The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum How are elders selected?

I take the phrase "apt to teach" literally, i.e., ALL elders must be gifted to some degree to instruct others and be able to do apologetics to defend the faith. What is certainly true is that within the eldership some will be more gifted in the exposition of the Word. Thus among themselves some will be chosen to publicly expound the Scriptures, aka: preach.

Now, my contention is that most of the Reformed denominations/churches have taken the difference between these men who serve as elders to make an unwarranted bifurcation of the ONE office of elder thus making, in practice and even in title, TWO offices; one who is designated as a "minister/pastor" (teaching elder) and one who is designated as simply "elder" (ruling elder). Scripture does say this on this subject: "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching." (1Tim 5:17), i.e., to especially esteem those who labor in the Word but again, no special authority is said to belong to those who are given to preaching. We might call this the 'balance of power" so that no one man rules the church. This is one of the most basic reasons for having a plurality of elders in the church.

Happy Thanksgiving, John.