Elder Ordination
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Eldership Installation:
The Bible tells elders of the local church to appoint Elders for the shepherding, protection, and edification of God’s people through the word of God and prayer. Eldership is first and foremost a work of God’s calling and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit to set a man apart to lead and shepherd the local church.
Paul said to both Timothy and Titus, that the appointment of Elders (plural) is of high importance and absolutely necessary for the local Church. Titus 1:5 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint Elders in every city.”
The word, Elder, is interchangeable in the New Testament with pastor, overseer, and bishop. An elder is under-shepherd of the Lord, Jesus Christ, given the task of humbly and prayerfully leading the local body.
Elders are not perfect Christians, but are themselves disciples of Jesus first, mere men, saved by grace. By God’s grace he calls some men to this office, to whom stricter judgement is given, as it says in James 3:1, so we handle this subject with both seriousness and joy.
Isaac and John have both been prayerfully tested to be sure that they each meet the Biblical qualification of an elder in 1 Timothy 3. Through the process of their one-year candidacy, John and Isaac have remained humbly committed to the New City Church family, to their wives and children, and most importantly, to Christ.
As is custom for elder ordination here at New City, they have each written a letter to you, which they will read now.
I just have a few questions I’d like to ask these men in the presence of all of you, a final question for you, the members of New City, and then we will pray.
1. Will you commit, by God’s grace, to faithfully lead this flock alongside the elders of New City Church, to never lord over them, but to protect, defend against sin and fend off spiritual wolves that would seek to harm this body?
2. Do you commit, by God’s grace, to consistently feed yourself the Holy Scriptures, to be ready in season and out of season, to feed God’s people and to give an answer for the hope within you?
3. Do you commit, by God’s grace, to pray for the members of this church?
4. Do you commit, by God’s grace, to never allow the duties of a church overseer to cloud your responsibilities at home and so jeopardize your marriage, your relationship with your children, and subsequently this flock?
5. Do you commit, by God’s grace, to uphold His word as the only infallible rule for Christian faith and practice, to affirm the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the precious doctrines of grace as the only means by which sinners are saved, sanctified and glorified?
Members of New City Church, do you commit to faithfully pray for John and Isaac, and their families, to exercise biblical submission to the elders of this body as Scripture commands, and to hold John, Isaac, and the entire elder team accountable to the rule of Scripture, for the good of the Kingdom and for the glory of God?
Amen! Let’s pray.