Eldership Formation Series Episode 4 Eldership as a Team

 Over the last three sessions, we’ve explored the role of eldership, biblical qualifications, and the spiritual weight of oversight.
But there’s one more piece that holds everything together — and that’s what we’ll focus on today: Eldership as a team. Because you were never meant to carry this alone. 

Transcript

Over the last three sessions, we’ve explored the role of eldership, biblical qualifications, and the spiritual weight of oversight.
But there’s one more piece that holds everything together — and that’s what we’ll focus on today:
 Eldership as a team.
Because you were never meant to carry this alone.

SECTION 1: ELDERSHIP IS NEVER SOLO
In Scripture, elders were always appointed in plurality — never in isolation.
There is no example in the New Testament of a single elder leading a church alone.
 Instead, we see a team of elders overseeing, discerning, and caring together.
Why?
 Because shared wisdom is safer.
 Because leadership without accountability is dangerous.
 Because the Church was never meant to be built on one strong personality.
At Glow, we hold this value tightly:
Eldership is never about being the “spiritual one in the room.” It’s about being part of a trusted circle of spiritual counsel.
You don’t always need to agree — but you do need to honour, submit, and stay united.
Unity is not uniformity.
 But it does mean you speak as one voice, not many voices competing.

SECTION 2: MUTUAL SUBMISSION & SPIRITUAL ALIGNMENT
Let’s talk about mutual submission.
This isn’t about hierarchy — it’s about heart posture.
Paul writes in Ephesians 5:21:
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
That applies to eldership.
 Each elder must be willing to:
Be challenged


Be sharpened


Lay down their preference


And trust God to lead through team discernment, not just individual intuition


At Glow, we also expect alignment — spiritually and relationally.
 That means:
Staying aligned with the vision and direction of our Lead Pastors


Guarding the health of the wider team


And helping to bridge any gaps in understanding, culture, or spiritual emphasis


You’re not just a voice in the room.
 You’re a voice for unity — not politics, agendas, or power struggles.


SECTION 3: DISAGREEMENT WITHOUT DIVISION
Elders don’t always agree — and that’s okay.
 In fact, honest disagreement handled well is a sign of maturity.
But how you navigate it matters deeply.
At Glow, we handle tension by:
Speaking directly, not sideways


Asking questions before making assumptions


Listening well before responding


And staying loyal to the room, even when we wrestle with the process


If you strongly disagree, your tone matters.
 If a decision goes a direction you wouldn’t choose, your unity matters more than your preference.
You don’t need to be the final voice.
 You need to be a faithful one.


SECTION 4: SUPPORTING THE LEAD PASTORS
One of the most important dynamics in the eldership team is the support of the Lead Pastors.
This doesn’t mean blind agreement.
 It means relational proximity, trust, and prayerful accountability.
At Glow, elders are close enough to:
Encourage


Challenge


Support


And speak into moments where clarity or wisdom is needed


You’re not running the staff team.
 You’re not deciding vision.
 But you are helping to hold the senior leaders spiritually.
“Two are better than one… A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
You’re part of that third strand — bringing strength when others feel stretched.

CLOSING & REFLECTION
So as we finish this formation series, take some time to reflect on this final set of questions:
Can I submit my voice to a team — even when I disagree?
 Do I honour and support leadership with both truth and grace?
 Am I ready to be part of something bigger than me?
Eldership isn’t about control.
 It’s about covenant — to lead together, pray together, carry together, and guard the health of this church as a spiritual team.
If you’ve walked through all four episodes, thank you.
 You’re not signing up for a job. You’re stepping into a sacred responsibility.
 And we don’t take it lightly.
We’ll now encourage you to meet with an existing elder or trusted leader to process this journey — and help discern your next step.
Well done.