A PROVEN,

EFFICIENT,
WISE,
PROBLEM-MINIMIZING,
PROCEDURE
FOR SELECTING ELDERS

INTRODUCTION:
1. This process has been used at
the Willis church in Abilene,
Texas for many years
2. This is how I was selected there
as a deacon and then an elder
3. It was put together by gospel
preachers

4. It was produced after careful

study to eliminate as many
problems as possible
a. It avoids politicking
b. It minimizes bad
nominations by the
uninformed
c. It also minimizes hurt
feelings

d. It involves the whole

church
e. It encourages selfevaluation by potential
elders
f. It encourages dreaming
about future direction
g. It shows SUPPORT for
elders

FOUR PHASES OF THE

PROCESS
1. Suggestion of names
2. Self-Evaluation
3. Objection phase
4. Appointment phase

IMPORTANT COMPONENTS
1. A Co-ordinating group or
committee
2. An Informed Membership
3. A Decision Concerning How
Many People Must Submit a
Brothers Name

4. A Good Way To Process Any

Objection
5. A Decision Concerning What
Percentage (%) of the
Congregation MUST Say YES

1.
Co-ordinating Committee
Possibly 3 or 4 brothers
Brothers who will NOT be
suggested as elders
They will arrange the process
They will inform the congregation
of the process

2.
An INFORMED CONGREGATION
The Committee would provide
Biblical materials on elders
The Committee will continually
announce the process being
followed, timetables, etc.

3.
How Many Members MUST
SUBMIT a brothers name in order
for him to be considered?
8 or 10? Or ??
NOTE: This minimizes people
submitting unqualified men,
suggesting a buddy, etc.

4.
HANDLING OBJECTIONS
The Committee may provide
forms to fill out
Name of the person objecting
should be on the form
The Committee can THEN talk to
the objector as well as the
potential elder

A VERY IMPORTANT
CONSIDERATION

ONLY BIBLICAL
OBJECTIONS
SHOULD BE ACCEPTED!

5.
PERCENTAGE (%) OF MEMBERS
WHO MUST SAY YES
Why is this important?
We want the whole church to
STAND BEHIND THIS MAN!
Three possible answers on a form:
YES, NO, I DO NOT KNOW

Jose Ramos

____ Yes ____ No

_______ I do NOT know

Juan de la Cruz ____ Yes ___ No
_______ I do NOT know
ETC.
Why is, I do not know
important?

THE ELDERS ARE TO BE:

PAPAS
IN
THE
CONGREGATION!
(I Timothy 3:4, 5)
(Continued)

He must manage his own

household well, with all dignity
keeping his children submissive,
for if someone does not know

how to manage his own

household, how will he care for
God's church?
(I Timothy 3:4, 5)