The New-Testament pattern demonstrates that churches should have elders (Acts 14:23; 20:17,28; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:2). When Paul addressed his epistle to the church at Philippi, he began, "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." God's arrangement for oversight within a local congregation is for a plurality of scripturally qualified men to feed, lead, watch, and warn souls in the local church (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:2-3). For a local church to be completely and scripturally organized, it must have elders, or overseers. Paul told Titus that he left him in Crete that "thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge." (Titus 1:5) Every local church should have as a goal the appointment of qualified elders.

The New Testament clearly sets forth qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1ff; Titus 1:5ff) that must be developed by those who serve as elders. As only qualified men should be appointed to serve as elders, it follows that a church without men who meet all the scriptural qualifications should not appoint men to be elders. When Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders, he said, "Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which THE HOLY SPIRIT hath made you bishops..." (Acts 20:28) In what sense did the Holy Spirit make those men bishops? When a local church receives the teaching the Holy Spirit revealed in scripture, on the subject of elders, seeks out men who have those qualifications, and appoints them to serve as elders, it is the Holy Spirit who made them elders.

Regarding local-church organization, we see four positions existing within churches today. Two are acceptable, and two are contrary to Bible teaching.

1. Scripturally Unorganized: Most local churches we read about in the New Testament started in the same way as the congregation mentioned in Acts 14 and Titus 1. Groups of untaught people heard and obeyed the gospel, and agreed to work and worship together in harmony with apostolic teaching. In the beginning, these new converts were not qualified to serve as elders. This is evidenced by the fact that months later, Paul and Barnabas returned to these very same congregations to "appoint for them elders in every church." (Acts 14:23) Certainly, from the time these churches first began, until Paul and Barnabas returned and appointed elders, they were scriptural congregations, but they were "scripturally unorganized." Until they reached sufficient maturity and age to have men who met all the qualifications, they could fulfill God's will, function, and worship together in harmony with the apostles teaching, without elders. In the absence of qualified men, no elders were appointed.
   
   
2. Scripturally Organized: This condition exists when there are men who possess the scriptural qualifications (1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1), are recognized and appointed by the congregation as elders, and are functioning within the scriptural bounds of their authority. Being scripturally organized necessitates careful and prayerful teaching, preparation, and planning. It never happens by accident.
   
   
3. Unscripturally Organized: A local church is unscripturally organized when it has men who are not qualified to take the oversight, but who are acting as "elders" anyway. This condition obviously existed in 3 John, where Diotrophes, who loved to have the preeminence among men, ruled and reigned. Unfortunately, these local churches become victims of those who are victorious in a power struggle, and who wish to "lord it over God's heritage." These local churches have men who wear the "elder" title, but they are not scripturally organized.
   
   
4. Unscripturally Unorganized: This condition exists when a congregation has within its membership men who fulfill the Biblical qualifications, but who are not appointed and laboring as elders. Unfortunately, this condition exists where jealousy, envy, or perhaps apathy, prevail. It is not, under every circumstance, unscriptural to be without elders, but it is sinful to not want elders. Politics are often involved when some refuse to submit to the leadership of elders, thus causing them to oppose the very thought of appointing qualified men to serve as elders.

Let us awaken to the need for leadership, for qualified men to serve within each congregation. However, as we strive to develop qualified leadership, let us not hastily appoint men who are unqualified. If you think it's bad to have a church without elders, try appointing unqualified men to serve, and that will be the beginning of worse problems. As much of a handicap as it is to be without elders, a local church is doubly pained if it selects unqualified men, just for the sake of having elders. Let us study diligently the qualifications for elders and strive to develop the qualities that we might give ourselves in the best way possible to serve the Lord.

The Lord's church needs nothing more than it needs good men who are qualified to fill the elder office. Sadly, because of poor preparation, and sometimes because some do not desire to have, or be, elders, many churches remain without them. Why would a church not want elders? Sometimes, the men do not wish to relinquish the "power," they have when there are no elders. When a local church has no men who qualify for the eldership, business meetings become a "necessary evil." Every church that is in such a condition needs to be striving and aiming to develop qualified men who desire to become elders.

Sadly, another drawback, I feel, is that some have made the qualifications so lofty that they discourage men from seeking the office. The local church where I grew up never had elders, and still doesn't. Every time we got around to choosing men, one or more from the congregation would "pick them apart" to show they were unqualified. Mind you, some of these same men placed before the local church went on to other congregations and became fine elders. The reasons given were not scriptural; they were opinions that were considered equal to Biblical qualifications. Yes, men must fulfill ALL qualifications, but we need to be certain we are measuring according to God's standards, and not our own.

If the church of which you're a member has elders, thank God and thank them for accepting that godly work. Elders have an awesome responsibility and an important work. Remember, we are to assist them in carrying out their duties with joy, and not grief. May God increase the number of faithful, qualified men who wish to become elders in His church. (KMG)