(So I did a search for images for “ElderLink.” And look at what I found!
For those of you who don’t play Zelda — or have kids who do (my situation) — the picture is a sculpture of Link, the hero of the videogame Zelda, imagined as much older — ElderLink. Really.
I’m thinking of getting T-shirts made.)
So my fellow elders, two of our ministers, and I attended ElderLink in Atlanta a few weeks ago. The program is jointly sponsored by ACU and Lipscomb University. (Thank you!)
It’s always a worthwhile trip. It’s good to spend some time with my fellow elders and ministers away from church.
This year’s program was focused on supporting and encouraging elders in their work. The idea is an extension of the efforts being made to support and encourage ministers — to help protect them from burn out. It’s a clear need.
But afterwards, my fellows elders and I talked about the program and the suggestions for how to help keep elders from burning out. And here’s what we concluded: It’s not about setting aside time for prayer (which we should do), or spending more time in the Bible (always a commendable habit), or seeking solitude to hear the voice of God (does God speak most clearly in solitude? I’m not so sure …)
Rather, the burden of the eldership is loneliness — and lonely spiritual disciplines are therefore not the cure. Rather, what elders need is encouragement from other people. And they need other people with whom they can share their burdens in confidence — people who aren’t part of their congregations. And they need the expertise and wisdom that come from other elders’ experiences.
You see, in our zeal for congregational autonomy, we’ve created congregational isolation. Our elders generally don’t know the other elders in nearby towns in similar congregations. Therefore, we all have to make our own mistakes. It’s not a good plan.
I understand that youth ministers and campus ministers have formed fairly structured mutual support networks, where they meet periodically for mutual encouragement. That’s a good thing.
Why are there no such networks for elders? Is there no need? Is it too hard to figure out? Is it not worth the trouble?
So here’s my thinking — and this is very, very preliminary —
* Pick a state (say, Alabama).
* Similarly sized congregations, with similar theologies, are likely to have similar problems and needs — and can best benefit from sharing with each other. And problems likely differ with distance. Texas churches aren’t like Alabama churches.
* For the sake of simplicity, we start with the bigger churches. There aren’t as many and they have more resources — more networked connections with each other, with the universities, etc. They’ll all know or know of each other.
Later, the circle can be expanded — after the kinks are worked out and experience gained.
* The elders and ministers of those churches share ideas internally. For example, how do fulltime ministers set up mutual-encouragement networks? What elements of that pattern would serve elders well?
* What expertise do we need to borrow from outside sources? I’m thinking mainly of the universities. Including some of their folks in such a network would surely be tremendously helpful. I’m a big fan of what Lipscomb and ACU are doing to support elders. I know other universities are involved in other places.
* Is this a network made up merely of phone numbers and offers to help if needed? I think not. You can’t really reach out to someone if you’ve not met them. There has to be a meeting that the elders attend and use to network.
* Is this unstructured time? A seminar? A workshop? Sermons? Classes? Games to break the ice? (We’re probably too stuffy for that.)
* Do ministers participate? Wives? (Do we risk being accused of letting our wives run the church — while denying them the same sort of support we know we need and they likely need even more so?)
* There’s no sense in replicating ElderLink. This would have to be different — because the emphasis would be on personal connections and dealing with more targeted needs. Every state is different.
* Nor is there any point in replicating the lectureships. Lipscomb, for example, puts on a great program each summer, within easy driving distance of anywhere in Alabama. But it’s not a place where elders can readily meet each other and share stories and problems — not without some sort of structure designed to do that. If we’re not careful, we’ll drift into familiar patterns and just build an Alabama lectureship that does nothing more than we can already get at ACU, Lipscomb, or Pepperdine.
* Or it could be that the network happens to meet just before a nearby lectureship — allowing the elders to meet and network beforehand and then attend classes in the elder-track later. Maybe?
So that’s not quite an entire idea — just the beginnings of an idea.
Readers,
— Those of you who are ministers who participate in mutual encouragement networks, can you share with us how those work? And maybe how you see that structure working (or not) with regard to elders?
— Those of you who are elders, do you see any virtue in such a pursuit? I know it’s really vague, but are these seed thoughts worthy of investigation? Would you participate in such a program if one were offered? What needs do you see that aren’t being otherwise met?
Jay, a fine idea. We’re in NC where CoC is thin and diverse in “theology.” I’ll be interested in where you take this and would welcome an invite to visit one of your events for ideas. (Have plane, will travel.)
Initially, meet face to face. After that, have monthly video teleconference gatherings using Skype, Google, etc.
I have attended excellent secular conferences where such support happens. There is an obvious need for people like Charles Siburt. There are people who can provide such services. I have found, however, that churches (all denominations and non-denominations) are notoriously cheap and expect almost everything to be done free.
A really bad idea. The first step toward Catholicism. If a man selected to be “elder” does not know his congregation better than the professors of a “church college” , then the congregation made a mistake in selecting him . I don’t see among the recommendations of Paul “the church college degree” .
That in my opinion is the very reason there is so called “burnout” in both preachers, and “elders”
They weren’t truly called to the task, the job becomes boring especially for those to young to be in the job anyway.
In my opinion, and that of the first century church, Elders are grown, not selected. The only way to become an Elder in Church is to outlast the others. When we start replacing experience of life with “book learning” we not only fail the congregation, but the purpose of God.
I believe “elders” of a congregation should draw support from their fellow “elders” and their congregation, not from outside resources. like I said each congregation has it’s own problems.
In our metropolitan area in Ohio, we have elders’ breakfasts every three to four months. We started this about a year ago, inviting elders from within a roughly 30 mile circle, and will be having our fourth meeting this summer. We generally have four to six congregations represented. We’re beginning to know each other, and our conversations are beginning to move beyond, “This is what’s going on at our church.” The opportunity to seek knowledge and/or cousel based on actual experience is invaluable, and these elderships provide an opportunity for counsel free from the concern of loose lips in your own congregation. Layton, simply outlasting everybody else should never be the reason a man holds the office of elder. Some of those kids who sat on the back row in the third grade, repeated a couple of grades, and ate boogers live a long time. They’re still God’s children, but not cut out to be elders.
Dwayne,
You’re quite right. ACU was generous to allow Charles to do much of his consulting for free. We would have gladly paid.
It’s a bit ironic. Although many churches would pay, I think the universities have concluded that it’s worth donating their time and effort to help build healthy congregations and prevent division.
I’ll ponder the Skype idea. My son made the same point to me. (I just don’t like cameras. At all. It’s a phobia I have to live with.)
Bob,
It’s an idea that keeps bubbling up among my fellow elders (even when I don’t bring it up). We feel the need, for ourselves and others. Just need that special spark of an idea for how to pull it off …
John,
That’s a really good idea. Kudos to whomever came up with it!
I’m glad you can gather a group large enough to share breakfast within 30 miles. We’d need a bit bigger circle — but what’s an hour drive when there bacon at the end?
Sounds like Charles Siburt was operating as a (gasp!) apostle, at least in his work among other elders in the church. This sounds like yet another example of someone exercising a divine calling to the church’s benefit, even when we did not have a particular doctrinal slot to put him in. If we keep seeing this, we might eventually make it okay for such men to do their jobs in the open…
And I am in favor of just about anything that blurs the lines (even if it’s just in Laymond’s mind) between congregations in the city. The more we can do to replace “them” with “us”, the better we fulfill Jesus’ prayer for us.
My suggestion would be (and I’ll bet Jay can see this one coming) that you not limit the design to CoC personnel. Want input that you don’t already have? Talk to someone you don’t already listen to. If this is a program for mutual support, as opposed to a doctrinal-training program, a godly leader from a non-CoC with whom some CoC elder already has relationship should not only be seen as an acceptable participant, but as highly desirable!
I support the emphasis on more local connections, not because I think Texas elders have different issues than Alabama elders, but simply because mutual support is more likely to live past the meeting if brothers are close enough to engage each other personally. But regardless, the more elders you can get to touch elders from other congregations, the better off the whole denomination is likely to be.
I can foresee potential problems, but let not warm heart yield to cold counsel. Do a good thing like this and deal with the bumps as you hit them, instead of trying to avoid them all to begin with– which is an almost certain way to kill the thing before it is born.
This should be a classic “ready-fire-aim” project. Just do it! If you can’t do anything else, buy four guys a burger at Denny’s and TALK. Do it before you figure out just how it won’t work!! And Godspeed!