ELDERS; HOW ARE THEY APPOINTED?

They must first be selected from among the congregation. There is not much information on the selection nor the appointment. In Acts 6, the apostles told the brethren to look among themselves and choose men that met certain qualifications. After they were selected from the congregation, the apostles appointed them to the work. In Acts 14:23, Paul and Barnabas appointed men to the eldership. In Titus 1:;;5, Titus was told to appoint men in every city.

Any decent and orderly arrangement that does not violate the scriptures should be acceptable. Prayer should be had fervently on this important occasion. If there were individuals that felt that such occasion should be preceded by fasting, then they could feel free to do so. Not to be seen of men, nor to bind it upon any other individual. But he of his own free choice could so fast if he desired. The selection would necessarily have to be made by members of the congregation that had known the men for some reasonable length of time. If a preacher or some other person had just moved to the congregation, they would not be able to know enough about the man to choose him by his qualifications. Of course, a preacher, that understood the Bible teaching and qualifications of elders could be used in the appointment of such relying on the congregation to have chosen qualified men. A thorough study of the eldership should be made by every member of the church before they take upon themselves to be a part of the selection process of men to be put forward for appointment to the eldership. Such selection should be done with a thorough understanding of the Bible teaching on the eldership.

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