After the Message - On Appointed Elders

The small Mediterranean island of Crete might seem an unlikely place to learn profound truths about church leadership, yet it's exactly where the Apostle Paul sent crucial instructions that would shape Christian communities for millennia. In his letter to Titus, Paul addresses something that might initially seem mundane—church governance—but reveals it as essential to the health and flourishing of God's people.

Why Church Structure Matters
Many of us don't give much thought to how churches are organized. We might find discussions about church government boring or unnecessary. Yet every church, whether it gathers 10,000 people in a massive building or ten people in a living room, operates under some system of order. The question isn't whether we'll have structure, but whether that structure reflects biblical wisdom.
Paul understood this deeply. When he wrote to Titus, he didn't immediately launch into theological discussions about Jesus—though those would come. Instead, he got practical: "This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town as I directed you" (Titus 1:5). The church needed order. Not the stifling kind that quenches the Spirit, but the life-giving kind that creates space for faith to flourish.

Three Models, One Foundation
Throughout Christian history, churches have organized themselves in three primary ways. Some follow an Episcopal structure—a pyramid of authority with leaders at the top overseeing those below them. Think of the Catholic Church or Methodist denominations. Others embrace a Congregational structure—a flat plane where all members share equal authority in decision-making. Many Baptist and non-denominational churches operate this way.

Then there's the Presbyterian model—a platform structure where a group of qualified elders leads the congregation. This isn't about creating an elite class or removing voice from church members. Rather, it recognizes the biblical pattern of establishing qualified, godly leaders who shepherd God's flock together. Each system has strengths and weaknesses because each involves sinful humans. The hour-long debate over a coffee pot purchase in a congregational meeting might seem trivial, but it illustrates how even the best intentions can bog down in minutiae. Meanwhile, concentrated authority can lead to abuse when leaders forget they serve under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

The Biblical Pattern of Elders
What makes the Presbyterian approach compelling isn't tradition but Scripture. Throughout the New Testament, we see Paul and other apostles establishing elders—always plural—in city after city. These weren't self-appointed leaders or people who simply aged into authority. They were carefully appointed individuals who met rigorous spiritual and moral standards.

Notice three crucial characteristics of biblical eldership:

• Elders are appointed. You don't become an elder simply by sticking around long enough or thinking you deserve the role. Gray hair deserves honor, certainly. Leviticus 19 tells us to "stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man." But age alone doesn't qualify someone for spiritual leadership. Timothy served as an elder while still young, prompting Paul to write: "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).
• Elders are plural. Paul consistently speaks of elders in the plural. "Appoint elders in every town," he tells Titus. This plurality provides crucial protection. No single human should hold unchecked authority in Christ's church. Elders keep each other accountable, challenge each other's thinking, and prevent any one person from leading the flock astray.
  • The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 demonstrates this beautifully. When controversy arose about circumcision and the Gentiles, "Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question." Multiple leaders wrestled together with Scripture, prayed together, and discerned God's will together. The plurality of godly leadership helped the early church navigate treacherous theological waters.
• Elders are local. Paul didn't establish one set of elders to oversee all of Crete from a distance. He instructed Titus to appoint elders "in every town." Peter echoes this principle: "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you" (1 Peter 5:2, emphasis added). Elders aren't distant authorities issuing decrees from afar. They're neighbors, friends, fellow worshipers who know the people they serve. They attend the same potlucks, share the same struggles, celebrate the same victories.
  • This local presence matters profoundly. One elder cannot know the needs, struggles, and joys of every church member. But a team of local elders, walking through life with their congregation, can provide the care, guidance, and accountability that helps everyone grow in faith.

Honoring Without Idolizing
Understanding eldership requires balance. We honor our leaders without making them lords. Only Jesus Christ holds that title. Elders serve under His authority, not in place of it. Practically, this means approaching church leaders with respect rather than demands. It means asking questions instead of insisting on our way. It means recognizing that these appointed servants carry real authority—not for their own benefit, but for the good of Christ's body. At the same time, elders themselves must remember they're shepherds, not owners. They lead a flock that belongs to Jesus. They answer to Him for how they care for His people. This should humble every elder and give confidence to every church member.

The Greater Purpose
Ultimately, the structure of eldership exists to serve something far greater than organizational efficiency. It exists to help the church grow in "the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life" (Titus 1:1-2). Good church order creates space for the gospel to flourish. It protects against false teaching. It provides care for the hurting. It guides the confused. It challenges the complacent. It celebrates with the joyful. When elders faithfully shepherd God's flock, they point everyone—including themselves—back to Jesus, the Chief Shepherd who rules with grace and peace. And that's a gift worth receiving with gratitude.