Leading leaders

In early September, the fourth ‘Growing Healthy Churches’ ministers’ conference took place in south-west London.

The day of ecclesiological discussion, organised by Robin Weekes (Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon), Jonathan Worsley (Kew Baptist Church), and John Samuel (Duke Street Church, Richmond), was on the topic of eldership. The speaker was FIEC Training Director, Adrian Reynolds. Adrian delivered three compelling talks on: Raising Godly Elders, Nurturing Godly Elders, and Working with Godly Elders.

Qualifications

In the first session, Adrian set out the biblical qualifications for eldership, and underscored that the health of a local church was often directly proportional to the health of its leaders. He also stressed the significance of identifying future leaders early, and the importance of taking risks (both of which British Evangelicals struggle to do).

In session two, his refrain ‘spiritual health above church business’ was particularly striking. Here Adrian emphasised the importance of regular accountability and elders having deep confidence in one another. There was, subsequently, an excellent breakout discussion where fellow pastors shared very practical ways in which trust might be forged. Cultivating godliness and unity amongst an eldership is an often undervalued and forgotten aspect of busy pastoral ministry.

The final session began with a Q+A time where subjects such as: how women’s workers and deacons can contribute to elders’ meetings; the importance of ethnic diversity in local church leadership; the minimum age of elders; were debated. Adrian then concluded the day by encouraging attendees to think practically about how elders’ meetings function and how some of the elements might change in light of church polity and size.

There are currently no plans for a fifth conference in 2019, but watch this space.