About Our Elders

Our Elders are Tony Slusser, and Chris Love. Wes Marshburn has been voted our Treasurer by the Congregation.

Leadership in the body of Christ among local congregations has been known by many names; elders, presbyters, bishops, overseer, and others. Their Biblical responsibilities and qualifications are clearly delineated in the Word.

1 Timothy 3:1-7; 5:17 - The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil; moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Hebrews 13:7 - "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith."

1 Thessalonians 5:12 - "We beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work."

Acts 20:28 (speaking to the elders of Ephesus) - "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God."

So the congregation, under Christ and by his Word and Spirit, uses its authority to recognize and affirm leaders whom God calls. And then the congregation puts those people in positions of leadership and voluntarily supports that leadership by learning from their teaching and following their initiatives. This may sound to some like a contradiction—to have an authoritative congregation submitting to leaders that it puts in place. But it isn't a contradiction. Because there is a great difference between leadership that inspires and models and mobilizes and teaches and persuades and points the way in ministry and mission, and the corporate authority of the congregation that puts doctrinal and moral boundaries around that leadership and holds it accountable to serve the good of the church. Congregational authority and strong leadership under that authority are not incompatible. They are biblical, and they are vital.

The elders are responsible for teaching and governing the congregation. As leaders they give guidance and direction to the church. As teachers they oversee the life of the church to preserve its biblical faithfulness. They are guardians of the Word of God.

Your care under God's guiding Word is their commission.