Beliefs & Governing Policies

| ELDER OVERVIEW

DEFINITIONS: In Scripture the terms "elder," "overseer," and "bishop" are synonymous and used interchangeably. At CVBC, elders provide pastoral care, guidance, and shepherding to the congregation through shared leadership.

WHO ARE ELDERS? Elders are individuals who meet the biblical qualifications of 1 Timothy 3. They have consistently displayed godly character, a willingness to serve others and the maturity to lead other Christians toward a new life and full Christian maturity.

WHAT ARE THEIR PRIMARY DUTIES? The primary responsibility of the Council of Elders is prayer and ministry of the word of God. Out of the posture of prayer, elders serve the body and are responsible to discern, communicate, and guard the vision, mission, purposes and values of CVBC.

| CALLING OF ELDERS

Elders are called by God as He matures them and burdens them to fulfill such a ministry. As overseers in their leading and protecting capacity, it is the responsibility of the Council of Elders to recognize the men whom the Holy Spirit appoints as elders (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 4:14). The process of recognition of elders at Chippewa Valley Bible Church is as follows:

Identification

1. Anyone in the church family may, after prayerful consideration of the scriptural qualifications, recommend one of the men of the church to the eldership for consideration as an elder. Each person so presented is given serious consideration by the current Council of Elders.

2. If the Council of Elders is unaware of any Scriptural reasons not to consider the man, they will commit to a period of time for interaction (see B-1 below) with the man in order to determine with him God's will in this matter (1 Timothy 3:1; 1 Peter 5:2). With this information, the elders prayerfully decide whether the recommended man is a true candidate for the office of elder.

3. Once agreed that the man appears to desire the office under the Lord's direction, the Council of Elders will notify the congregation of the candidate under consideration. The church family is encouraged to pray and inform the Council of Elders of their input (either personally or in writing).

4. If the man is found lacking in any areas of life, an invitation is extended for a discipling relationship between a member of the Council of Elders and the candidate. In this way deficiencies are dealt with directly and the candidate may be considered for the eldership at a future time.

Consideration

1. Following the identification of a potential elder, the Council of Elders take reasonable time (typically 6-18 months) to get to know the candidate. This time provides for:

   • Prayer and fasting for God's will in the matter (Acts 14:23)
   • A period to familiarize the man with the functions of an elder
   • A sufficient opportunity for the Council of Elders to develop their relationships with the person and to evaluate his spiritual depth and character as one who might share in the ministry of equipping the saints (1 Timothy 5:22)

2. Any areas of life in which the man is found lacking are discussed lovingly, candidly and confidentially within the eldership. The candidate's continuation in the process of becoming an elder is determined by the circumstances of any deficiency that arises.

Presentation

1. Following the period of consideration, the Council of Elders, by unanimous consent, formally commend the candidate as an elder.

2. The new elder is publicly affirmed by the Council of Elders in the presence of the congregation.

| TERM OF SERVICE

An elder may serve for as long as he desires the work and meets the qualifications of Scripture.

At least once a year the Council of Elders will hold a time of reflection and evaluation. Each man's work and life are candidly discussed. The following issues will be considered for each elder:

• The continued qualification of a man to continue serving in the office of elder
• Any modifications to an elder's responsibilities appropriate for his current life circumstances
• Whether a man is in need of a season of rest from the responsibilities of the office

All decisions concerning a man's role and work as an elder are made by the unanimous consent of the Council of Elders. Any changes within the Council of Elders, including the duration and duties of an elder taking a sabbatical rest, are communicated to the congregation in a timely manner following the retreat.

| REMUNERATION

The Scriptures instruct that the worker is worthy of his hire (1 Corinthians 9:3-14) and the hard-working elder is worthy of 'double honor' (1 Timothy 5:17). The elders at Chippewa Valley Bible Church follow the Scriptural pattern of never demanding the right to be paid for their services (1 Corinthians 9:12-19; 1 Peter 5:1-4). Therefore, they do not automatically receive any financial compensation from the church for their service as members of the Council of Elders.

As the particular needs of the church warrant, the church may provide a salary to a member of the Council of Elders to free the elder from the distraction of (or concern for) his financial obligations. The specific remuneration for paid staff elders (and all church employees) is established by the unanimous consent of the Council of Elders. Such information is available upon request to anyone in the congregation. It is the responsibility of the Council of Elders to evaluate the job performance of those elders who receive remuneration.

| DISQUALIFICATION

Every member is subject to accountability within the church and therefore the elder may be disciplined according to biblical principles (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15). Scripture does dictate that no accusation against an elder is to be taken seriously unless there are two or three witnesses to verify the charges. When a confronted elder "continues in sin," he is rebuked by the Council of Elders before the congregation, that "others may fear" (1 Timothy 5:19, 20).

An elder is subject to scrutiny in areas which call for church discipline (unrepentant sin) and circumstances which might affect his continuing qualification to serve as an elder. When an elder ceases to meet those qualifications, he is asked to remove himself from the office for a time so that he may put his life in order in that area. Such action is taken only by the unanimous consent of the other elders. If an elder himself feels unable to serve for any reason, he may request to be relieved from office either temporarily or permanently. The process of his possible reinstatement at a later time is determined by the elders in relation to the circumstances.

| ACCOUNTABILITY

In carrying out his duties, the elder is immediately responsible to the Council of Elders, continually responsible to his brothers and sisters in the congregation, and ultimately responsible to the Lord Jesus Christ.