The Process - Lesson 1
Introduction to the Process
I. What this Training is Not
II. What this Training is
III. Reflection Questions
Hello. My name is Eric Farris, and I serve as lead pastor at Christ Community Church, a multi-site church with campuses scattered in and around the Chicagoland area. This training is all about practical application in your local church context. Together we’re going to explore how to vet, select, train, and deploy effective elder teams in our churches.
Let’s jump right in and start with what this training is and what it is not.
I. What this Training is Not
First, this training is not theological exploration. These sessions assume a grasp of the New Testament concepts of oversight roles in the church–specifically elders, pastors, and deacons.
There are other trainings here on BiblicalTraining.org that explore the biblical texts regarding these topics. If you don’t feel that you have a solid grasp of the foundational biblical work, we suggest starting there. As leaders in the church, we first do the exegetical work before we do the hermeneutical work of applying the Bible to our current setting.
Here’s an example: in 1 Timothy 3, we find a list of qualifications for people who are being considered as overseers in the church. One of the qualifications is “faithful to his wife.” That’s how it says it in the NIV. In the ESV, it’s translated “the husband of one wife.” Before we move to the practical application, we have to decide what this phrase is communicating.
Is this a prohibition against polygamy? Or is it saying that a divorced man that has remarried cannot serve as an elder? Does the fact that this phrase talks about the husband mean that elders are inherently assumed to always be male?
The lessons in this training assume that you and your church have done all of the exegetical work already, that you’ve wrestled with the biblical issues in play and are ready to build a team.
Second, this training is not restricted to one style of church governance. We’ll use my church as a case study. The goal is not that you should do things exactly the way we do. Rather, my hope is that understanding the context of our model and approach will help you apply the concepts to your particular church.
II. What this Training is
This is practical theology. This is an exploration of how we apply what we see in the Scriptures to our current settings. The working assumption of this training is that we all want to be biblically informed and faithful church leaders.
Another aspect of our working assumption is that not every church is exactly the same, and that God gave us both the intellect and the freedom to work things out in a way that honors Jesus and builds the church. We do well to remember that Jesus is the chief shepherd, and that we all answer to him, especially when it comes to how we lead and pastor our respective local churches.
This training is a case study. The assignment given to me for this training is to explain the whats and whys of how we recruit, select, train, and deploy elders at our church. In so doing, the hope is that you can reflect on your current setting and make application that makes sense for your church.
Here’s the basic breakdown of what you’ll experience. Each video will be 20 to 30 minutes long, accompanied by two reflection and application questions for you to complete before starting the next session. Taking a few minutes, or more if necessary, to actually write down your answers to the reflection questions will significantly increase the benefit you get from this training. You may be tempted to move right past the reflection questions and just skip to the next session. In a world of soundbites, TikToks, fast searches, and doom scrolling, there’s still a place for us to slow down enough to think and reflect. Let’s take a breath, make a cup of tea or coffee, enjoy the time, and write some things down. I think you’ll be glad you did.
III. Reflection questions
- What would be three possible downsides of having biblically unqualified elders or not training your elders for their role in your local church?
- On a scale of one to 10, how would you rate each section of the elder training process in your church? (Vetting, Selecting, Training, and Deploying.)
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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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Lessons
- 0% Complete
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.
0% Complete
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