Gilbert on what we are looking for in an Elder

Today's pastor's day resource comes from Greg Gilbert over at the 9marks blog. The guys there have been in a rich vein of form of late but this was a standout for us here at Resolve.

I. We Are Looking for Men With Whom We Are Likeminded on Certain Issues.
- This is self-evident on the gospel itself.
- But it is also true on things less important and less central than the gospel itself. There is an idea current out there that likemindedness of this sort is a very wrong thing, that it is better to have the elders disagreeing, creating gridlock.
- Let me argue to you that gridlock is great in the U.S. government, but it is not a good thing among elders. You certainly shouldn’t plan for it. (Proverbs 17:14)
- The church has made certain decisions, taken certain directions, and we want elders who are likeminded with us in those directions.
- Let me pause here to point out the danger of a talk like this. It could be said, “All they want are a bunch of yes-men, people who agree with them.”
First, that’s not true. Disagreement with the elders is not the issue here. In fact, we emphatically do not want yes-men. Perhaps you’ll simply have to trust me on that.
Second, I hope you can understand the wisdom of what I have just said.
- But on to what we want likemindedness on:
- The Sovereignty of God in Salvation. Because it affects everything we do as a church.
- Role of Women. Complementarianism. So if you’re going to start advocating for women to be elders, or arguing that they shouldn’t be deacons, you’re not going to be an elder.
- Ecclesiology. Elders, deacons, congregationalism, etc.
- Vision for Evangelism. Indigenous, authentic evangelism. That’s not to say there is not room for disagreement and thinking. But there has been a direction set.
- High Importance of Preaching. Not a church focused on social ministry or political activism. We have a certain texture that we have cultivated.

II. We Are Looking for Men Who Already Have a Healthy Respect for Authority.
- By “healthy,” I do not mean plump or unhealthy. I mean healthy. Well-balanced.
- And here we are right back at the danger of this talk. Let me say as clearly as I can—It is not a requirement for being nominated as an elder that you agree with everything the elders do. Nor is it a requirement that you necessarily keep quiet about your disagreement when you do disagree. We are not looking for men who cannot think for themselves. We have plenty of knock-down, drag-out disagreements. Plenty of divided votes; in fact, I think it was I who was most recently on the receiving end of a 3-1 whooping.
- But with that said, let me say just as clearly that there are men in the world whose respect for authority only shows up when they are in it. We don’t want that.
- We want the kind of men described in Hebrews 13:17, who strive to make it a joy for their elders to lead them. So, a few points about what would make a person a joy to lead, with special reference to disagreement, and how to do it:
1. That person is a joy to lead who is largely content. Strive not to be a perennial item on the elders’ agenda with some complaint or another. I’m not going to pull punches here. There are some people in the world who complain all the time. Well, why isn’t everyone else complaining and upset, too? Is it that they are just not as observant as you? Or is it that they have learned to bear with some things, to just keep working, to be content?
2. That person is a joy to lead who, when he disagrees, does not usually let his first dissent be a public one. Talk to us before you air a disagreement. Of course there are exceptions. If we come to the Members’ Meeting and announce that we’re jettisoning the Trinity, let us hear it right then.
3. That person is a joy to lead who is able to weigh when it is wise to back down. You may disagree heartily with a decision, but there is wisdom involved in knowing when it is appropriate and wise to push an issue to a vote of the church. You can have strong opinions, but when the elders disagree with you, you need to weigh whether your pushing the issue would be for the church’s good.

III. We Are Looking for Men Who Have a Pastoral Maturity and Confidence
- A ship has ballast that keeps it from rocking too much and helps it to cut a steady course. We want men who have some obvious ballast in their lives.
- Some of that is what Paul is getting at when he writes in Titus and Timothy, "not a recent convert" and "well thought-of by outsiders."
- There is a lot we could talk about here. But just a few points:
1. Has a Compelling Command of Scripture. People trust you with Scripture and with wisdom. They trust your counsel. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to be a master preacher. But even if your teaching gifts manifest themselves mostly in private, you need to be comfortable and trusted in that role. And even so, you need to have some ability to instruct the church publicly, too, even if that's not your primary gifting or role.
2. You're not overly complex in your teaching, but able to apply Scripture helpfully. Someone once told me that the simplicity of ignorance eventually gives way to the complexity of learning, which then eventually gives way to the simplicity of mastery. We're looking for men who have made it over that hump a bit.
3. Has Learned to Keep Things in Good Perspective. Some people have theological landmines in their heads. You never know when you are going to hit one. KJV-only, etc. We want people who are able to see the relative importance of issues, and how Christian doctrine fits together as a whole.
4. Knows Largely Where He Stands. Being an elder is very much about applying theology and biblical knowledge to the church's life. Learning is good—and we all are and should be constantly learning. But it is not elder-like to be in a constant mode of questioning, re-conceiving, and testing, especially on the most important matters. Elders should know where they stand and have a steady hand.
- All this is about a certain evident pastoral maturity and confidence. Ballast.

IV. We Are Looking for Men Who Are Already Recognized as "Elderly"
- We want men who are known, because they attend.
- We want men who are known as a person of love.
- We want men who are known as a person of wisdom and knowledge and confidence
- Discipling others, serving faithfully.
- Putting the church’s interests above his own.
- All this makes you a center of gravity in the church. Not a loyal opposition center-of-gravity, but a person whom the people of this church are already gravitating to as a pastoral figure.
- We want to say, “How could we not recognize this person as an elder?”