I work with a lot of churches. It is always fascinating to me how the pastors and staff view its elders (or lay leadership) and how they are subsequently utilized.
Some pastors and church staff deeply respect and honor the office of elder and the individuals who hold it. Others take a different route.
The following are 10 Signs Pastors Do Not Respect Or Properly Value Their Elder Board:
- Their staff does not respect or value them. People are a picture of the leader. Honestly, at this point you don’t need any others. But….
- They are not included before critical church decisions are made. They choose to leapfrog the leaders. Also, nothing disrespects a leader more than finding out critical information at the same time as the rank and file.
- They do not meet regularly. This indicates they feel the elders do not add value, are a hindrance, and/or the time allocated for meetings could be better leveraged elsewhere.
- They patronize them. Appointments are made for political reasons. They give certain people positional leadership to make them feel like insiders but never granting them true influence.
- They never invest in their leadership. Their personal growth is simply not a priority. Even elders need to get better.
- The staff pushes back when excellence is demanded of them by the elders. The elders are nuisances and hindrances to their personal comfort or ruts.
- The staff ignores their ministry involvement. They are ignored when key ministry decisions are made because “we’ve got this” or the staff feels they bring no value.
- The elders have no role in public ministry. They are not tasked with in-service praying for people, decision counseling, new member training, or any public platform presence.
- The elders are never referred to by the pastor or staff. They are simply names on a page and only referenced when the pastor or staff need a backstop for unpopular decisions.
- Elders are not included in personnel decisions or the details of the church’s finances.
- ***BONUS*** The pastor does not spend individual time with his elders away from the office.
If this describes you or your staff, be reminded of these verses:
- “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” – James 5:14
- “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. 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, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 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 1:6-9
- “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.” – Acts 20:28
I want to end with a warning for elders. You will give an account before God of how you stewarded your role as an elder. Make sure you steward it well. One way to ensure this is to wholeheartedly serve the staff and church (Mark 10:45) and not become intoxicated by power and controlling your pastor and staff.
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