ELDER PROCESS: Overview, Selection and Nomination

Overview

Elders are called by God to shepherd the church through serving alongside of them, providing spiritual protection, and are accountable to Christ and the Church membership. Elders are to provide overall leadership to the church through prayer, the ministry of the Word, pastoral care, and are to live as an example for all church members through their obedience to the mission of Christ and His Church (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 6:3-4; 20:28-31; 1 Corinthians 4:14-16; 1 Timothy 3:2; 5:17; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:1-4

Elders are to be men who are servant leaders within the church that are nominated and affirmed by the membership. An Elder must have given evidence of spiritual maturity and service for an extended period of time. The biblical qualifications and expectations for Elders are contained in Acts 14:23; 15; 20; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9; and 1 Peter 5:1-4.

Selection Process

The church will receive nominations for Elders from the Church membership made via the Elder Nomination Form.

Elder Prerequisites: Elders MUST have been active members at North Trenholm for at least three years, MUST have volunteered in a ministry for at least two years, preferably in a leadership position or teaching role, MUST be known and approved for consideration by a staff member or a member of North Trenholm's Leadership team, Elders MUST have completed the Membership Covenant or are willing to do so prior to appointment, CANNOT be nominated by self or spouse, and MUST have capacity, flexibility and availability to serve in the Elder role. The time requirement varies greatly month to month, but the minimum includes monthly meetings, annual retreat, and committee responsibilities.

Nominees chosen to move forward in the selection process will be asked to:

Nomination

Thank you for taking time to complete the Elder Nomination Form. Elders play an extremely important role in our Church,one that is not to be taken lightly. As such, we ask that you prayerfully complete the nomination form, evaluating each question honestly based on your knowledge of the nominee's qualifications for the office of Elder at North Trenholm Baptist Church.

Please read Acts 14:21-23, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4 which describe Elders in the church, before completing the form. This nomination should be completed and submitted without informing the man being nominated.

Please sign the Elder Nomination Form (unsigned forms will NOT be accepted) and click submit.

Acts 14:21-23

21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

Qualifications for Overseers

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Titus 1:5-9

Qualifications for Elders

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you- 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

1 Peter 5:1-4

Shepherd the Flock of God

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Please answer all questions. If clarification or comments are needed to help explain your choices, please "Additional Comments" section at the end of the questionnaire. If you do not know if the nominee is qualified in an area or the question doesn't apply, mark "Do Not Know/DA." This is an acceptable answer and will not be counted against the nominee.

Please electronically sign this form (unsigned forms will NOT be accepted) upon completion. Please remember that this form is to be completed and submitted without informing the man being nominated.