Once upon a time there were elders who could say they knew the Apostles. But not today! To be serious Derrick the Gladiator (blog) and I were having a good conversation with some brothers in the faith. The question is in reference to “chuch” leadership. He asked “if there is still pastors today then who appoints them or how do they become pastors”? That is a question I have wrestled with for months. So here are the questions.
1. Where does the bible say that elders appoint elders?
2. Who has the right to appoint elders?
3. If it is elders who appointed them, and who appinted them……….
4. Is it more biblical that a group of believers who meet together select their elders and that these people also select any additional elders? We know who should select deacons without a doubt (Acts 6).
5. Finally if no to answer 4 why not? Are the poor laymen to incompetent to handle such a clergy led task? (Loaded Question 
) )
1. It doesn’t. The Bible never says that elders appoint elders.
2. Only the Holy Spirit has the right to appoint elders (Acts 20:28). I believe that other believers are supposed to recognize those that the Holy Spirit has made elder/overseers/pastors. I think those people can be recognized by their character and their service to others, not by their particular education, training, or gifts.
3. See #1.
4. See #1 and #2. Are you sure that Acts 6 is about “deacons”? Why? What do you mean by “deacon”?
5. Every believer is a “poor layman” and every believer is a “full time minister”. That does not mean that every believers is as mature as other believers. We should recognize those believers among us who are more mature – both in character and in their service to others. These we follow – that is, we follow their example. If we are following their example, that means that we are doing the same things that they are doing – building character, serving, teaching, etc.
-Alan
Hey Alan,
I am under the conviction that those who serve as deacons are appointed by the church. I don’t believe that it is a permenant “office”. I believe that issues arise where a select group of individuals may have to accomplish a certain task for a certain period of time and resources are placed in their hands to handle that task. What is your take?
BTW Alan,
How is number 2 flushed out?
I think the practical implications of the Holy Spirit making someone an overseer (or elder or pastor – same person / different terms) is flushed out the way anything that the Holy Spirit does is flushed out. We seek how God is working both in the lives of the individuals (the elders) and in the lives of the other people. I can tell you that in my own life it is fairly obvious who God is using as a leader (in service to others) and whose life best reflects the character of Christ.
By the way, this “flushing out” may be different for different groups of believers, just as the relative maturity of the “most mature” believers will be different for different groups of believers. The important thing to note is that we as followers of Christ recognize what God is already doing in someone’s life and in the lives of the other believers. This assumes that we actually KNOW the person that we are following. (And not KNOW in the sense of meeting him once and hearing him preach… but actually knowing how he lives his life, especially when the going gets tough.)
-Alan
Lionel,
I think Alan has answered extremely well.
Have you read chapters 5 and 6 of Frank Viola’s Rethinking the Wineskin ?
Tom
I have never heard of it Sir. Thaks for the comments and the kind words on my testimony. God bless and look forward to reading your blog
Alan,
An excellent and thought provoking opinion on (at least for me) has been a very tough issue. However, I my understanding from you that is still up to the congregation to make a judgment call on whether or not the holy spirit has appointed an elder.
“I can tell you that in my own life it is fairly obvious who God is using as a leader (in service to others) and whose life best reflects the character of Christ.”
In that sentence you are making a judgment call on who’s lives best reflect the characters of Christ (or the qualifications of Elders). Which brings us directly back to square one on question 2. Do you or the congregation have the authority to make that judgment call that will effectively appoint an elder.
Thank you and God bless.
James,