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FAITH
The Scripture recognizes two offices in the church: elders and deacons. Biblical eldership is not simply
businessmen making business decisions. Elders are to watch over the souls of the people of God, shepherding,
guarding, teaching and equipping them unto Christian maturity (Ephesians 4:11-16; Acts 20:28-32). In order to accomplish this, the elders must be growing in
their knowledge of God, their understanding of the Bible and its doctrines, and their comprehension of the
redemptive plan that God has for His church.
It is vitally important that all who serve, and especially the elders, do so because God the Holy Spirit
has uniquely gifted them (1 Peter 4:10-11). The ability to serve the body of Christ flows from God's
special gift of grace that is given according to the working of His power (Ephesians 3:7). Having recognized the gifts of its members, the congregation
submits to the Holy Spirit by calling upon members to exercise their spiritual gifts for the building up of
the body (1 Corinthians 12-14; Hebrews 13:17).
Qualification for leadership in the church of Christ is evidenced in the leadership of the family.
Biblical male headship in the home is the proving ground for church leaders (Titus 1:6; 1 Timothy 3:4).
PRACTICE
Key to leadership development is the training and equipping of husbands as
the heads of their households to love their wives, evangelize and disciple their children, and represent
their family as a unit in the life of the church and society. If a man cannot lead his own family, how can he
ever lead the church (1 Timothy 3:5)? Seeking to help men grow in their role as the covenantal heads
of their households, we provide regular training in leading Bible studies, family worship, and sound
doctrine. As men grow in their desire and skill to shepherd their households, some will be set apart by the
Holy Spirit for oversight of the congregation.
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