Study #8: Instructions and Qualifications for Elders and Deacons (Asst.)
Information relating to our gathering on September 6th, 2022 (7-9 pm)
- Reflect: Our conclusions to date will be reorganized and sent to you in the coming week. Please review carefully and note what has become clearer and/or what we need to add or revisit together.
- Study: At our next meeting we will seek to understand both the roles and qualifications of âeldersâ/âoverseers' and âdeaconsâ. To prepare, study Acts 6:1-7; Acts 20:17-38; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Hebrews 13:17; Titus 1:5-9; and 1 Peter 5:1-5, seeking to understand what these passages tell us about what these roles are and the people who fill them.
- Pray: For ourselves, our fellow study participants and our church body
- Additional Reading (Optional): Our sister Heidi has graciously offered to share the research notes that she prepared on examples of female leadership in Paul's epistles. She had first prepared this for the Ministry Council to help us in our study some months back, and I believe that it a great example of honest inquiry and humble navigation. Heidi invites you to dialogue with her if you would like to! Another resource that we thought we would share with you (both as a follow-up to some of our questions from Sep 6 and to help you prepare for Oct 4) is an overview of the role of 'deacon' in Scripture and what it looks like at our church. This brief essay/article is taken directly from a forthcoming training curriculum for Ministry Coordinators at Zion, and it may be a relevant tool for us as we study the examples of Scripture as well as instructions and qualifications for elders and deacons.
Instruction for this Gathering
See the discussion PPT below for more details.
Where are the "pastors"?
1. In the New Testament the words âelder,â âshepherdâ or âpastor,â âleader,â and âbishopâ or âoverseerâ are used interchangeably in the context of one local church office:
1. In the New Testament the words âelder,â âshepherdâ or âpastor,â âleader,â and âbishopâ or âoverseerâ are used interchangeably in the context of one local church office:
- Elders: Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:6; 1 Pe 5:1; 1 Tim 4:14; Jas 5:14
- Shepherd/Pastor: 1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28
- Leaders: Heb 13:17
- Overseers/Bishops: Acts 20:28; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:1-2; 5:17; Titus 1:5-9
1. "Pastors" in the New Testament
- A select few elders seemed to move from place to place while others stayed put in one place.
- Some elders were supported by the flock to devote themselves more fully to the task (cf. 1 Tim 5:17-18; Philippians 4:15-18).
- Paul wrote to Timothy with instructions for the church, suggesting a unique leadership role among the elders of Ephesus.
- The letters in Revelation are written to a messenger for each church
A Plurality of Elders
- Accountability â The elders share responsibility for holding the pastor(s) accountable to live, teach and lead faithfully.
- Wisdom â The elders can learn from one another.
- Balance â The elders round out one anotherâs gifts; every pastor has defects, weaknesses and inexperience, and a plurality of elders builds up the church with complementary abilities.
- Help â Caring for the church was never intended to be done by one person (e.g. Acts 20:28)
- Example â A plurality of elders demonstrates that ministry isnât just for âprofessionals"
Discussion
Discussion One
- Based on your study, how would you summarize the roles and responsibilities of deacons as instructed and/or modelled in the New Testament?
- Based on your study, how would you summarize the roles and responsibilities of elders as instructed and/or modelled in the New Testament?
Discussion Two
- Based on your study, what would you list as the essential qualification(s) for those who serve in this role called deacon?
- Based on your study, what would you list as the essential qualification(s) for those who serve in this role called elder?
Discussion Three
The question that (essentially) initiated this study of gender and church leadership is whether or not being male is a biblical qualification for those who serve as elders (i.e. Ministry Council).
The question that (essentially) initiated this study of gender and church leadership is whether or not being male is a biblical qualification for those who serve as elders (i.e. Ministry Council).
- What do you see in Scripture that might lead you to conclude that this
is the case? - What do you see in Scripture that might lead you to conclude that this
is not the case?
Conclusions
Summarizing conclusions and questions was deferred to out next gathering.
Next Gathering:
November 1st, 7pm to 9pm
Considering Outstanding Questions and Next Steps Together
Considering Outstanding Questions and Next Steps Together
Between Now & November 1st
To prepare for our next gathering on Tuesday, November 1, write out answers to the following:
1. Based on your present understanding of what we have studied together, do you believe that being male is a qualification for elders/overseers of a local church today?
1. Based on your present understanding of what we have studied together, do you believe that being male is a qualification for elders/overseers of a local church today?
- Summarize how you have reached this understanding through the study of God's Word.
- How do the various conclusions that we've reached together along our journey help give you even greater clarity/confidence to your answer to #1? Are there any conclusions that we've reached together which seem to conflict with your answer to question #1?
2. Have your beliefs, assumptions or positions changed in any way since the start of this Theology Study Group? How?
3. Which questions (see our list of "Not Yet Conclusive" ideas) stand out to you as most important to revisit and seek greater clarity?
3. Which questions (see our list of "Not Yet Conclusive" ideas) stand out to you as most important to revisit and seek greater clarity?
Please take the time to write out your answers to the questions above in such a way that you would be comfortable sharing what you've written with others who may even disagree with you.