Elders
Elders at The Austin Stone are the spiritual leaders of our church
|
Kyle McDaniel |
|
Chuck Baker |
|
Matt Carter |
Role of Elders in the Church
Vision
We want to be a New Testament church existing for the supremacy of the name and purpose of Jesus Christ. One thing we have noticed about churches described in the New Testament is that they were led by elders.
New Testament Churches
Acts 11:30 refers to elders in connection with the church in Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabus appointed elders in every church they helped start and prayed for them (Acts 14:23). They left those churches in God's hands with the elders as His representatives.
Shepherds and Overseers
Elders are also called shepherds and overseers in the Scriptures. They are responsible for guarding the spiritual lives of worshippers and for making sure sound doctrine is taught in the church. They are advocates of spiritual growth in the church rather than a clearing house for decision-making. They are less like dictators or CEOs and more like good and loving fathers.