“ELDER OVERSIGHT”- From NCC’s Governance and Bylaws Document

Elders

Purpose

The main purpose of an Elder is to equip and encourage House Church Shepherds to make disciples and plant House Churches that carry out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission i.e.  reproducing disciples and planting other House Churches. They also oversee all matters related to the overall operation and ministry of New Community, conduct church discipline, pray for members, teach and equip leaders.


Qualifications

  1. Meets the biblical qualifications as set forth in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

  2. Actively engages in personal discipleship relationships. 

  3. Is a Member of New Community.

  4. Actively participates in a New Community House Church and regularly engages in a regional Gathering. Candidates being considered for eldership should have experience shepherding a House Church. Once commissioned as an elder they will continue to be actively involved in shepherding in their own House Church. It is recommended that the new elder take prudent steps to share his shepherding responsibilities among a House Church leadership team since eldering requires additional shepherding at a regional level.  

  5. Actively participates in regional leadership meetings.

  6. New Community strongly encourages elders to serve based on their gifting.

  7. Has a solid understanding of and agreement with scripture (Titus 1:9), the New Community Statement of Faith, this Leadership Document, House Church philosophy of ministry, and other New Community positional documents.

  8. New Community encourages Elders to rotate on and off the Elder Team.  Annually, each elder will be reassessed based on the qualifications listed in this document and be asked if they will be able to faithfully carry out the following commitments with a spirit of joy and generosity.

    1. Participate faithfully in Elder Team meetings and house church shepherd meetings

    2. Pray regularly for your fellow Elders and assigned House Church shepherds

    3. Meet with your assigned House Church shepherds at least bi-monthly

    4. Visit each of your assigned House Churches at least annually

    5. Is able to serve, without reservation, and with a free conscience


Appointment

  1. By the first meeting in October, the Elders will affirm the Elders for the coming year. 

  2. The affirmed Elders will then be presented to the members for their affirmation.  Members will have 30 days to present any biblical disqualifications of an elder that may disqualify them from serving. The method for presenting the disqualification shall follow the “Charges Against Elders” described later in this document.

  3. By the first Elder meeting in December, the Elders will appoint from among the Elders an Elder Chairman and Co-Chairman for the coming year. They will also appoint a Chairman for each of the teams, if needed, listed below:

    1. Regional Leadership Teams

    2. Domestic Disciple-Making Team

    3. International Disciple-Making Team 

    4. Administration Team

  4. Additionally, Elders may be asked to serve as Chairman of other ad hoc teams for the upcoming year. 

  5. Family members shall not serve as Elders concurrently. 

  6. In situations where the Elder Chairman is no longer able to complete his term, the Elder Co-Chairman will complete the unfulfilled term of the vacated position.

  7. In situations where an Elder is no longer able to complete their term, the Elders will appoint a new Elder (preferably from the same region) to serve out the term.


New Elder Appointment

  1. A candidate for Elder expresses interest in or is invited to pursue serving as an Elder.

  2. The candidate completes an Elder Application.

  3. The candidate’s House Church Shepherd (or other House Church Member if the Candidate is the Shepherd) fills out an Elder Recommendation Form.

  4. The candidate’s respective Regional Leadership Team vets the candidate.  

    1. At least one Elder within the candidate’s Region meets with the candidate’s House Church to gain further insights into the Candidate’s qualifications and desire to serve as an Elder.  

    2. Upon full consensus of the candidate’s Regional Leadership Team, the candidate will be recommended to the Elder Team for further consideration. 

    3. If there is not full consensus, the Elders in the candidate’s region will make recommendations for further development.

  5. The full Elder Team then also vets the candidate.

    1. The Elder Team interviews the candidate and his spouse, if he has one.

    2. If there is not full consensus after the interview, the Elder Team will make recommendations for further development.

    3. Upon full consensus of the Elder Team, the candidate will be presented to the family of House Churches at a weekend Gathering for their affirmation. Members will have 30 days to present any biblical disqualifications of the candidate using the Charges Against Elders process described below before the candidate is installed as a new elder.



Charges Against Elders

If any member of New Community has a grievance with an Elder or is aware of sinful behavior, they should first go to the elder privately in love and seek biblical resolution in accordance with Matthew 18:15-20. If the grievance is not resolved, or the elder refuses to acknowledge the sin and repent, they should request a meeting with the elder along with two or three witnesses in accordance with 1 Timothy 5:19. If the issue is still unresolved as a result of the meeting it should then be taken to the Chairman of the Elders (or Co-chairman, if it involves the Chairman). The Chairman (or Co-Chairman) will seek biblical reconciliation in accordance with Matthew 18:15-20 and 1 Timothy 5:19-20.