. Scriptures: Genesis 12:1; Isaiah 43:18–19; Matthew 7:7; Matthew 20:25–28; Luke 22:27; John 10:3–4, 11; I Corinthians 2:9–13; and James 1:5. People with this gift:

• Are servants by nature; eager to see the church prevail in the world.
• Demonstrate spiritual foresight that anticipates the work of God.
• Allow Scripture and prayer to inform their decision-making process.
• Impart vision to others using clear communication.
• Can assess significant past events and their potential for impact on the present and future.
• Are able to think creatively and apply ideas and concepts in new ways.
• Desire accountability in fulfilling their responsibilities and meeting the needs of those they serve.
• People are willing to follow effective leaders.

 

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