The New Testament clearly indicates that elders were uniquely set apart or appointed to their office. The term normally used for the appointing of elders in the New Testament is kathistemi, which means “to ordain.” The concept of ordination implies official recognition and installation by the leadership of the church and a public announcement setting a person aside for a specific ministry. In 1 Timothy 4:14, Paul says to Timothy,
“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hand on you.”
Interestingly, the laying on of hands comes from the Old Testament sacrificial system. When a sacrifice was given, the hands of the offerer were placed upon the sacrifice to show identification. So the laying on of hands became a means by which one could identify himself with another. In the same way, the New Testament ordination demonstrated solidarity between the elders and the one on whom they laid their hands. It was a visible means of saying, “We appoint you to the ministry. We stand with you, support you, and affirm your right to function in a position of leadership in this church.” The leadership team serves as a group and must affirm and recognize that each member of the team is a voice that must be heard to be fully assured of God’s leading. Paul writes to warn Timothy,
“Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin (1 Timothy 5:22).”
That emphasizes the seriousness of the statement of solidarity. In other words, Paul is saying, “If you lay hands on a man who is sinning or not called of God to be a pastor/elder/bishop, and thereby ordain him, you have entered into his sin. If you don’t want to be a participant in sin, don’t fail to seek the mind of the Lord in the appointment of a leader in Christ’s Church.”
A man should be considered for leadership as an elder only after he has proved himself suitable for a ministry of leadership through a period during which he is tested, during which he is observed functioning in a limited position of delegated oversight. If he demonstrates capability in leadership and loyalty to the message, he can be publicly acknowledged as one who is to be trusted in the service of leadership. Biblically, the laying on of hands was done by the recognized leaders of a church. In this way, they identified themselves with those who were joining the leadership team. The process of identifying leaders may also have involved the people of the local church. Acts 14:23 says,
“And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
The word for “appointed” in that verse is cheirotoneo, which literally means “to choose by raising hands.” It is the same word used to describe how votes were taken in the Athenian legislature. It came to mean “to appoint.”
It is important to remember that it is God who calls elders. Fundamentally, it is not the church members, or even the present leadership of the church who decide who will be pastors in Christ’s church. The duty of the Church leadership and members is to carefully recognize the gifts and desire placed in a person Christ is giving to His church and to Whom the Spirit is working to become an elder/pastor/bishop. They are to recognize all such gifts and only such gifts according to the directions contained in the Scriptures. Since pastors come from God, churches which are lacking needed pastors should look to God to supply the needed shepherds for their souls. They should pray the Lord and that He would give them the ability to accurately recognize and help cultivate and encourage the gifts being given to his church.