By Dr. Wilfred A. Bellamy
In recent months I have been drawn to study the role of
Ruling Elder in the Church. There are two reasons for this. The first is that
in teaching Ecclesiology one must turn to the Session and church governance in
general. The second is that in preparing to teach Deuteronomy one cannot escape
the role of Moses the leader and his need for assistance in the task.
But to the root of the matter. In the opening of 1 Timothy 3
the Apostle Paul goes immediately to the heart that is set – the epithumeo – the burning desire to be an
overseer – episkopos – one who is
committed to look out for others. Before he leads us to any other
qualifications he shows us the principle, the Ruling Elder is primarily not for
himself but for others.
It therefore occurs to me that even as Moses said to the
Lord’s people: “You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone,” (Deuteronomy
1:9) so the model for leadership and discipleship is established for the
Church, and is implicit in Paul’s statement in 1 Timothy 3:1. Here the
injunction of Matthew 28:19 to “make disciples” takes on a broader and more
compelling perspective.
However, what has taken place in the Church over the years,
and most especially in recent times, is that the Session, the Ruling and
Teaching Elders together, has changed its role. The Session in many if not most
of our Reformed and Presbyterian Churches has become either the Board of
Directors, the organizational and strategic or financial planning committee of
the church, or, worse yet, the supporters of the Pastor in doing whatever he
deems right for the congregation.
Leadership in the sense of spiritual leadership, being
shepherds and disciplers of others, seems to be less and less the goal or
intent of the Session. The fervor and vibrancy of the people of God appear to
be a diminished purpose of the Session while more mundane matters have assumed
the ascendency.
When Moses determined that he could not manage alone he
struck a nerve. Many a Pastor must agree that his aloneness in his task leads
to a degree of busyness that denies effectiveness. Common sense says that there
is no way that he can disciple a congregation alone, however skilled he may be
or however hard he tries. So the net effect of such a Pastor is that he will
gradually find himself discouraged while his congregation agrees that he is
being ineffectual.
So where does the solution lie? If we return to 1 Timothy we
can conclude that the breakdown begins when the Ruling Elder assumes his role
without first understanding that he is to “look out for others.” The Scripture
explicitly says so. He must also be “apt to teach” – not necessarily to stand
before a class and teach a portion of Scripture, even though that would be
advantageous, but to teach by discipling, by caring, by modeling, by witnessing
the grace of God in Christ before individuals. Perhaps this might be in a
one-on-one relationship in mentoring another believer toward maturity, or in
gathering a small group and providing guidance and instruction regarding their
walk of faith. There may be times when a Ruling Elder will take a person aside
for advice, or a young person who needs correction.
There are many in congregations who privately have doubts
concerning their relationship with Christ. Others may have serious questions
regarding points of doctrine that puzzle them, while others may be thinking
about seeking another fellowship where certain aspects of teaching or practice
may not apply. There are a host of reasons why the people of a congregation
need someone to whom they can turn for help, someone whom they know and can
trust, and someone who will neither ridicule nor avoid answering their
questions. Someone who is already among them.
Here is where the Session becomes the “lookers out for
others.” Here is true discipleship. This is not the meeting to discuss the
business of the church, but a manifestation of true spiritual leadership, being
engaged with the members of the congregation, demonstrating care and concern,
and training in righteousness.
So the question before us is: “Can a Session that has
shifted away from its primary purposes be recovered to become a discipling
group of spiritual leaders in the church?” That’s a tall order. First the
Pastor must embrace the idea and, as Moderator of the Session, initiate change.
Next, the congregation must be made aware of a change in perspective that they
can endorse. Then when nominations take place these matters may be considered.
Further, a purposeful intentional beginning must take place as Ruling Elders
demonstrate their newer role by becoming concerned and interested men in the
lives of the membership.
Now we know. The Pastor cannot be held accountable for all
the spiritual ministry of the church. It is foolish to imagine that this is
possible. Moses couldn’t do it and Paul certainly established a pattern, before
God, that no one else would have to try and do it. The church needs its Elders,
but it does not need them to be only the determining committee of the church,
it needs them to “look out for them.”
-Dr. Wilfred A. Bellamy, is an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and a former missionary to Nigeria.
