I often find people peering into the idea of eldership much like Lucy beaming with curiosity gazed at the Wardrobe in Professor Digory’s home. Unfortunately the idea of eldership has become an unknown for many who are involved in our contemporary expression of church. It is unfortunate because eldership is the model and term Paul uses throughout his writings as he is describing the church. So, what we do at Crossings Community isn’t the new, cool thing to do… rather it is the ancient thing to do using the exact terms we find in scripture. Let me demystify for a moment…
Crossings Community is not “Matt’s church”
First, it is very important to understand that Crossings Community is not Matt’s church, nor am I THE pastor of the church. Rather, Crossings Community is God’s church and Matt (this third person thing is a little weird, I know) is a pastor at the church. So, God who desires for a local expression of his church to exist, calls specifically equipped leaders to faithfully obey his calling. According to the Bible there are only two labels for leaders in his church. There are elders and there are deacons.
In the New Testament, the word pastor and elder are used synonymously and interchangeably. Also, these pastors/elders are always referred to in the plural (for a thorough treatment see Biblical Eldership, Alexander Strauch). To make a long story short, as a church who deeply desires to pursue being a biblical expression of the church in Katy, we function with a plurality of elders. Each of our elders have different gifts and passions. It is just like the body of Christ Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12. Each elder is uniquely gifted and passionate and makes the body of elders, and in turn the church, stronger.
There are no ranks or spades among the elders. As men held accountable to the standards of 1 Timothy 3, there is an unwavering commitment to the truth of scripture. The scriptures empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit, facilitate an appropriate tension which resolves in greater strength for God’s church. We spend hours wrestling, debating, praying, and analyzing. We have plunged deep into very personal and emotional matter, not only on behalf of the church but in our own lives and leadership. We are all sinful men who will make mistakes and let others down around us… but with humble and repentant hearts we as a body will pray and strive to lead God’s church courageously towards a biblical vision of engaging, equipping, and empowering homes for gospel transformation.
I am honored to be one of the pastors of God’s church called Crossings Community Church. I am blessed to strive along side of men who love people and have a desire to see homes transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. For those of you who call Crossings Community home, you are co-laborers at a church where the elders love you deeply and pray for you by name. We value your story and that God has blessed our church with your gifts and passions.
Matt
Matt Powell serves as teaching pastor at Crossings Community Church, a body of believers whose mission is to engage, equip, and empower homes for gospel transformation in Katy, TX.