Don’t forget that any member in good standing can at any time nominate someone for the office of deacon or elder. First, consider whether there might be someone within the congregation whom you believe meets the biblical qualifications for the office. (The qualifications for the office of elder are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9; the qualifications for the office of deacon are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 and Acts 6:3). Second, be sure that he is a member and that he is willing to be nominated.
(1 Timothy 3:1–“If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task”; ie: he should “desire”, “aspire to”, or “be willing” to serve if elected). Third, submit your nomination in writing to one of the elders at any time. Pastor Taylor or one or more of the elders will meet with the candidate, and if appropriate, provide training until the session is elder to certify the nomination. Upon certification, the nomination will be announced to the congregation and then placed before the congregation for a vote.
By this means we seek to fulfill the biblical practice by which current leadership and the congregation work together to bring new leaders into the congregation. The congregation picks (or “chooses”) it’s own leadership; leadership is never forced on a congregation. At the same time, the current leadership appoints (or ordains and installs) new leadership, to ensure that potential leaders meet biblical qualifications. Let us work together in this way to identify, encourage, prepare, and equip new leaders for our church family.
“Therefore brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.” Acts 6:3 ESV