Church Leadership Nomination Information

When we ask staff, elders, and the Nominating Committee to approach individuals, we ask them to approach individuals who already (have) serve(d). We want people to serve on our Elder Board (Session) who love Jesus and tend Jesus’ flock. We ask them to look for individuals who are nurturing our children, youth, adults, who are serving our mission partners.

A church like ours, with about 1,000 participants, actually requires more than 100 volunteer “pastors” who lead and guide our church.

Our Session, then, brings 15 of these individuals together to handle the “big picture” discussions about the direction of the church, new items to consider for ministry, etc.

Our committees, in a large and complex organization like ours, make most of the decisions and they report them back to Session.

Elders According to Scripture

1 Timothy 3:8 - Sincere, Respectable, Temperate, Not given to drunkenness

1 Timothy 3:9 - Blameless, Above Reproach, Honest

1 Timothy 3:12 - Faithful to his or her spouse, Loves his or her family well (additional scriptures listed below)

Elders According to the EPC Book of Order:

In the Old Testament, the office of Elder was established for the oversight of the Church. In the New Testament, this office is continued. Those who fill this office today for governing the Church are called Ruling Elders. Chosen by the people of a local church, these Ruling Elders are to watch over the spiritual welfare of their congregation. It is the first duty of the Ruling Elder to represent the mind of Christ, as that person understands it, in the various courts of the Church.

The life of the Ruling Elder

According to Scripture, those who bear the office of Ruling Elder should be mature believers, led by the Holy Spirit, who exhibit a manner of life that conforms to the biblical description of an officer in Christ’s Church.

1. Demonstrates a grounded, mature faith in Jesus Christ

2. Possesses a compassionate, pastoral heart

3. Worships with my family regularly at FPC

4. Exercise regular faith “disciplines” such as prayer and the reading of Scripture

5. Is an active member of FPC

6. Affirms the “Essentials of the EPC”

7. Serves community as a witness of God’s grace

1. Attends monthly Session meetings (the 1st Monday of each month).

2. Remains in prayer regularly for the church, its leaders, and its ministries.

3. Remains attentive to the various needs of our congregants.

4. Participates actively in Session meetings to safeguard the health of our congregation.

5. Remains active in serving to make the church stronger, whether mentoring children or youth, leading a small group, participating in a committee, or wherever God leads me.

6. Participates in engaging my community through outreach and mission.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 ESV

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? ...

Acts 20:28 ESV

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Titus 1:6-9 ESV If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so…

1 Peter 4:7-11 ESV

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Acts 2:42 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

1 Corinthians 12:28 ESV

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

Titus 1:1-16 ESV Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— ...