The government of the church is on the shoulders of Jesus Christ. He is the head of the church.
Authority and rule is dependent upon us gving up ourselves and drinking of the Lord's cup. Are we willing to go to the cross that we may be raised in resurrection?
In the church, government is not a position to be strived for. Government is for those that are willing to die and accept the will of God for their lives, and Christ is manifested in them and they are able to serve the church.
True government is not a matter of postion it is a matter of spiritual life.
The bible never mentions elder, but elders. If Christ would delegate authority to one person, how easy it would be for that one person to think that he is the head. How easy it would be for the people to be the head. God never set up one man as the elder. The elders are always in plural number. No one person can fully represent the head. It is a corporate leadership. Elders are always in plural number.
The elders are shepherds.Jesus is the great shepherd of the flock. He is the chief shepherd. (1Peter 5). Elders in the Church are under-shepherds. You exercise oversight out of love and not of duty.
The two main qualifications for elders are:
Ordination of elders is by the Holy Spirit.
This message is continued here.1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. 13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. 14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.