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The Leadership Model of Fellowship Bible Church
Shepherding Elders
In order to shepherd the flock we will use the "one to many" concept. We will follow a ratio of approximately 1:100. In some cases the ratios will be somewhat higher or lower depending on the abilities and availabilities of the elders and the needs of a particular segment of the church. We recognize that this will mean a significant increase in the number of elders we have previously had at Fellowship.
The natural points of contact afforded by our church structure are the places for shepherding elders to interact with people. Initially, these contact points will include the Small Group Ministry and the Pathways Groups. As other natural contact points are identified, shepherding elders will be called and made available.
The Role of Shepherding Elder
1 Peter 5:2 be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;…
Shepherding is a specific and vital responsibility for those who accept the call to become elders. Those who function in the role of shepherding elder will be in service to the church and of service to the church in the following ways:
Feed
Elders are should challenge those they shepherd to move into a deeper and more personal relationship with Jesus. Acts 20:28 calls for the elders to shepherd and feed the flock. Shepherding elders have the opportunity to be involved in the lives of those who call FBC their church home and can, therefore, because of their opportunity for personal relationship, help insure the needed spiritual sustenance is available.
Lead
It is often thought that the function of a shepherd is primarily that of a guardian. In reality, a shepherd leads the flock. A flock left too long in one place will quickly strip a pasture of all sources of nourishment.
Encourage
A Shepherd encourages his flock. The shepherding elder encourages the flock to grow in their relationship with The Lord. At times sheep stray by falling into sin or by walking away from the church. The shepherd encourages stragglers and wanderers. Elders, when aware of stragglers or wanderers, pursue the errant one.
Mediate
Elders should always be thoughtful leaders, ready to give an appropriate response when encountering discord or division in the church. There is benefit to having someone who is known and respected by any or all who are involved to speak into these situations. This is a natural function for the shepherding elder because of the potential for close interaction and personal relationships between shepherding elders and those they lead.
Protect
Elders are to protect the flock from false teaching as outlined in Acts 20:28-30: "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. [29] "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; [30] and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them."
Helping Fellowship Bible Church grow both participation and commitment to small groups.
We believe in the core value of community. Because of the opportunities for adult discipleship and spiritual growth that can result through participation in a small group, all elders will assist and encourage those who call Fellowship Bible Church their church home to participate in a small group.
As a natural contact point the Small Group Ministry will be supported in as many ways as is practical and possible. Some shepherding elders will work closely with our small group leaders by encouraging and nurturing the spiritual health of their small group leaders. Those shepherding elders will meet regularly with their small group leaders. The Small Group ministry will continue to support, train, and be responsible for the operational aspect of the small groups of Fellowship Bible Church. We believe that small groups provide a critical venue for experiencing community, for personal support, and for spiritual growth. Therefore, we are committed to making small group involvement normative at Fellowship and to designing our ministries around small groups.
Guiding Elders
In Paul's first letter to Timothy, he refers to "the elders who direct the affairs of the church" The Greek word for the phrase "direct the affairs" means to preside or govern. It is appropriate and necessary to have elders who focus on the affairs and spiritual health of the church. In this model, these elders shepherd the body through the governing function. Thus, we refer to these elders as guiding elders. The guiding elders carry the decision-making responsibility for the vision, strategy, direction and ministry of Fellowship Bible Church.
The Senior Pastor will be called as an elder and will continually serve as one of the guiding elders. If a man is to serve Fellowship Bible Church as Sr. Pastor, his suitability and his qualifications for the office of elder will be examined. The only criteria in the elder qualification process that are waived will be the three-year minimum requirement for active participation at Fellowship Bible Church, and the requirement of a Good Report Ballot. The selection process for the role of Senior Pastor is such that his qualification will be determined and assured by the full body of elders.
The guiding team is responsible for a rotation plan that meets the needs of the church. Including the Sr. Pastor, there will be a minimum of nine guiding elders. The Guiding elders are called to serve a four-year term. At the end of a four year term a guiding elder may, at the request of the guiding board and with the approval of the full body of elders, be asked to serve all or part of a second consecutive term. A rotation schedule will be implemented so that two guiding elders will be considered for rotation off of the guiding team each year. If at all possible, no more than 25% of the guiding team will rotate off in any year. The guiding team will select men to serve on the guiding team. The selection will be approved by a Good Report Ballot by the full body of elders. Upon completion of a term of service on the guiding team a minimum one-year respite will be completed before an elder can be called to return to the guiding team. Guiding elders who have completed their terms will be asked to function as shepherding elders. Members of the staff will not comprise more than 40% of the guiding team.
If a guiding elder should step away from the guiding team before their term of service is completed, the guiding team may select a new member of the guiding team with the approval of a Good Report Ballot by the full body of elders.
The chairman of the guiding team will be selected by the guiding elders. The term of service for the chairman is three years. The chairman may, at the request of the guiding team, serve two consecutive terms.
Shepherding elders will be a logical and primary source for selecting new guiding elders. Service as a shepherding elder will not be a prerequisite for becoming a guiding elder. Recognizing the variety of gifts given to those in the church body, and recognizing the needs of the church body, the guiding elders may call guiding elders and shepherding elders as they feel led. While the roles may be different, the qualifications for each role are the same. Pastors and staff may serve as shepherding or guiding elders.
All who claim to know Christ should hope to be able to declare as did the Apostle Paul, that at the time of their departure from this world that, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 2 Tim. 4:7". Therefore we believe that those who answer the call to serve as elders at Fellowship Bible Church serve for life unless a formal resignation is submitted or a disqualifying situation should occur. Disqualifying situations would be either leaving the church or no longer meeting the biblical criteria for the office.
The Role of the Guiding Elder:
Those who function in the role of guiding elder will be in service to the church body and of service to the church body in the following ways:
Guide and Envision
Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, the people fall.
The guiding elders are charged with developing the vision, goals, and values for the ministry of FBC. The following are some of the ways the guiding elders will carry out this responsibility:
- Through constant prayer and by searching the scriptures, the guiding elders are to seek direction and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
- The guiding elders are to empower the staff to implement the vision, goals, doctrine, and values of the Church.
- The guiding elders will participate in envisioning, blessing and empowering new ministries that are consistent with the vision, goals, values, and doctrine of Fellowship Bible Church.
- Since all elders are shepherds to the flock, a guiding elder may be assigned to pray with and encourage those who are called to lead and direct one of the ministries of Fellowship Bible Church.
- The guiding elders are responsible for communicating matters of importance with the body.
- The guiding elders will review Sr. Staff appointments and be advisors to the Sr. Pastor in matters of Sr. Staff decisions.
- Interaction and communication between the staff and the guiding elders will recognize and respect the staff organizational chart.
Direct
1 Tim. 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
- The guiding elders will be responsible for the recognition of elder candidates. Nominations may be received from people in the body or from the elders. The approval of candidates will be made by the guiding elders and supported by a good report ballot from the shepherding elders. A good report ballot from the body will continue as an integral part of the process.
- The guiding elders will determine the number of shepherding elders required to meet the needs of the ministry. It is also the responsibility of the guiding elders in conjunction with the staff to identify areas in need of deacon oversight.
- It is the responsibility of the guiding elders to administer church discipline when appropriate.
- Reviewing and approving the annual ministry budget to ensure it is in line with the mission, vision and strategic emphasis for the coming year.
- Reviewing, advising and approving all financial transactions obligating the ministry involving the commitment of collateral or which require a re-assessment of the established budget.
The Full Body of Elders
All guiding elders and shepherding elders together comprise the Full Body of Elders. The full body of elders is not a decision making body. Meetings of the full body of elders will be for the purpose of sharing wisdom, communicating, discussing, and understanding the needs of the church body.
The full body of elders will meet quarterly. Special meetings of the full body of elders will be called when direction and wisdom are needed in significant matters. The guiding elders will be responsible for keeping the shepherding elders informed about the affairs and direction of the church.
At times, those who serve as guiding elders or shepherding elders, because of family, business, or other responsibilities, may need to take a sabbatical of an undetermined length of time. The length of the sabbatical in these situations will be determined by the elder in question. In these situations, when the time of sabbatical has concluded, the guiding elders may or may not invite the guiding elder who is on sabbatical back onto the guiding board.
The guiding elders will be responsible for keeping the shepherding elders informed about the affairs and direction of the church.
The Role:
It is appropriate to look at the scriptural statements regarding the role of elders. All elders, both shepherding and guiding elders are to fulfill these roles. (The passages cited below are listed in their entirety in the bibliography.)
- Feed and Shepherd the flock - Acts 20:28-31, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:2
- Lead by example - 1 Peter 5:3
- Encourage with right teaching - Titus 1:9
- Protect against false teaching - Titus 1:9
- Pray for the sick - James 5:14-15
These roles and responsibilities are implemented at Fellowship Bible Church in the following ways:
- The elders should be available to pray with people. Praying for those requesting the prayers of the elders is a significant role for the FBC elders. The reference to health in James applies to a wide range of issues including spiritual, emotional and physical health. It is the responsibility of all elders to be available to minister to the body in this capacity.
- Elders will be called upon to lead the church in prayer and at times, teach during the worship services. It is the responsibility of all elders to function in this capacity.
- Elders should purposefully seek to build relationships with people in the church and community. It is important that elders and those that they guide know one another personally. As the biblical analogy of the shepherd and his sheep, an elder must be recognizable, approachable, steadfast, and trustworthy.
- Elders are responsible for creating and maintaining unity within the church. This is in response to Jesus' high priestly prayer recorded in John 17.
- Elders are to study scripture so that matters of doctrinal interpretation and false doctrine are recognized and corrected.
The Qualifications:
The only positions of leadership with scripturally-based qualifications are the offices of elder and deacon. We believe it is important to have an accurate description of the roles, requirements, and the responsibilities for those who accept the call to serve as elders. We realize that the specific moral and personal criteria required of those who serve as elders are stringent. We also acknowledge that scripture calls for all believers to continue growing and maturing in their relationship with Christ. We believe this growth includes the ongoing maturation and development of the elders in their roles as leaders of the flock at Fellowship Bible Church. We do not believe that elders should be perfect, sinless, or without error; but we do believe that their actions should display diligence, honesty, transparency, and a constant striving to do God's will in their own lives and for the life of our church.
After prayer, study, discussion, and almost twenty-five years of experience, we have determined that the following are the basic qualifications for the office of elder at Fellowship Bible Church:
Must be found, to the degree humanly possible, meeting the character traits prescribed in 1 Timothy 3: 1-7 and Titus 1: 6-9. (The passages are listed in their entirety in the bibliography.)
Those traits are:
- Above reproach - He affords nothing in his moral conduct that could be attacked. He is someone whose character can be observed and found blameless. He is deserving of a good report or good reputation.
- The husband of one wife - He lives faithfully with his wife; if he was divorced in the past, then he has lived faithfully with his present wife for many years. The issue of divorce and remarriage is implied and will eventually influence one's interpretation of this qualification. The best one question to ask of any candidate is, "Has this man been a 'one-woman-man' during his Christian life?"
- Temperate - He is stable in the midst of change and has a clear perspective on life. One who is self-controlled and free from the bondage of any fleshly excesses.
- Self-controlled/ Prudent - He has a sound, well-balanced mind that is disciplined and is not swayed by sudden impulse. One who possesses common sense and wisdom needed to deal with life's difficult decisions. He is someone who is a mature thinker.
- Respectable - He lives an orderly and well-arranged life. One who does not embarrass the Gospel with his life.
- Hospitable - He is unselfish in showing biblical love to strangers. One who is open to sacrificially helping others; a lover of strangers.
- Able to teach - He is able to communicate sound doctrine and to refute false teaching.
- Not addicted to wine/ drunkenness - He is not unwise in the drinking of alcohol. Leaders must be free from addictions of any kind. While this verse does not teach total abstinence, it does command moderation and the lack of excessive living.
- Not overbearing/ pugnacious - He is others-centered rather than self-centered. He is "not quick-tempered." He is not given to retaliation, neither verbally or physically, and does not strike back.
- Not violent/ But gentle - He does not physically or verbally abuse others. One who reacts with sensitivity to the feelings of others.
- Not quarrelsome/ Uncontentious - He abstains from fights and arguments. One who is not given to quarreling and is not argumentative.
- Free from the love of money - He does not value money over spiritual things; he is not tempted to acquire it because of wrong motives or by wrong methods. One who is not, "fond of sordid gain." One who is not greedy or works only for material gain.
- Manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity - He must insure that biblical roles, priorities, and patterns of relationships are carried out in his family. A true test of mature leadership is found in a man's family.
- Not a new convert - He has had sufficient time to develop well-rounded Christian maturity. Obviously, not a recent believer in Christ. Not someone who is still immature and inexperienced in living the Christian life.
- Good reputation with those outside the church - His character and his lifestyle are respected by those outside the church. Even non-believers consider this man of high character and respect him.
- Not self-willed - Not characterized by stubbornness, selfishness, or self-centered arrogance.
- Loving what is good - He consistently desires what is good over what is evil. One who truly loves what God loves and hates what God hates.
- Devout - He devotes himself to consistently becoming more like Jesus Christ; having developed a spiritual depth; a spiritually disciplined man.
- Upright/ Just - He behaves upright and correctly. He is fair and impartial in his judgments; one who is conformed to the character of Christ.
Other Requirements:
- Must be a member in good standing of FBC.
- Must have been attending FBC for at least three years.
- Must agree to support and live out the doctrinal statement for leadership.
- Must meet the approval of the guiding elders and be affirmed by the shepherding elders.
- Must be affirmed by the church through the process of a good report ballot.
Passages cited:
1 Tim. 3:1-7 (NASB)
"It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. [2] An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, [3] not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. [4] He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity [5] (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?); [6] and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. [7] And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
Titus 1:5-9 (NASB)
"For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, [6] namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. [7] For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, [8] but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, [9] holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict."
Acts 20:28-31 (NASB)
"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. [29] "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; [30] and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. [31] "Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears."
Hebrews 13:17 (NASB)
"Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you."
1 Peter 5:2 (NASB)
"Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;"
1 Peter 5:3 (NASB)
"Nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock."
1 Tim. 5:17 (NASB)
"Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching."
Titus 1:9 (NASB)
"Holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict."
James 5:14-15 (NASB)
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; [15] and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him."
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