Selecting Elders and Deacons

The following instructions are given at Grace OPC in Columbus, Ohio, every other year to select additional elders and deacons. The entire selection process takes about ten months. – Editor

The session is taking nominations for prospective candidates for the offices of elder and deacon in Grace Church through [date]. Those who are communicant members in good standing in Grace Presbyterian Church may make nominations. Male communicant members, who have been part of the congregation for at least a year, are eligible to be nominated. The scriptural qualifications are summarized in 1 Timothy 3:1-13. Here is the procedure we follow:

Please make your nomination in writing and sign and date it. Hand the nomination to one of the elders. These names will be kept confidential.
Each of the men who has been nominated will be asked to join an officers' training course that will be offered. During the course, they will be asked to examine themselves prayerfully to discern whether they believe God is calling them to this ministry at this time.
After the course has been completed, nominees for office who have faithfully attended the classes will be examined by the session. According to our Form of Government, the session is charged with the responsibility of making certain that those who stand for election are qualified – in scriptural and doctrinal understanding and stability, in spiritual maturity, in faithful involvement in the life and services of the church, and in requisite spiritual gifts.
Then, the names of those who have been certified by the session will be announced to the congregation for its prayerful consideration. Only at this point will we have official candidates for the offices of elder and deacon.
Finally, the congregation will elect elders and deacons. Candidates will not be running against each other. Nor is this a popularity contest. The question for each candidate will be: has God called, equipped, and prepared this man to serve in this capacity at this time in this church? Those receiving a majority vote will be ordained and installed.
Please make this whole process a matter of regular prayer. Pray that God, working through his people, will add the men of his choice to the roll of special officers in Grace Presbyterian Church.

Soli Deo Gloria!