Elders are called to be humble servant leaders who lead, feed, and protect our body. The elders of Mission Church serve as shepherds. The elders, under God’s authority and His leadership, have the responsibility for the final decisions concerning the overall direction, discipline, and doctrine of our church.
Please read the following passages and prayerfully consider your nominee in light of God’s Word before completing this form:
1 Timothy 3:1-7
Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
Titus 1:5-9
The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
1 Peter 5:1-7
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Your nominee will be evaluated by the Nominations Team in light of these biblical qualifications and the practical needs of our church. Upon this initial screening, if appropriate, the team will follow up with further vetting of the candidate through an application process, reference checks, personal interviews, and a great deal of prayer.
In order to protect the unity of our staff and elder board, immediate family members (father, husband, brother, etc.) of a Mission Church staff member will not be considered for the elder board.
It is possible that all candidates will not be contacted; there may be confidential circumstances that might prevent a candidate from being considered, and thus they would not be contacted. For this reason, please do not communicate to your nominee that they have been nominated. Your help here will serve to ensure confidentiality and unity within the body.
