Elders, then, do not take on all the work of ministry for themselves. Rather, biblical elders function as player-coaches to develop and direct believers into active ministry. The elders are responsible for facilitating this mutual ministry concept. All elders have equal authority and share equal responsibility for leadership in the local assembly. The concept of elder equality does not indicate that all elders perform the exact same functions.
All elders are equal because they occupy the same office.
The true test of plural eldership is the submission of elders to one another in the decision making process. That is, all elders of a local church have the final say on matters pertaining to the faith and practice of that local assembly. Of course, the elders are all subject to the final authority of God's Word. Elders, then, must work together as a council of equals to arrive at conclusions of which each elder is supportive. One can see why having Biblically qualified elders is of great importance.