The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach… (1 Timothy 3:1ff)
The Session of Grace Community Church approved the month of August as a time to receive nominations for the office of elder and the office of deacon. Any qualified male member of the congregation may be nominated. The qualifications are set forth in the Scriptures, particularly in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. It is important that we note two essentials about these qualifications. First, the Biblical standards for leadership differ from worldly standards. We do not decide who leads in the church based on who is the strongest, richest, biggest, etc. Second, notice should be given to the fact that most (not all) of the qualifications concern issues of character, not competencies.
One of the fundamental principles of Presbyterian church government is that the members of the congregation have the right to determine who will lead them. We see this practice in the Scriptures; for example, in Acts 6, the apostles had the church pick out the men who would serve as the original deacons. The PCA Book of Church Order states it this way in its sixth preliminary principle: Though the character, qualifications and authority of church officers are laid down in the Holy Scriptures, as well as the proper method of officer investiture, the power to elect persons to the exercise of authority in any particular society resides in that society. That means no man currently or in the future can serve as an elder or a deacon unless the congregation elects them to do so.
The beginning of this process is this season of nomination. At GCC, the elders receive nominations through the submission of a form. The form lists some of the qualifications for each office. Three signatures are required. First, the form needs to be signed by the member submitting the nomination. Second, the one being nominated must sign. Finally, a second member of the congregation must sign, signifying their concurrence with the nomination. Forms may be turned into the church office. Please note one important caveat: Family members may not nominate other family members.
Saints, this process is an important one in the life of the church. Men who are ordained to be an elder or deacon carry that ordination perpetually. I encourage you to take time to reflect on the biblical qualifications. Give yourselves to prayer, asking for wisdom and discernment not only for yourself but for the rest of the congregation as well as the elders who will evaluate these nominations. Ultimately, let us ask the Lord to be gracious to us and to raise up elders and deacons who will serve faithfully.
