Elder Recommendation Overview

The Board of Elders of Otterbein Church is comprised of the Senior Pastor and (6) men chosen to serve as Elders.  Elders serve a three-year term from January-December. Two Elders are selected annually.  Elders function as the spiritual leaders of the church and are responsible for the following: 

  • Provide spiritual care and accountability for the congregation.
  • Provide spiritual oversight and guidance to the church staff and all ministry leaders.
  • Appoint all ministry leaders.
  • Determine and uphold the beliefs and values of the church.
  • Oversee church discipline of members of the church.
  • Work alongside the Management Oversight Team to assure the direction and vision of the church falls within biblical teaching.

During October and November of each year, the congregation is invited to recommend names of persons for the office of Elder at Otterbein by completing the Elder Recommendation Form below.  As you consider recommending persons for the position of Elder, please review the following qualifications: 

  • Elders must have attended Otterbein Church for at least three years prior to their election as Elder.
  • Elders must be actively involved in at least one ministry of the church.
  • Elders must be able to regularly attend Elder meetings and fulfill the responsibilities of an Elder.
  • Elders must be persons of high moral integrity and spiritual maturity.  They should be men of good reputation in both the church and community. 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9, and the Seven Qualities of a Mature Reproducing Disciple of Jesus Christ (see below) shall be used as a guide to determine the spiritual fitness and moral integrity of an Elder.

Elder Recommendation Forms must be completed no later than November 13, 2022. After November 13, an Elder Selection Committee appointed by the Management Oversight Team of the church will review the Recommendation forms.  The Elder Selection Committee will then interview all potential candidates who meet the qualifications for the position of Elder.  Following the interviews, the Elder Selection Committee will choose by secret ballot the required number of Elders. 

Steps for Completing The Recommendation Form

If you know a person whom you believe could serve as an Elder at Otterbein Church or if you would like to serve in the position of Elder, we encourage you to do the following prior to completing the Elder Recommendation Form: 

  1. Pray for God to make clear to you whether you should recommend the person. 
  2. Look over the Seven Qualities of a Mature Reproducing Disciple of Jesus Christ and read 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 which describe the biblical qualifications for an Elder (they can be found below). Make sure the life of the person you are recommending is characterized by the Seven Qualities of a Mature Reproducing Disciple of Christ and the biblical qualifications. 
  3. If you believe a person should be recommended, please speak with them before completing the form to see if they would be willing to serve  as an Elder if selected.
  4. Complete the Elder Recommendation Form below no later than November 13, 2022. If clarifications or comments are needed to help explain your answers on the form, please include those comments in the "Other Comments" section at the end of the form.  If you do not know if the nominee is qualified in an area, mark the "Don't Know" column.  This is an acceptable answer and will not be held against the nominee.

Overview of the Biblical Qualifications of an Elder

1 Timothy 3:1–7 (NLT)  This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.”  So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.


Titus 1:6–9 (NLT) An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.


SEVEN QUALITIES OF A MATURE REPRODUCING DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST


REFLECTS CHRIST:

  • They have committed their life to Christ
  • They love God with their heart, soul, and mind
  • They love others
  • They are characterized by the fruit of the Spirit
  • They are committed to personal holiness

LIVES BIBLICALLY:

  • They know and put into practice the teachings of the Bible
  • They spend regular times (devotions) communicating with God through Bible reading and prayer

GIVES SACRIFICIALLY:

  • They give their finances generously and sacrificially to the church
  • They give their time to the church by attending regularly and serving others

SERVES OTHERS

  • They know their unique God-given SHAPE
  • They are serving the Lord in the church in at least one ministry using their God-given Shape

SHARES FAITH

  • They have a Global Perspective and are equipped for and committed to local and cross-cultural outreach
  • They are developing relationships with non-believers for the purpose of sharing their faith
  • They are actively sharing Christ with others

FELLOWSHIPS WITH BELIEVERS

  • They are involved in a smaller group where people know their name and who they are
  • They have an intimate and close relationship with at least 3 followers of Christ who provide personal accountability, encouragement, and support

 WORSHIPS DAILY

  • They attend worship services regularly
  • They participate in private worship
  • They respect, revere, and fear God
  • They regularly express their adoration and worship God in personal devotions

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