In the Bible, the ultimate responsibility for the spiritual care and direction of the local church rests on the shoulders of its elders. This, in fact, is why we call ourselves “Presbyterian.”
The New Testament was originally written in Greek, and the Greek word for “elder” is presbuteros (πρεσβύτερος). This was the word that the Apostle Paul used when he gave instruction to “appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:5). The church of the New Testament was led by elders, and our church’s name acknowledges that fact.
Pastors are neither CEO’s nor mid-level managers. And elders are not to function merely like corporate boards of directors.
God Himself has always been the ultimate shepherd of His people (Psalm 23:1), and He is in the business of appointing “under-shepherds” to share in the care of His flock—elders who oversee the spiritual needs of the congregation, teaching them God’s word and leading by example in the direction of those under their spiritual oversight.
