What is an Elder?
December 2, 2025
In this season of transition, it is a priority for our elders to ensure consistent, trustworthy leadership as we continue to evaluate our current bylaws and organizational structure. With that in mind, the elders are currently pursuing candidates for elder apprenticeship and are seeking input from the body. What follows are curated resources from trusted sources to help clarify exactly what an elder is and what an elder does. This does not represent the full or final position of New City Church on church polity, elder responsibilities, and/or processes.
The elders, the Leadership Council, and the Partners of New City Church will continue to evaluate and determine what our bylaws and church practices will be going forward, but this is a helpful place to start.
Please read the passages noted and pray, asking the Lord to identify members of our body who could serve as elders, and recommend them by emailing fce@newcitymacon.org.
What is an elder in the Bible?
These are the primary passages describing elders in the New Testament:
1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:5-9)
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:1-5)
From Ligoneer Ministries:
In the New Testament, only two specific roles or offices are mentioned: elder and deacon. Elders are also referred to in Scripture as “pastors” or “overseers”, or as “bishops” if you’re using old-fashioned English.
The New Testament seems to use the word elder, pastor, and overseer interchangeably; passages such as 1 Peter chapter 5 verses 1–2 and Titus chapter 1 verses 5–7 treat these differently named roles as one and the same. So why does Scripture use three different words when it’s only talking about one particular office? Because each of those words—elder, pastor, overseer—emphasize a different aspect of this person’s job description.
The word elder comes from the synagogue and the local village and implies that this person has particular wisdom and maturity.
An elder is also a pastor. The word pastor has a Latin root meaning “shepherd,” so there’s also the sense of protecting, nurturing, and directing the flock.
An elder is also an overseer. For a church to thrive, there needs to be someone who has oversight. In other words, someone who exercises authority.
The majority of texts in the New Testament about elders focus on their character or qualifications. The clear priority in choosing an elder is demonstrated Christlike character.
From D.A. Carson for IX Marks:
These verses teach us that the primary characteristic of the Christian elder/pastor/overseer is that his life constantly reflects Christian values, morality, conduct, and integrity; that’s the baseline.
In some respects, the list is remarkable for being unremarkable. In other words, there is nothing about superior IQ, charisma, powerful personality, or the like. The Christian minister is supposed to be gentle, not supposed to get drunk, and so forth: the list is remarkable for being unremarkable.
Indeed, with only a couple of exceptions, all of the qualifications listed here are elsewhere in the New Testament demanded of all Christians. For instance, this elder is supposed to be given to hospitality. But that is demanded of all Christians in Hebrews 13.
What this means, then, is that the Christian pastor must exemplify in his own life the virtues and graces that are demanded of all the people of God. There are only a couple of entries here that cannot be demanded of all Christians, viz. “not a novice” and “able to teach.” Everything else is the responsibility of all believers, not just the pastors of believers.
We see from the texts above that the qualifications for an elder are really just descriptions of a mature Christian. However, rather than lowering our esteem for the office, this should raise our sights to what the call of the Christian life is: growth in Christlike character by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. We are all called to ongoing transformation into the image of Christ, growing up into maturity (Ephesians 4:11-16).
The qualifications for an elder are not their personality traits, their administrative skills, or their level of education. The qualifications for an elder are first and foremost about who they are becoming in Christ.
Does this mean elders are perfect? Of course not:
In 1 Timothy 3:2, Paul begins his list of qualifications by stating that elders must be “above reproach”—in a sense, blameless. This doesn’t mean that such a person is sinlessly perfect; there’s too much in Scripture to the contrary of that sort of expectation. What it does mean is that there is no obvious inconsistency or flaw that everyone agrees is there and serves as a reproach to the man. (Carson)
Can you think of someone who is gentle? Hospitable? Generous? Disciplined? Someone who loves the gospel and is growing in holiness? Committed to the truth and not false doctrine?
What does an elder do?
Since most of the passages about elders focus on their character, we don’t have very much biblical evidence on what an elder does. Here are a few clues from the book of Acts:
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20:28-30, Paul addressing the elders of the church at Ephesus)
17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 When they heard this, they praised God. (Acts 21:17-20, the elders were concerned about some of the people in their church who were devoted to Jewish law, and Paul’s testimony helped them understand how to teach and shepherd these believers)
And while Timothy is not himself an elder in Ephesus, he was sent there by Paul to correct false teaching and concerning practices, so the instructions Paul gives to Timothy seem applicable to the leaders he was sent to help:
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:11-16)
This article from the Gospel Coalition applies these texts to draw some conclusions about the practical functions of an elder:
1. The Responsibility of Christlikeness
The emphasis on character highlights that God requires elders be men who are passionate about their relationship with Him and are growing in their faith. Elders intentionally pursue holiness as they live lives of integrity before others (1 Timothy 3:3-7; Titus 1:5-8).
2. The Responsibility of Family
An elder must manage his own family well. God has called elders to care for the emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing of their family. An elder’s family is his God given priority. In prioritizing his family, he is to have an undivided heart by being faithful to his wife (1 Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 1:5-6)
3. The Responsibility of Oversight
The elders are called to oversee and direct the affairs of the church which is why they are sometimes referred to as ‘overseers.’ (Acts 20:17-38; 1 Tim. 5:17). Oversight is the ability to prayerfully discern the totality of the church, in all it encompasses, including God’s direction for that body of believers. Although some elders will be passionate about missions, or youth ministry or small groups, an elder must be able to see the church as a whole and not simply the various components. They come to prayerfully discern God’s will for the entire church and not simply part of the church. Elders need to see the ‘big picture’ and understand how the various components fit together.
4. The Responsibility of Shepherding
Shepherding is a key responsibility for elders (Acts 20:17-38; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). Elders are called to guard, feed, lead, and care for the flock God has placed in their care. There are those both without and within the church who want to distort the truth and devour the flock. Elders are called to protect their flock.
5. The Responsibility of Doctrinal Purity
Elders are called to clearly declare and teach sound doctrine while correcting, rebuking, and refuting false doctrine (Acts 20:30-31; 1 Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:9-16). Elders need to point believers to the firm and unchanging truths found in the saving knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Elders protect their flock by guarding them from false doctrine. Those who lead the flock astray with their false doctrine need to be silenced by the elders. Biblical insight, courage and strength are needed to refute them.
6. The Responsibility of Prayer
The elders of the church are called to a ministry of prayer (Acts 6:1–4). Each member in the church needs prayer. Prayer should be a central component of our individual lives, our meetings, and our time together.
The elder covenant NCC elders currently commit to can be read here.
Please email your recommendations to fce@newcitymacon.org.