How One May Cease To Be a Ruling Elder

How One May Cease To Be a Ruling Elder HOW ONE MAY CEASE TO BE A RULING ELDER
By Jas. F. Cox

1. By a ruling elder, we mean a Christian man who, with another or others, has the oversight of a group of Christians. He is doing the work or performing the functions of an elder, bishop or shepherd of a local congregation of Christians. He has been duly selected for the office by the local group, and he is well qualified according to the standard set for such a leader by the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and Titus 1:6-9.

Having been selected by the congregation as such, he is a ruling elder, “exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly according to the will of God, nor yet for filthy lucre; but of a ready mind, neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples, to the flock” (1 Peter 5:1-4).

He is a ruling elder such as is mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 and Hebrews 13:7; Hebrews 13:17. He is doing the work of a bishop. The question now is, how may such a one cease to be a ruling elder. There are three possible ways:

1. He may cease voluntarily on his own accord and without the consent of the congregation.
2. He and the congregation may agree that it is best for him not to be a ruling elder any longer.
3. The congregation may desire to be rid of him as a ruling elder and so notify him and ask him
to give up the office and the work.

1. In the first instance a capable well qualified elder may cease to do the work of that office on account of old age, infirmity or death. He may see his own physical, mental or spiritual weakness better than the other members of the congregation and recognize his inability to continue to do the work to the best advantage of the group, and so he gives it up. While such a one would not and could not be active as an elder, I can think of him as still rendering to the congregation much service because of his “wisdom from above” which enables him to give much needed spiritual advice and guidance. lie sees other younger and more vigorous men in the congregation who, because of strength, ability and willingness to serve, should be given the responsibility of leadership. He urges that they be put forward. He voluntarily retires.

2. The second way that one may cease to be a ruling elder is for the congregation and the elder both to agree that it is best for him and for the congregation that he retire from his position of leadership in the congregation. In this case he simply quits doing the work of a ruling elder at the request, maybe, and certainly with the sanction of the congregation. There may be several reasons for this.

Maybe he hasn’t been living as he should and he has brought reproach on the church. He may make proper acknowledgment of these sins and be forgiven by the congregation, and still it would be best for him to cease to be a leader because he is not well reported from without and he might, therefore hinder the “cause.”