March 13, 2026
David Wright urges church elders to move beyond agendas into genuine friendship. He names common barriers, calls for humility and grace, and offers practical ways to build trust, unity, and a stronger leadership witness.
August 17, 2018
E2: Effective Elders Blog Editor’s Note: Starting today, each Friday we will publish a new blog post from our partners in ministry, E2: Effective Elders. We are publishing it here simultaneous to E2’s posting on their site every Friday. As you may know, the leaders of E2 write an article for our print and online magazine every month as well. Those articles are full of wisdom and practical help for elders. Please check them out! We are grateful to the leaders of E2—Gary Johnson, David Roadcup, and Jim Estep—as well as operations director Jared Johnson for their ministry partnership. Both
June 9, 2018
By David Roadcup An elder’s job description includes numerous responsibilities. Teaching, managing, leading a small group, attending meetings, listening, and making decisions fill an elder’s time. Two of the most important responsibilities an elder can fulfill are in modeling a life of prayer and leading his church in a powerful, impacting, and continuing prayer experience. Prayer is the greatest untapped source of power in the life of the church today. God calls his leaders to prayer. It is important that the church leadership team—paid staff and elders—be in constant contact with our Father. In warfare, every military battlefield commander knows
July 8, 2012
By Barton Shaw This is my sixth year serving as an elder in our church, Eastview Christian Church, Normal, Illinois, and I can honestly say it is one of the most challenging and rewarding roles I have. Over the years, I have had the pleasure to serve with 14 other men””all of them godly and devoted Christ followers whom I deeply respect. Though we are united in a common love for the church, it probably comes as no surprise that we are a collection of men from different stages of life with varied careers, temperaments, and perspectives. This is a
February 8, 2009
by Randy Nation “I feel like a drowning man being thrown a life preserver.” I said that more than two years ago when I realized there might be an answer to the frustrations the elders and I were experiencing. Over the last 25 years, I have served as senior minister in three Restoration Movement churches. Through the years, I have worked with many good leaders who love the Lord and the churches they lead. But I have been dismayed and frustrated that these good men, myself included, have struggled with so much dysfunction in our structure and meetings. I presently
December 10, 2008
By Mark A. Taylor As CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s Year of the Elder comes to a close, we want to keep our promise to share results from the Elders Survey that appeared here September 24. Your answers yielded few surprises, but you did confirm the need for the Year of the Elder features. In fact, we”re convinced that helps for elders should continue in CHRISTIAN STANDARD, even after this 2008 emphasis comes to an end. Most who responded to the survey are from churches with 4-6 elders (42 percent of the 562 respondents). In most of these congregations (almost 61 percent) the
April 7, 2026
John B. Penrose Jr
April 7, 2026
David Faust
March 27, 2026
Rick Cherok