Hope Elders undergo a robust screening and interview process before they are eligible for election to the Elder Board. Accepting the volunteer role of Elder is not something to be taken lightly; Elders make extensive time commitments and take on deep spiritual responsibility in leading Hope Church, and we are grateful for their selfless service on our behalf.
The tasks and responsibilities of the Elders vary greatly and require discernment as the board strives to keep the church on its biblical course. The Elder board tackles key issues facing the church. These include determining the overall vision and future direction of Hope, creating policies to define clearly church values and biblical operating procedures, ensuring the church's teachings and practices reflect accurate biblical theology, providing avenues for pastoral care, conflict resolution, discipline, and restoration, providing direction on financial or risk-management issues, providing accountability to the senior pastor, to ensure the vision and values determined by the Elders are being carried out.
Elders must meet the Biblical requirements found in Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Acts 20:28-31 and James 5:14. They must also have capacity, flexibility and availability to serve in the Elder role. The time requirement varies greatly month to month, but the minimum includes quarterly meetings and committee responsibilities.