Elected Church Positions - Elders
DBICC is led by a group of Elders elected annually by the congregation.
Below are the formal requirements as stated in our Charter.
Below are the formal requirements as stated in our Charter.
To Nominate a Candidate:
- Please speak with the person ahead of time and confirm that he is interested in serving as an elder at DBICC.
- Download the Nomination Form, fill it out (online or hard copy) and either submit it by email to [email protected] or drop it in the post box on the terrace at the church office (LG09 Block 1, North Plaza).
- Nominations must be received by 20 February.
The Role of an Elder
- The Elder Board shall be accountable to the church. The Elder Board shall manage the affairs of the church and govern it in accordance with the biblical authority which has been conferred by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the head of the church. (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17)
- The church shall have at least three Elders, one of whom shall be the Senior Pastor (hereinafterthe Senior Pastor may be referred to as the “Pastoral Elder” and the remaining Elders as “Congregational Elders”). These Elders together shall comprise the Elder Board. The number of Elder positions may be increased at the discretion of the congregation, provided there will always be an odd number of elders,
- The Elders shall designate one of the Congregational Elders to act as Chairman of the Elder Board. The Senior Pastor shall not be eligible to serve as Chairman of the Elder Board.
- The Elder Board shall conduct its business by 2/3rds majority vote, except as otherwise provided herein.
Qualifications of an Elder
- Hospitable (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8)
- Able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2; 5:17; Titus 1:9)
- Not violent but gentle (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7)
- Not a lover of money (1 Timothy 3:3)
- Not quarrelsome (1 Timothy 3:3)
- Not a recent convert (1 Timothy 3:6)
- Self-controlled (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8)
- Having a good reputation with outsiders (1 Timothy 3:7)
- Not overbearing (Titus 1:7)
- Not quick-tempered (Titus 1:7)
- Loving what is good (Titus 1:8)
- Upright and holy (Titus 1:8)
- Disciplined (Titus 1:8)
- Above reproach (blameless) (1 Timothy 3:2, 9; Titus 1:6)
- Husband of only one wife (1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)
- Man of Dignity (1 Timothy 3:8)
- Not Double Tongued (1 Timothy 3:8)
- Temperate (1 Timothy 3:2, 8; Titus 1:7)
- Respectable (1 Timothy 3:2, 8; Titus 1:7)
- Not given to drunkenness (1 Timothy 3:3, 8; Titus 1:7)
- Able to manage his family well (1 Timothy 3:4, 12; Titus 1:6)
- Manages his children with dignity, keeping them under control (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
- Has children raised in the ways of the Lord, not rebellious or pleasure seekers (1 Tim. 3:4; Titus 1:6)
- Not a pursuer of dishonest gain (1 Timothy 3:9; Titus 1:9)
- Holding firmly to the deep truths (1 Timothy 3:9; Titus 1:9)
Duties of an Elder
- Administrative – to rule the church (1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:7)
- Pastoral – to shepherd the church (1 Peter 5:2; Jude 12)
- Educational – to teach the church (Ephesians 4:12-13; 1 Timothy 3:2)
- Representative – to represent the church (Acts 20:17; 1 Timothy 5:17)
- Officiate – to lead in the functions of the church (1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Jam. 5:14)
Accountability of an Elder
Notwithstanding the aforesaid grant of authority, the Elder Board must obtain Congregational approval
for the following matters:
for the following matters:
- Approval of the church Annual Budget.
- Cumulative annual non-budgeted expenditures that exceed 15% of the Annual Approved Budge for non-emergency, non-budgeted expenditures without congregational support.
Election of an Elder
- The election of congregational elders shall take place at the Annual General Congregational Meeting (AGM) held between January – March each year.
- Congregational Elders shall be elected to a term of one (1) year.
- A Congregational Elder who has served three (3) full consecutive annual terms shall not be eligible for re-election for a period of one (1) year.
- The Nominating Committee shall prepare the ballots. This ballot shall be published at least one (1) Sunday prior to the Sunday on which the election is held.
- All candidates shall be elected by a simple majority of the total vote cast.
- All newly elected members of the Elder Board shall assume their duties immediately following the Annual General Meeting (AGM).