Introducing our Eldership Team
During Vision Month this year, I made two announcements to our church family. These announcements are both things we believe will strengthen our church and help us grow in health as we continue to grow numerically.
The first announcement was about the introduction of a new membership programme called Essentials. You can find out more about that by clicking here.
The second announcement was about …
The Introduction of our Eldership Team.
When I became the Senior Pastor in 2017, I didn't have much of a leadership structure around me. We had a great team of trustees but we had no established leadership team. This is why from day one of leading City Life Church, I knew we had to make leadership development a chief priority. Over the following years we saw the fruit of that and as we came out of the pandemic we started to set up a stronger leadership structure to support the growth of our church.
We are so thankful for everyone who gives of their time, talent and treasure to contribute to who we are as a church. I want to especially thank those who lead a small group, serve as a trustee and those who lead a ministry and for Amy, Dan, Becky, Julian and Kerina who serve as part of our strategic leadership team.
As our church grows, that growth puts pressure on our structures.
This is why, after a couple of years of prayer and reflection, and many conversations, I have discerned that the time is right for us to add two elders to serve alongside me in an eldership team, to help with the spiritual oversight of our church.
This is about strengthening our stakes and building a structure that reflects healthy biblical church leadership. These men are tested and proven in character, and are more than able to serve as elders alongside me. This move strengthens our church, multiplies our care for the members of City Life Church, and positions us for the Cathedral vision God has given us… So, I'm really happy to announce that our new eldership team will be myself, Ed, and Kevin.
To be clear, I will continue to serve as the Senior Pastor of City Life Church, leading our church in our vision and being the primary communicator. And Amy will continue leading, pastoring and being an indispensable help to me as we serve God together. Ed and Kevin coming on as elders is about supporting me in shouldering the spiritual oversight and care of our growing church family.
Why We Are Introducing an Eldership:
1. Biblical Blueprint: Eldership is the New Testament Model for Church Leadership
The introduction of elders isn't a new organisational structure—it's the biblical pattern established by the apostles. Throughout the New Testament, churches were led by a plurality of elders who served as shepherds and overseers of God's family. By adding elders, we are aligning our church with God's design for healthy, sustainable leadership.
2. Security and Anti-Fragility in Times of Crisis
An eldership team provides crucial security for our church family. If something were to happen to me as the senior leader, a team of elders ensures the church remains protected, guided, and cared for. This isn't about planning for failure—it's about developing anti-fragility and preparing wisely for every eventuality.
3. Multiplication of Care and Shepherding
As our church has grown, the need for pastoral care has multiplied. We have a team of brilliant small group leaders who function pastorally. However, any healthy church needs spiritual oversight in order to effectively care for those in our church.
4. Shared Wisdom and Better Decisions
Leadership authority residing with a plurality of elders means decisions are made with greater wisdom, accountability, and perspective. Multiple godly men bringing their insights together results in stronger governance, better process, and more effective leadership than one Senior Pastor alone can provide.
5. Positions us to plant churches
Our vision extends beyond maintaining what we have—we exist to become a cathedral church and to fulfil the Great Commission. To plant churches in the future, as outlined in our 2033 Vision, we need more elders who can lead, teach, and govern. Adding elders positions us to develop other elders.
A common question people have about elders and eldership teams is: what do elders actually do? The Bible has a lot to say on the topic of elders. Below are four aspects of what an elder does according to the Bible.
The Four Pillars of an Elder's Role
The work of elders rests on four essential functions. These are shepherding, teaching, equipping and governing.
Shepherding involves intimate, tender care—guarding against threats, restoring the wounded, maintaining presence among the flock while exercising high-level oversight.
Teaching means faithfully handling God's word, giving instruction in sound doctrine, and refuting error. This requires conviction about the centrality of Scripture, competence to rightly divide truth, and passion to proclaim it—sometimes with surgical precision, sometimes with hammer-like force.
Equipping the church in the Great Commission. Elders aren't bottlenecks; they are equippers. The goal isn't to monopolise ministry but to enable every believer to operate in their calling, fitting them out to function.
Governing is about shouldering the ultimate spiritual responsibility for the health and wellbeing of the church. The heart of an elder is never to control but rather to guard, protect, and empower others to lead and be everything they are called to be.
Below is a list of the key scriptures concerning elders, along with a brief summary of each:
1 Timothy 3:2 - This scripture outlines the qualifications for an overseer (elder). It specifies that an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, have a hospitable presence, and able to teach.
Titus 1:6 - This verse reiterates the qualifications for an elder, emphasising being blameless, faithful to their wife, and having children who are not open to rebellion or accusation of debauchery.
Matthew 7:15 - This scripture warns against false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves, highlighting the shepherd's role in guarding against such threats.
Acts 20:28-31 - Paul warns the elders to keep watch over themselves and all the flock, emphasising the importance of guarding against those who distort the truth to draw away disciples.
2 Timothy 2:15 - This scripture encourages studying to present oneself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
John 10 - Though not explicitly cited with a specific verse, this chapter is referenced for the imagery of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, highlighting the shepherding role of elders.
Moving Forward Together
The introduction of an eldership team isn't about change for the sake of change—it's about building on the firm foundation we've already laid together and ensuring we're structured for the future God has called us to.
As we step into the season ahead, I want to encourage you to pray for our eldership team. Pray that we would shepherd with tenderness, teach with clarity, equip with intentionality, and govern with godly wisdom. Pray that we would be men marked by humility, accountability, and a deep love for Jesus and His church. Pray also for us as we prepare to develop other potential elders over the next few years.
Together, we're building something that will outlast us—a church that worships God, equips the church and reaches our world for generations to come.
Let's keep moving forward together.
Jonny