The church is a kingdom of priests set free to minister for Christ. Every Christian believer is called to ministry, gifted by the Holy Spirit, and in baptism ordained for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12).
The ministry to which a person is called when he or she becomes an elder can best be described in the following ways: Visitation: The elder can actively visit members in their homes, encourage others to do so, and assist in the training of prospective members. Commitment: It is especially important for the local elder to be committed to the outreach of the church.
The spiritual life of an elder should constantly lead members of the church to seek a deeper spiritual experience for themselves. 1 Timothy, chapter 3, describes the Christian life of an elder in these words: “. . . above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle.”
An elder should model, by his or her devotional life, Christian personality, and spiritual interest - a higher ideal for each member to reach. The elder should reflect the fruits of the Spirit in his or her relationship with others: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Church administration.
An elder often serves in an advisory capacity to various departments, committees, and projects. In doing this, the elder provides unity among the various programs of the church, communicates progress to the church board and encourages a unified mission
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