Lead Team
In our community we use the term “Lead Team” to designate the collective eldership role. This role is specific to the unedited spirituality community in the responsibilities laid out here.
This is distinct from the “Board of Trustees” which operate across all of the Westside communities to oversee organizational policy.
The terms “elders” and “overseers” are interchangeable and designate the primary spiritual leaders of the church (Titus 1:5, 7; Acts 20: 17, 28). The term “elder” emphasizes maturity and “overseer” emphasizes the leadership responsibility. Ideally the local church has a plurality of elders (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 4:14; 5:17; Titus 1:5; James 5:14). Elders are equal in authority, but not equal in influence. For example, the Pastor serves a unique role within the community but does not necessarily speak solely for God or with unquestioned authority. The elders’ authority is to be expressed in loving leadership and not lording over the flock (1 Peter 5:3; Hebrews 13:17).
Elders have final responsibility before God for prayer ministry (James 5:14), ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4) including teaching and guarding the church’s doctrine (Acts 20:27-31; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:9), the administration of the church (1 Timothy 3:5), and shepherding the flock (1 Peter 5:2). For us this means that primary teaching voice for community gatherings be represented in the eldership but also that each lead team member be comfortable to explain core Christian concepts clearly and effectively in conversation. This type of relational-pastoral dynamic is something we reach towards as a community sensing the need for the community to participate in the pastoral role.
Elders must be blameless in character (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), able to teach Scripture (1 Timothy 3:2; 5:17), and answer those who contradict it (Titus 1:9). Blameless in character obviously does not mean perfect for us. However it does indicate an ongoing pattern of conformance to the life of Christ including healthy lifestyle choices, commitment to spiritual growth and generosity in personal interactions and finances. We do not teach tithing (a 10% donation to the church) as an absolute requirement. However we do teach our community that generosity and positive contribution to the ongoing life of the community are a scriptural imperative. Elders are expected therefore to model this commitment, contributing to the community with their time and finances generously, as life circumstances allow.
An elder must be the “husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2; 3:12). We understand that this qualification does not exclude women, an unmarried person, someone remarried after the death of a spouse, nor necessarily one who has divorced and remarried. The phrase describes a reputation as a “faithful” spouse. Specifically in our community we tend towards the invitation of spousal couples as elders. However circumstances may preclude that reality such as in the case where one spouse is new to faith or an unbeliever, this however, does not necessarily preclude the first spouse from serving.
In Scripture elders were selected by the original church planter (Acts 14:23) or by other elders (Titus 1:5), with recognition from the congregation for its leaders (Acts 6:3; 15:22-23). In our tradition the existing lead team takes the initiative to approach potential team members based on an assessment of the qualifications outlined here and an eye towards identifying and acknowledging those who are operating with the relational authority of an elder.
It is assumed that all elders operate in the best interest of the community at all times.
Scripture does not describe how elders should organize themselves, so this is determined by church size, cultural context and specific needs of the body. This document reflects our best attempts to appropriately organize ourselves.
