You may be referred to as an elder, board member, council member, or simply a servant, but thank you for serving as a leader in the church.
I am grateful for your humility, sacrifice, and love for the church—recognizing that this church does not belong to you, but to Christ, who purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28). You serve in a role that is both sacred and weighty. You are not simply decision-makers or board members—you are shepherds, entrusted by God to care for His people.
In a world that often rewards image over integrity and platform over faithfulness, your calling is sacrificial and humble. You are to model a different kind of leadership—the kind that bends to wash feet, that prays when no one is watching, and that remains faithful when others quit. You may be functioning as elders, but you are actually servants.
Having walked with many churches through seasons of both growth and challenge, I offer this letter as a reminder—of the calling God has given you, the joy and burden you carry, and the truth that your labor in the Lord is never in vain.
Here are five callings that I believe every elder must hold close—biblical, necessary, and deeply pastoral:
1. Shepherd the Flock Among You
“Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight…” (1 Peter 5:2)
Notice the phrase: “among you.” You are not apart from the flock. You share in the same needs, wounds, and hope as the congregation you serve. You are not simply called to make decisions like a corporate board member, though there are times for that as well. You are called to walk with the people and lead from within as a fellow sinner and fellow saint.
Ensure the people are fed the Word of God, cared for in their needs, and lifted in prayer. While you may not be able to know and care for every individual, you should strive to know and shepherd some personally. Eldership is not just about oversight—it’s about presence.
- Recommended reading: Church Elders: How to Shepherd God’s People by Jeramie Rinne.
2. Be an Example to Those Who Believe
“…not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:3)
While it may be the pastor’s primary responsibility to preach the Word, the elder body collectively ensures that God’s Word is proclaimed faithfully. Your own lives also serve as powerful sermons. The church watches how you live, how you love your families, how you respond to criticism, and how you pursue holiness.
Often, congregants will look at the pastor and think that he does so because that is his job. But when they see lay leaders modeling a life of discipleship, it communicates a deeper conviction. It models what it looks like to follow Jesus in everyday life. Elders and their spouses don’t just teach godliness—they embody it. So on Sundays and Fridays, at work and at home, in public and in private, be an example of those who believe (1 Timothy 4:12).
3. Share in the Burden of Leadership
“Appoint elders in every town…” (Titus 1:5)
Contrary to popular models of leadership today, the church was never intended to be led by a single, gifted individual. From the New Testament onward, the norm has always been shared leadership. Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders (plural) in every church.
The church is not to be led by the pastor alone, but by a collective leadership, which means that you, collectively, are to lead the church. No one person possesses all the wisdom, gifting, or perspective necessary. God has designed church leadership to be shared, so the weight can be carried together. This model not only provides spiritual health but protects the church from the limitations and blind spots of any one leader.
- Recommended reading: Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch.
4. Support and Encourage the Senior Pastor
“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” (1 Timothy 5:17)
“But Moses’ hands grew weary… so Aaron and Hur held up his hands… so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” (Exodus 17:12)
While church leadership is shared, there is often one individual who bears a unique responsibility—what some refer to as the directional leader, the first among equals, or simply, the senior pastor. In many traditions, this person serves as the primary communicator and visionary.
Having served in that role for over 30 years, I can say with confidence: it is a weighty and often lonely place. A faithful pastor feels the burden of preaching the gospel clearly, guiding the church spiritually, and caring for souls—sometimes silently, and always imperfectly.
Support your pastor. Pray for him. Encourage him both publicly and privately. When Moses grew tired in intercession, Aaron and Hur stood beside him and held up his arms. Your senior pastor will have seasons of weariness—be the ones who lift him up.
5. Keep Fellow Elders Accountable
“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.” (Galatians 2:11)
Supporting your pastor does not mean blind support. In fact, one of your most loving things you can do for your pastor is to keep him, and each other, accountable.
When the Apostle Peter, the apostle and foundational leader of the church, began to slide back into ethnic partiality, Paul confronted him directly. This was not political—it was pastoral. It was gospel-centered accountability for the sake of the whole church.
A part of your calling is to keep your fellow elder accountable. If you do not, someone outside will. If that comes from outside of the leadership team, it will degrade trust in the leadership. If it comes from outside the church, it will degrade trust in the church. You must sharpen each other in conviction and character. The health of the church depends on it.
Conclusion
I know that your calling is not easy. You are called to pay a price and burden that others do not. You do it, not because of extrinsic rewards or pressure of others, but because you are compelled by the love of Christ. Thank you for being obedient to the call of God.
Know that your labor is not in vain. And when in doubt, be good and faithful. God bless!
This article is part of the Leaders’ Line blog, written by various leaders and geared specifically toward those serving in leadership. Our email newsletter goes out twice a month. In addition to Leaders’ Line articles, each newsletter includes news and notes curated especially for ministry leaders. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox.