Disciples Elders

Skills training for elders

General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
in Nashville, Tenn., July 9 to July 13, 2011

Skills to Learn and Practice Together

There are manyskills to develop as an elder. Training and preparation for you may be available through your pastor, regional church ministry, local chaplains and pastoral counselors. These links also provide resources for your meetings as you deepen your skills in these areas:

• Creating a Positive Atmosphere for Ministryby Dick Hamm
• Preparing a Communion prayer by Keith Watkins
• Serving at times of Baptism
• Bringing comfort attimes of grief and death
• Leading a small group Bible Study
• Participating in the ministry of care giving in your congregation
• Visiting in a hospital call
• Visiting in a nursing home or with a homebound member
• Welcoming visitors and new members
• Contacting inactive members
• How to set up and maintain fellowship/care groups
• How to involve children in the mission of the whole church

If you look at this list and think that elders have a big job, you're right!

No one person can do it all, so work together as a team of elders and with your pastor to provide the best caring response possible for each person, family and situation

Pray for one another and encourage each other as you grow in your service to Jesus Christ and Christ's church.

The apostle Paul wrote words long ago that still apply to the ministry of the elders today:

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy
in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel, from the first day until now. I am confident that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:3-6

Further Skills Development Resources

Serving Communion

• Overview: see Duane Cummins, A Handbook for Today's Disciples in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Revised edition, St. Louis:Chalice Press (1991): 28-30.

• Prayers: see Keith Watkins, Celebrate with Thanksgiving: Patterns of Prayer at the Communion Table
  

General Skills Resources

• Elders Lead by Ruth Fletcher, Regional Minister of the Christian Church in Montana, is available by contacting Bill Culp for archived (2004) issues from the Disciples Advocate (formerly the Home Mission Advocate).
• El oficio de anciano en los Discípulos de Cristo by Lucas Torres.

• The Ministry of Elders, by Judy Turner. Description: This packet has a brief overview of ways elders are serving as spiritual leaders in growing Disciples congregations today. The packet also contains articles on effective shepherding programs, the elders as a prayer team, elders and evangelism, and a sample elder covenant. (Available in print form only, contact Lois Robinson.)