Nominations

THE DUTY OF THE CONGREGATION 

The privilege of and responsibility for choosing elders and deacons lies in the hands of the congregation. Though vetted, trained, examined and ordained by elders, church members nominate and elect their leaders. This means you choose those from whom we will receive love, service, and encouragement. This means you choose those to whom we will owe our respect, prayers, and submission. 

Below, is some information that will help you think and pray through this responsibility. It will remind you that elders shepherd the local church by praying, teaching, and guiding the direction of our community; they hold the same authority as pastors. Deacons and deaconesses serve the elders and the congregation through mercy; they serve the physical and financial needs of the church and raise up others to serve around them. 

Please pray for those who you nominate as they will be doing a lot of soul-searching to discern their calling during this time. And pray for us: that we would honor the Lord and serve the church well as we vet, train, and examine the people who will be our future leaders. 

NOMINATION FORM
VIEW CURRENT LEADERS

THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ELDERS & DEACONS 

The Bible specifically gives us qualifications in three epistles: I Peter 5, Titus 1:6-9, and I Timothy 3:1-13 (below). These passages set a high bar for leaders in Christ’s church— requiring an obvious love of God and His people while maintaining a visible and authentic humility found in their reliance on Christ. As you read them, you can see that  godliness is more important than giftedness and character is more important than competence. Jesus’ church is led by weak people made strong in grace, not spiritual superheroes without problems.

You are looking for men who are first and foremost serious about applying the truths of  God’s Word to their own hearts and lives. They are growing in grace and mercy for themselves and others. Elders guide, shepherd, and love others with God’s Word. They need to be committed to Scripture as the guide and rule of life, and be gifted in applying the Scriptures to our lives. Nominate those whom God uses to help others understand  the riches we possess in Christ Jesus. Make sure they are those whom you wish to shepherd you and your family and who will be glad to be with you at the hospital or just for a meal.

They lead by helping us apply the Gospel to our life and ministry. The Diaconate is to be, first and foremost, serious about applying the Gospel to themselves, but they are also the ones in our midst who are most practical about serving others. They are men and women with a heart for others and a willingness to sacrifice time, talent, and treasure to make Christ visible both inside and outside of our church. They are those who you know can help you and others find Christ’s practical healing in our lives—always concerned about how Christ’s kingdom expands in deed as well as word.

Let us first say that we understand that individuals in our church find this topic very difficult. We do not underestimate the ways in which gender and authority have been misused to dominate congregation members. We also do not underestimate the beauty and goodness in the way men and women can be very different.

Our denomination believes the Scriptures below limit elders to men. Though with varying degrees of certainty and comfortability, the elders of Redeemer are comfortable submitting to this historic teaching of the Church. 

Our denomination also believes the same for deacons. Our elders as a whole do not, but we submit to our authorities even while we disagree. In submission to our denomination, the women who serve on the diaconate at Redeemer are not ordained but commissioned. Recently, our denomination has declared that no non-ordained person can have the title of an ordained person. Subsequently, we returned to calling the women serving on the diaconate as deaconesses. 


- Has God given them a heart for his kingdom?
- How have they shepherded/served their family and friends?
- What would people say about them and their heart/work/family/behavior?
- What are they known for within our community?
- How well do they repent of their sin and turn to Christ for forgiveness and healing?
- Do they love the Word and want to apply it to shepherding or service?
- Have they loved the mission and vision of Redeemer, the church to which they are called?
- Will they be good team players, humble enough to consent and strong enough to lead?

Redeemer is a worshipping community that exists to be transformed by God's grace into faithful servants of all.
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