So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” -1 Peter 5:1-3 (ESV)

What is an Elder?

A Pastor/Elder (also referred to as a bishop or overseer in Scripture) is a man set apart by God and affirmed by the church who meet all Biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1) for leading and overseeing the local church body. Together, these men bear the responsibility of the church’s vision and ministry and will give an account to God for the faithfulness of their leadership (1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

Why Elders?

Throughout the New Testament, principles of church leadership point to a plurality of elders as the appropriate model (Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5). This type of structure not only provides focused governance but also an additional means of accountability among leaders.

Risen Life Fellowship Elders

Our elders are bi-vocational, and therefore, unpaid. Each individual elder submits to the plurality of the elder board in the same way as each member of the church. Our desire is for our elder board to grow in proportion to our membership out of God fearing men within our body who meet all qualifications. Our elders act not by vote but by prayer and consensus.