Steps to Becoming a Lay Elder

This process involves both evaluation and training. In cases where a man’s past training and experience are found to be adequate, all that is needed is evaluation, which can take place in as little as a year. Where additional training and study are required, more time may be required.
Elder Job Description

Spiritual Care
The pastor is to take care of the church in the same way he manages his family (1 Tim.3:4-5). The word translated take care of appears only in 1 Tim.3:5 and in the story of the Good Samaritan (…took him to an inn and took care of him - Luke 10:34). A pastor must meet the needs of the people spiritually just as the Samaritan met the needs of the man physically. 
Governing 
The pastor is to direct the affairs of the church (1 Ti.5:17). This word means to govern or manage, and to be in authority over (see 1 Thes.5:12). Since pastor/elders are charged with overseeing the church, they should be men who have a heart for the entire church ministry. Those who are called to a more specialized focus in ministry are more suited to be deacons. The governing work is to be done zealously and diligently (Ro.12:8).
Hard work
In 1 Thes.5:12 the pastors are referred to as those who work hard among you. The word translated hard work speaks primarily of weariness. It means to become tired. Pastoral ministry is very difficult work and requires tremendous intensity of fatiguing labor. The pastor is to be driven by eagerness to serve (1 Pe.5:2).
Admonition 
In 1 Thes.5:12 the pastors are referred to as those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. To admonish means to instruct or warn in an effort to correct behavior. 
Devotion to the ministry of the Word and prayer
We believe the ministry of deacons is to be modeled after the Seven in Acts 6:1-4 whose job it was to assist in important ministries so that the Apostles would not have to neglect the ministry of the Word and prayer. These are the aspects of Apostolic ministry that are passed down to pastors, just as the ministry of the Seven was passed to deacons. 
	The ministry of the Word refers to applying God’s Word to people’s lives, whether it be in a sermon, Bible study, or one-on-one (counseling). The word “shepherd” means “to feed.”  (When Jesus told Peter “Feed My sheep” in Jn.21:17, He used this word).
	All believers are to pray, but the responsibility of the elder to pray is much greater – so much so that it requires the help of the deacons so enough time can be devoted to it.
 Example
Pastors are to be examples to the flock (1 Pe.5:3). Elders are to have such character that if the people in the church follow their example they will be doing well.
	This is the opposite of lording it over those entrusted to you.  There are two ways of leading people.  You can coerce them into doing what you say by means of a power play, or you can simply live it out, and then let them follow your example.  The church leader is to take the latter approach.

Steps to Ordination

Begin by requesting a sponsor. This will be a deacon or elder who will seek to encourage you and answer any questions you have along the way.
Stage One: Getting Acquainted 

Stage One of the process (Getting to Know Us and Getting to Know You) is the same as the process for becoming a small group leader, so if you have already completed that process, skip to Stage Two.

□	Share your testimony with a pastor and complete the Agape 101 Class
□	Write a 300 to 700 word presentation of the gospel
□	Read the Agape Distinctives paper
□	On a weekly basis, exchange an accountability form or meet with someone else in leadership for accountability (A new partner each year).
□	Listen to the following series and keep journal notes for each one that contain the highlights of the class for future reference in your ministry.
□	Loving God 
□	What is a Church?
□	Jesus’ Pattern for Prayer
□	The  Worshipping Church
□	Fill out the General Ministry Survey and the Basic Doctrine Survey
□	Congregational Interview

Stage two: Deacon Requirements 

Stage Two is the same as the process for becoming a deacon. The eldership program includes ALL of the requirements for each of the three types of deacon. If you have already completed that process, skip to Stage Three.

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□	Attend a Character Builder and formulate a plan for making progress in the areas of weakness in your character. Discuss this plan with a pastor.
□	Find a ministry where you can serve and demonstrate faithfulness (at least 3 months)
□	Participate faithfully in a prayer group
□	Fill out the Deacon Doctrine Survey
□	Complete the Biblical Counseling Class, read Wise Counsel, and fill out the Counseling Survey
□	Fill out the Deacon survey and undergo the congregational interview 
□	Complete the Principles of Administration class (Trinity) and Read Meetings that Work by Alexander Strauch, and prepare for and facilitate at least one leadership meeting.
□	Attend the monthly counselors training meeting (3rd Saturday of each month at 1:00)
□	 Observe 4 counseling sessions and co-lead 2 counseling sessions, or send Darrell a summary of someone you have recently counseled – describing the problem, the approach you took to solving it, scripture you used to address the problem,  and the results.
□	Listen through 5 NANC seminar recordings of your choice
□	Complete the Theology Class and fill out the Teacher/Elder Doctrine Survey 
□	Complete the Hermeneutics Class and read How to Read the Bible for All it’s Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stewart
□	Compete the Expositors Class, read Toward an Exegetical Theology, by Walter Kaiser) and The Supremacy of God in Preaching, by John Piper and pass the Teachers Test
□	Teach a class and have an Elder Observe and Critique.
□	Complete the Old & New Testament Survey Classes and read From Creation to the Cross, by Bayliss, the introduction to each book in the ESV, NIV, or HCSB Study Bible, and the text of Genesis, Exodus 1-20, Deuteronomy - 2 Kings, Ezra – Nehemiah, Job 1-3, 34-42, Psalms 1-5,8,15,19,23,33-37,42-43,51,53,62,63,73,91-93,101,103,104,119,139,150, Proverbs – Isaiah, Lamentations – Daniel, your pick of 4 minor prophets, and the entire New Testament   
□	Complete the Biblical Theology lectures and read Knowing God, by J.I. Packer

Stage Three: Elder Requirements 

□	Attend the elder meetings as an observer/advisor
□	Complete the Leadership Class and read The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter, Leading with Love by Alexander Strauch, and Brothers, We are Not Professionals by John Piper
□	Write a Theology Paper (Topics chosen by the elders based on your surveys and interview process)
□	Serve in the Staff Lead role over at least two different ministries for no less than six months

All elders at Agape should be committed to continuing education, selecting at least one book and one course per year for further training.