About This Class
The Process is a practical and biblically anchored journey led by Pastor Eric Ferris of Christ Community Church. Designed for pastors and church leaders, it offers a comprehensive roadmap for vetting, selecting, training, and deploying elder teams that serve faithfully and wisely in their local contexts. Rooted in Scripture and enriched by real-world experience, each session blends theological depth with hands-on guidance, encouraging thoughtful reflection and Christ-centered leadership.
Through five engaging sessions, participants gain an inside look at Christ Community Church—a 40-year-old, multi-site congregation that models healthy, shared leadership. Pastor Farris walks through how elders, trustees, and staff collaborate to safeguard both the spiritual and financial health of the church. Founding Pastor Jim adds powerful perspective on leadership pitfalls and legacy values that shape enduring ministry.
The course then explores the detailed, transparent process of identifying and discerning future elders—from gathering names and prayerful screening to interviews, spousal conversations, and congregational affirmation. Along the way, Pastor Ferris shares adaptable tools for churches of every size to cultivate integrity, accountability, and biblical faithfulness in leadership.
Participants learn that healthy governance isn’t about control—it’s about serving Christ’s people with humility and wisdom. The sessions emphasize the vital roles of prayer, character, sound doctrine, and teamwork, showing how servant leadership protects both the shepherd and the flock.
By the end of the course, leaders will have a clear and customizable framework for developing elder teams marked by spiritual maturity, relational grace, and unwavering commitment to the gospel. This training calls the church back to its biblical foundations—raising up leaders who love Jesus, care for His people, and guide His church with courage, clarity, and joy.
About the Professor
Eric Ferris
Eric Ferris serves as Lead Pastor at Christ Community Church. He is known for his love for the local church, bringing clarity in complexity, and a straightforward approach to life and ministry. He and his wife D'Ann have four kids: Michael, Courtney, Erin, and Katie.
Lessons
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In Session Two, Pastor Eric Farris offers a behind-the-scenes look at Christ Community Church, a 40-year-old multi-site congregation built on shared leadership and biblical accountability. Using his church as a case study, Pastor Farris explains how elders, trustees, and staff collaborate—each with defined roles to protect both the spiritual and financial health of the church. Listeners also hear from founding pastor Jim, who shares formative lessons on healthy leadership, shaped by his own experiences with both authoritarian and passive church models. This session invites reflection on how leadership balance, structure, and terminology shape the vitality of every local church.
0% CompleteIn Session Three, Pastor Eric Farris unpacks how Christ Community Church structures its leadership through two vital teams—the elders, who safeguard the church’s spiritual health, and the trustees, who oversee its financial and legal wellbeing. Using the church’s annual budgeting process as a case study, Pastor Farris demonstrates how a staff-directed, elder and trustee-protected model promotes both accountability and freedom in ministry. He offers practical wisdom on communication channels, leadership boundaries, and biblical qualifications for both elders and deacons. This session challenges leaders to consider how structure, clarity, and Scripture together sustain a healthy, trustworthy church community.
0% CompleteSession Four walks you through Christ Community Church’s elder selection process—principled, transparent, and grounded in Scripture. Because the church is multi-site, both campus and lead elders are fully qualified; lead elders also carry organization-wide responsibilities. The annual cycle begins in January: gather names, conduct quiet screening (baptism, membership, giving, serving), then invite candidates into a discernment path. After prayer, a second conversation (with spouse) explores doctrine, character, and discipleship rhythms. Qualified candidates meet with elders and spouses for an interview. If both sides sense alignment, names are published for three weeks of congregational feedback. Affirmed candidates are appointed and trained.
0% CompleteThis interactive Q&A session explores how churches of all sizes—especially smaller ones—can navigate the elder selection process with wisdom and biblical integrity. Drawing from real experience in a multi-site church context, the conversation emphasizes simplicity, spiritual qualifications, and relational discernment over rigid structure. Topics include vetting candidates, servant leadership, defining pastoral roles, handling moral failings, and supporting single elders. The discussion highlights that selecting elders is a deeply spiritual process rooted in humility, prayer, and scriptural fidelity—not just organizational needs. Whether your church is large or small, this session offers guidance and encouragement for building healthy leadership teams.
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