Lay Elder Nominations

What is a Lay Elder?

The Lay Elders are members of the church body who have been commissioned by the church to give guidance, oversight, and direction to the church under the directives of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:4). Lay Elders provide wise counsel and accountability for finances, personnel, pastoral staff and provide overall church direction.

PaulAnn Lay Elders are voted on by the church family and serve a 3-year term. Lay Elder nominees are presented to the current Elder Team where 3 final candidates are selected. They are then presented to the church for a two-week period for consideration, after which they are voted on by the church. This year we are filling 3 Lay Elder positions.

 

Lay Elder Criteria

We believe that the criteria for leadership should be taken from Scripture. Much of the criteria comes from Titus and 1 Timothy, which begins with the statement that if anyone desires the position of leadership (overseer) they desire a noble task. This would mean that the individual has received a personal inner calling of God and that the office or position should never be imposed.

• A life lived above reproach or blameless (Col. 3:1-17; 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6)
• Temperate, sober-minded, not given to much wine (1 Timothy 3:1-3; Titus 1:7)
• Husband of one wife, a one-woman man (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6)
• Hospitable, a friend of strangers (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8)
• Apt to teach (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9)
• Not a brawler or quarrelsome, but gentle and patient (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7)
• Not eager for dishonorable gain, covetous, or a lover of money (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:11)
• Must manage his own family well and see that his children are faithful and obey him with proper respect (1 Tim. 3:4-5; Titus 1:6; Col. 3:18-25; Eph. 5:22-33)
• Must not be arrogant or self-willed, and slow to anger (Titus 1:7)
• Authority positions filled only by qualified men (Titus 1:6; 1 Timothy 3:2)

 

In considering you Lay Elder nominations, who would you call upon in the following life situations:

• You need help leading a friend to Christ.
• You bottom out spiritually.
• You are trapped in a major sin.
• You are having severe financial trouble.
• You need advice on raising your children.
• You need to talk about your core faith or beliefs.
• You have conflict with another believer in the church and you do not know what to do.
• You are questioning your salvation or other doctrinal issues.
• Your marriage relationship is in trouble.

Deadline to Submit Nominations is: Monday, October 30, 2023