The Role of an Elder

In his book The Shepherd Leader, Tim Witmer provides this excellent biblical summary showing God’s concern for shepherding, as well as providing a foundation to the biblical responsibilities of an elder. Notice in this explanation that an elder is not part of an impersonal board or court, but as part of an interactive, highly relational team with the responsibility of caring for God’s people.

1. The Lord described himself as the shepherd of his people and his people as the flock under his care (Gen. 48:15; Ps. 80:1; 95:6-7).

2. The Lord’s comprehensive care included knowing, feeding, leading, and protecting his sheep (Ps. 23).

3. Leaders of God’s people such as Moses and David were described as shepherds of God’s people (Ps. 77:20; 78:72).

4. Human shepherds were sometimes fallible and faithless (Ezek. 34: 1-10; Jer. 23).

5. Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the perfect messianic shepherd to come. In him his sheep find the ultimate provision, direction, and security (Ezek. 24:23-31; John 10:1-30).

6. Jesus provides for the ongoing care of his people through elders who are called to shepherd the flock (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-2).

7. A plurality of elders is called to care for particular sheep in particular places (Acts 14:23;Titus 1:5; James 5:14).

8. Though the biblical terms for elder are synonymous, there is evidence that there are among the elders those who are particularly called and gifted to focus on the ministry of the Word of God. These elders share the responsibility for shepherding the flock (1 Tim. 5:17; Eph. 4:11).

9. Elders continue the shepherding functions of knowing, feeding, leading, and protecting the sheep. These functions are to be carried out corporately on the congregational level (macro-shepherding) and personally among the people (micro-shepherding) (Acts 20:20).

10. Shepherd-elders will be called to give an account for their care of the sheep one day and, therefore, the sheep are to respect their authority (1 Peter 5:4; Heb. 13:17).[1]

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[1] Timothy Z Witmer, The Shepherd Leader: Achieving Effective Shepherding in Your Church (P & R Publishing, 2010), 194.