The Ministry of Elder

The Uniting Church in Australia has, since union, valued the particular gifts of people with spiritual maturity who are called to serve as ‘elders’.

These people have come in many shapes and sizes and there is no single model of eldership, however, there are some key characteristics:

• Elders are elected by Congregations because they are trusted by the gathered community. In particular, they are trusted as spiritually mature and wise people. This is not dependant upon their age, but is reflected in their behaviour.
• Elders are often the ‘go to’ people when a member of the congregation wants to talk about a personal or spiritual issue.
• Elders provide the key local theological reflection group for Ministers in congregational placements.
• Elders demonstrate a commitment to working on their own discipleship. They attend to the personal spiritual disciplines of reading and studying scripture, praying and attending worship, and serving in Christian action. They also encourage these practices in the life of the gathered community, helping people to live out discipleship in a corporate way, not just a personal way.
• Elders are relational. Key doctrinal papers in the Church have highlighted that we do them a disservice when we talk of ‘an elder’ because elders are most effective when they operate as a team, group, body or council. Together they reflect the relational corporate activity of God’s wisdom work. Indeed, they model for us that the best spiritual discernment and oversight happens through corporate prayer, theological reflection and conversation. Therefore, it is important that elders meet together on a regular basis.
• The Council of Elders is no longer a separate council from the Congregational Church Council, as their collective wisdom should feed into the day-to-day discernment and decision-making processes of the local Council. Therefore, it is part of the responsibility of elders on the Church Council to hold the Council to high spiritual and theological standards in its work.

The key spiritual oversight role of elders is highlighted in the regulations where elders are charged with assisting the Minister in leadership of worship and administration of the sacraments. Elders play a key role in considering applicants for Baptism. They also have the task of reflecting upon sacramental ministry in the life of the congregation. This may involve considering questions about how Holy Communion is nourishing the community and how members of the community may be encouraged to participate most fully.