The Process for Becoming an Elder

We have been praying as a church for our next associate pastor search. We are also prayerfully considering presenting possible new elders in the new year. With such weighty decisions, I thought it may be of interest for you to know how we go about that process. We certainly do not take the responsibility lightly. The role of pastor/elder is significant for the life of the church. We have seen this in full-color as we have been studying through the book of Titus.
 
When a man has been identified (after looking afresh at the elder/pastor qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1) as one who consistently lives out his faith in Jesus we invite them to prayerfully consider going through the process of the role of pastor or elder. With more conversations and time, we also have them take the time to fill out a few important documents [attached] that will help us know more of their background and positions on various important topics. It is a fairly long process we go through before there is either a hiring of an associate pastor or approving of an elder by the members. We believe it is vital to pray and slow down to ask lots of questions and feel confident in who we will bring onto the church leadership.
 
I hope that this will encourage you in our process and know that we take this role seriously. We know we will give an account before the Lord [Hebrews 13:17] for the care of the flock of God here. We desire to serve our Lord well. We desire to love our people well.
 
Will you continue to pray for us as we consider these weighty issues as an elder team? I would be humbly grateful for it.
 
I love what God is doing and how He is leading us. He is at work.
 
Held By His Abundant Grace,
 
 Pastor John