21 Dec New Elder Candidate
WE WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT BEN TUCKER IS BEING CONSIDERED AS AN ELDER AT REDEMPTION BIBLE CHAPEL.
BACKGROUND
We believe God would have us grow our elder team numerically and this announcement marks a step in this direction. We have been praying and discussing for the past few years who God would have us add, and when.
In the fall of 2019, we approached Ben Tucker to ask him to consider becoming an elder intern. Ben agreed, and for a one-year period, he joined our elder team and was a part of all meetings, decisions, and praying together regarding various ministries. Elder internship is a fixed one-year period, with no promises of anything beyond the one year.
Our elders recognized over the term of Ben’s internship year with us, that God has uniquely worked in his life, maturing and growing him well beyond his age. This has made him ready, we believe, to hold the role of elder, a senior shepherd and leader in our congregation.
We went through a very thorough and detailed examination of Ben’s doctrine, personal and family life, as well as assessing his qualifications according to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
After much prayer and the year of working together with Ben, we believe God has prepared him for this role and we are excited to bring him to you, our church family, to prayerfully consider whether you believe he is qualified as an elder according to Scripture.
STRUCTURE
We are an elder-led church, meaning that Biblically we see God’s design for leadership as a plurality of godly and called men to act as under-shepherds (Jesus is the Chief Shepherd), feeding and leading the church. Our elders primarily focus on the leading, care, and nurture of those God has entrusted to us. You will see in some of our material about our structure that we refer to the elders as looking after the direction, doctrine, and discipline within the church. In other words, a summary of our responsibility is to determine where God is leading us as a church, what our church believes about Scripture, and the care and nurture of our people.
New elders are selected by the existing elder team with much prayer and thorough investigation, which includes asking the church family to examine each man according to God’s Word. Our elders serve a three-year term, which can be renewed in additional three-year terms after a review process.
Our elders do not vote, but make all decisions by prayer, gathering information, in-depth discussions, and seeking consensus as God leads.
BIO
Ben and Caitlin have been attending Redemption since 2014. They have four girls: Kendall (age 9), Quinn (age 7), Kinsley (age 4), and Charlee (age 2). Ben works as a chiropractor, and Caitlin is a stay-at-home mom, currently homeschooling their children. Ben grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ as a child. He grew in his faith throughout high school and post-secondary school, with involvement in Christian clubs. Ben and Caitlin have been involved in mixed small groups, the Growing Kids God’s Way course, and serve in Kid’s Ministry. Ben also serves with the music team.
Ben and Caitlin have exhibited humble, teachable, and submissive hearts to God, His Word, and our elder team during their entire time with us. They are fully supportive of our doctrine and distinctives including our mission, purpose, and pillars.
QUALIFICATIONS
Elders are held up to the highest standard according to the Word of God. Being an elder-led church places significant responsibility upon our elders. Each elder is required to open up his entire life in full accountability to the other elders including his personal walk, his family life, work life, finances, time, purity, spiritual growth, etc. Each elder affirms that the call to elder means a commitment to servant leadership and thus God and His church are put above one’s own personal needs and wants. Humble, sacrificial, and gentle leading by serving is the call.
Scripture teaches clearly about the qualifications each elder is to be measured against. We would ask you to prayerfully consider Ben according to these passages.
1 Timothy 3:1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Titus 1:6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
PROCESS
We have prayerfully and extensively examined Ben and his worship, walk, and work for Christ according to Scripture and believe him to be a man of God, fully devoted to the kingdom and the advancement of God’s church. We believe he qualifies in every area and thus are presenting him to you for your consideration.
After much prayer and contemplation, should you have concerns with Ben’s qualifications as an elder according to Scripture, we would ask you to first go directly to Ben and share your concern(s) with him. If, after talking with Ben, you still have concerns, either Ben or you should approach our Elder team. We will investigate and make a decision regarding moving forward or not.
We would ask you to take the next month to prayerfully consider this important request. Should Ben proceed through this next phase, he would be installed as an elder in a weekend service shortly after this phase of the process.
