Extra-biblical requirements

Just curious about what everyone thinks about any additional requirements that churches may have for their elders that are not necessarily biblical.

For example, my church is about to add an elder, not paid, and there are a list of expectations for this man. Here are a couple of them:

- he is expected to read at least 6 books per year (obviously not just any book, but books on leadership, or something to enhance his personal study)
- he is expected to be at home at least three nights per week
- he is expected to attend one leadership conference per year (usually the leaders go to Catalyst)
- he is expected to take one weekend sabbatical per year, alone, with no computer or anything...just himself and his Bible to spend time in prayer.


Those are a few things. To be honest, I really think they are great expectations and fully support them. Just curious about some others may have, or what you guys and gals think of extra-biblical expectations alongside the biblical qualifications.

 

Allow me to clarify some of the reasoning I see behind some of these. I'll also add that these are just a few of them. Studying Scripture is definitely an expectation as well. I didn't want to make it sound like books were emphasized over scripture; I guess I should have put scripture instead of the books. I was just trying to show an example that wouldn't necessarily be expected at all places.

Reading is healthy for a leader. Gathering insights from Christian leaders isn't a bad thing, especially with leaders writing books about an area that you are leading in too.

As far as being home...this is one of my favorites. It is meant to counter a trend that has pastors so busy with different programs/events that they neglect their families. It has nothing to do with needing to literally be in your house three nights per week (like some sort of curfew), but is more of an expectation to be with your family three nights per week.

 

I know the elders have weekly meetings in which they hold each other accountable for their personal lives. That's a good question.

If I'm one of the men nominated, and become the elder, it'll be interesting to learn how. My guess would be that when they meet for accountability these things come up.

Again, the being at home thing is a guard against neglecting family. I personally think more churches ought to have a similar standard.

 

It'll be easy for me to find out the specifics on accountability. We're about to nominate a 5th elder, and there was a document emailed out to all members explaining the process and expectations. I thought that it was really encouraging to see.

Of course, you're right, it could turn into legalism. Although so could a lot of things. Hopefully we'll keep our minds straight and focus on the reasoning behind the expectations and not turn it into a list of rules. I think the reasoning is healthy.

 

Yes, the elder is expected to be investing in one other man in the church. That is also under the expectations. I just listed a few to get some general thoughts, maybe I should copy everything on it. I don't think it's suppose to be a big secret.

 

Here are the first two sections of what what sent out to the members. The rest of the document just pertains to the process of choosing the elder.

"Paid Staff/Elder Expected to maintain a personal time of meditation of the scriptures and prayer. Expected to digest 6 books a year. Expected to attend at least one conference a year related to greater cultural and biblical understanding. Expected to take one weekend for renewal/ refreshment. Expected to participate in one cross cultural missions experience per year. Expected to attend vision/leadership retreat. Expected to be in an ongoing area of service to the community. Expected to replicate his life in the lives of others, specifically one man. Expected to ask God to identify an apprentice that he can invest in and mentor.

Lay Elders Expected to maintain a personal time of meditation of the scriptures and prayer. Expected to digest 6 books a year. Expected to participate in one cross cultural missions experience per year. Expected to attend vision/leadership retreat. Expected to be in an ongoing area of service to the community. Expected to replicate his life in the lives of others, specifically one man. Expected to ask God to identify an apprentice that he can invest in and mentor."

 

Actually, here is another piece to it:

"Elder Responsibilities (Paid Staff and Laity)
• Pray for vision and wisdom (Acts 6:4)
• Study and teach the scripture (Acts 6:4)
• Use area of giftedness to serve the church
• Involved in lives of the unchurched, actively seeking to love them to Jesus (Matthew 5:13-16)
• Pray and anoint with oil when called on (James 5:14)
• Manage church discipline (I Tim. 5:20, Matt. 18:15-17, Titus 3:10)
• Deal with conflict according to Matthew 18
• Develop and mentor leaders to fill key roles
• Consult on doctrinal issues
• Consult and contribute to visioneering
• Consult and contribute to spiritual formation
• Consult and contribute to staffing decisions
• Consult and contribute to expansion of elders
• Consult and contribute to selection of deacons
• Consult and contribute to major financial decisions
• Tithe to the local church"

 

Good points. I would hope that if a person was nominated to be an elder, and had some of the problems you are suggesting, that exceptions would be made. I think that is the difference between a legalistic set of rules required for the elders and general expectations to be met. What I see behind a lot of the things such as attending conferences, reading books, etc. are that there is the expectation to continue development as a leader in the church. These are some things that can be very helpful in that. The only way? No...but a way nonetheless.

As far as the money, it seems that for the trips taken so far in our year and a half old church that the leaders' cost is taken care of from budget. For example, we have an international trip next week, but only two of the elders are being paid for, and the others aren't able to go. I'm sure if they wanted to use their own money, they could have. But yes, the church covers the mission trips for them. At least one, that is.

 

So I guess part of my intention was not only thoughts on the expectations I've shown with my church, but does anyone else's church have anything different?

If you guys were planting and had the opportunity to map all of this out, would you want to include anything that isn't technically "unbiblical", but is still additional to biblical qualifications?

 

I guess everyone has different ways of learning!:laugh: