A Noble Task: Called & Consecrated
“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task”
Brothers,
There is no higher calling, precious privilege, and weighty responsibility than to serve as a shepherd of the flock of God. The Bible tells us it is a good thing to aspire to the office [1 Timothy 3:1]. Though many aspire to the office, very few fill the office. This is not because it's unattainable or requires some moral perfection, but the presence of God's work of grace in the soul must be evident both inside and outside of the church [Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:7; 4:14]. Shepherding God's flock is demanding. It demands a distinct cultivation of character and convictions, which produces a long obedience on the narrow road of life, squarely aimed at the glory of God.
History tells us men are prone to apathy and reticent to devote themselves to hard things, however, those who aspire to the office of Elder must not be those kinds of men. To be an Elder requires a dogged devotion. A headwind persistently brushes the face of an Elder. There will be late night phone calls and text messages. There will be confrontation due to the willful sinning of individuals. There will be late nights and early mornings of sermon prep, Elder meetings, and prayer meetings. Elders know firsthand the truth of this fallen world. The office must be filled with men who do not cower or cave in the face of difficulty.
A RIGOROUS & ROBUST PROCESS
“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.”
It has long been said, 'As the Elders go, so goes the Church.' Therefore, the Eldership process will be rigorous, as Doxa Church unapologetically holds to Scripture's high standards for Eldership. This is for the benefit of both God's leaders and God's people.
The purpose of this post is to clearly outline the Elder process and provide a pathway for those who seek to grow toward Eldership. It's important to note that what follows should not be construed as a checklist, nor a guarantee. For the Holy Spirit alone calls, qualifies, and commissions men as Elders of the flock of God [Acts 20:28].
A SEASON OF TESTING
“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task... And let them also be tested first
”
Doxa's process of discerning the Spirit's calling includes five phases. The duration of the candidacy will last as long as necessary for the man to be tested as outlined in Scripture.
The Five Phases
Phase 1: Establish an Observable Track Record
Phase 2: Self-Nomination & Invitation
Phase 3: Qualification & Preparation
Phase 4: Candidacy & Examination Phase
Phase 5: Installation
As you can see there is not a minimum time frame for a potential Elder to move through this process because each particular man varies in degrees of grace and readiness. Patience, humility, and diligence will serve you well in this journey.
For the Glory of Christ & His Church,
