What are some of the best resources for elder training?

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Ryan Barnhart - Pastor of OGBC
Husband to a beautiful wife, Father to two beautiful girls
"But by the grace of God I am what I am." I Corinthians 15:10

"I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms. And in the Great Day my Resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer." - John Paton

Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch. I read it this year and found it to be a very engaging read. It has a companion book that is a condensed version if you just want to hit some of the major points for a leadership class or something. I actually heard about it here on PB.

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http://www.villagecommunitychurch.org/

I'm not sure if this is what your talking about as far as a "companion book" but there is a workbook that goes along with it for both the trainer and the trainee that are supposed to be used in conjunction with and in addition to the original book. He does not recommend that you use the workbook instead of the original book because many of the exercises reference the original book and assume that you have read it.

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Thanks Ken. That's a good starting place. The review I read at 9 Marks seemed to make it out to be a very thorough resource. How do some of the Presbyterian elders feel about this book, and do you have any other recommendations?

Who is (or was) Strauch? I don't think his books include any information about him.

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Richard T. Zuelch, M.Div
Ruling Elder, OPC (not currently serving)
Westminster Presbyterian Church, CA (OPC)
www.reiterations.wordpress.com
www.foft.wordpress.com

"When I cease to preach salvation by faith in Jesus, put me into a lunatic asylum, for you may be sure that my mind is gone." - Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Samuel Miller's book called 'The Ruling Elder' is a great one from a Presbyterian perspection.

http://www.monergismbooks.com/rulingelder01.html

It is also available online if you don't want to purchase it. Just do a search. My Internet connection is too slow tonight to load this pdf. to doublecheck, but I 'think' this site has the entire book online.

http://208.187.161.81/ref/01/FREE_BO...uel_Miller.pdf

Ginny

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Ginny Dohms
Puritan Reformed Church
RPNA (GM)
Canada

I second "The Ruling Elder by Samuel Miller, and can't pass up suggesting
"The Elder and His Work" by David Dickson.

Another good work is "Taking Heed to the Flock" by Peter Y. DeJong, which deals
specifically with visitation.

Certainly you should look at A.A. Hodge's book on the Westminster Confession,
and/or Shaw's recently reprinted one.

For more recent material, please look at John Sittema's "With a Shepherd's
Heart". It's the best practical book for elders that I'm aware of.

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Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://semperubi.rtrc.net

"Many men, after a long conversion, see more of the workings of sin in their hearts than ever they did before or at their first conversion. Now, such men have not an increase of sin, but an increase of illumination and light" (Christopher Love)


Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Thanks all. I have a couple of men that I would like to start training more intensely to fill eldership positions. I'm certain these resources will help immensely.

From Sermonaudio:

Are there any examples out there of examinations that churches/ordination councils give to prospective elders

The Bible.

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Rich
Northern VA
PCA

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Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

It's the best.

Do you feel that all other orthodox resources on training church elders should be disregarded?

Thanks, Ken. Wow! He raised four girls and is still sane. Quite an accomplishment!

Ryan,

I'm sorry, I was being coy when I wrote that. I think the resources mentioned previously are really quite excellent. I've read a good number of them as I've been in Elder training twice in two different bodies.

I wish I knew another reference we studied but there was a really good short book on the Office of Deacon that we studied. I think it important for Elders to study the Deacon's role (and vice versa) so division of labor as well as the leadership role that Deacons play in their service to the Body is understood. It's hard to oversee an Office if you don't understand it.

I also believe that studying the Confession of Faith in depth is profoundly beneficial in training.

I would echo the suggested works by Miller, Dickson and Sittema, particularly. I would also add to the list of recommendations similar works by James Guthrie and John Armstrong.

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Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project

"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole

We use Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch. It takes about a year to go through. It's a good solid training book for elders.



Thanks,

-Mark