Comments on: On Bad Elders: Thinking Out Loud http://oneinjesus.info/2008/07/on-bad-elders-an-exercise-in-thinking-out-loud/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:41:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Robert Smith http://oneinjesus.info/2008/07/on-bad-elders-an-exercise-in-thinking-out-loud/#comment-3241 Robert Smith Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:42:12 +0000 http://jayguin.wordpress.com/?p=1359#comment-3241 Al Maxey has a "reflections" on this. <a href="http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx220.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx220.htm</a> Al Maxey has a "reflections" on this.
http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx220.htm

]]> By: Doug Key http://oneinjesus.info/2008/07/on-bad-elders-an-exercise-in-thinking-out-loud/#comment-3240 Doug Key Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:48:09 +0000 http://jayguin.wordpress.com/?p=1359#comment-3240 I believe some type of re-affirmation is a good plan. This could be done on a rotating basis and if those elders whose time has come for re-affirmation do not wish to serve anymore their names are not submitted to the congregation. Let's say a two week period for the congregation to present their views. Don't know how rotating would work out in some of our rural congregations who struggle to even have an eldership. This leads to the hard of question of how effective are some of these leaderships. Training and communication with other elderships are essential to me. The exposure to their knowledge and experience can prove to be invaluable. I believe some type of re-affirmation is a good plan. This could be done on a rotating basis and if those elders whose time has come for re-affirmation do not wish to serve anymore their names are not submitted to the congregation. Let's say a two week period for the congregation to present their views.

Don't know how rotating would work out in some of our rural congregations who struggle to even have an eldership. This leads to the hard of question of how effective are some of these leaderships.

Training and communication with other elderships are essential to me. The exposure to their knowledge and experience can prove to be invaluable.

]]> By: Joe Baggett http://oneinjesus.info/2008/07/on-bad-elders-an-exercise-in-thinking-out-loud/#comment-3239 Joe Baggett Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:12:43 +0000 http://jayguin.wordpress.com/?p=1359#comment-3239 I would like to fire some elders. I think we all would. We all have our horror stories. Most elders today would barely meet the first two qualities which are teaching and hospitality. My wife and I were talking about this and we only felt that about 3 out of the dozens of elders we have been involved with were anything close to real shepherds. I believe that elders should be re-affirmed every year. I believe elders should attend some type of training or seminar at least once a quarter. I believe that most of their time should be spent in direct discipling efforts with people not administration. Most of the bad elders should have never been elders in the first place. The question is not if they meet the qualifications but rather should be pointed to the members and asked if they will commit to follow the potential elder. If a significant number of people do not commit to follow the potential elder then he should not serve regardless of the qualifications. How do you get a bad elder out? Go speak to them face to face and ask them to resign but be willing to use actual information not just feelings. Explain why it is hard to follow them. Do not let bad elders in. If the people do not sign a statement committing to follow the potential elders they don't get in regardless of qualifications. Re-affirm each year. Only re-affirm with 90% positive written response from pointed questionnaires by the membership. I would like to fire some elders. I think we all would. We all have our horror stories. Most elders today would barely meet the first two qualities which are teaching and hospitality. My wife and I were talking about this and we only felt that about 3 out of the dozens of elders we have been involved with were anything close to real shepherds. I believe that elders should be re-affirmed every year. I believe elders should attend some type of training or seminar at least once a quarter. I believe that most of their time should be spent in direct discipling efforts with people not administration.
Most of the bad elders should have never been elders in the first place. The question is not if they meet the qualifications but rather should be pointed to the members and asked if they will commit to follow the potential elder. If a significant number of people do not commit to follow the potential elder then he should not serve regardless of the qualifications.
How do you get a bad elder out?
Go speak to them face to face and ask them to resign but be willing to use actual information not just feelings. Explain why it is hard to follow them.
Do not let bad elders in. If the people do not sign a statement committing to follow the potential elders they don't get in regardless of qualifications.
Re-affirm each year. Only re-affirm with 90% positive written response from pointed questionnaires by the membership.

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