Eldership in Action: Through Biblical Governance of the Church (Paperback)

~ (Author) "WHEN THE FIRST NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES were being established, Paul sent Titus to Crete to "set in order what remains and appoint elders in every..." (more)
Key Phrases: biblical governance, tentmaking elders, elder governance, New Testament, Holy Spirit, Robert's Rules (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This insightful resource explains in detail how a church can be truly biblical in its governance and leadership, while simultaneously fulfilling the Great Commission.

The focus is on the elder’s collective responsibilities as well as practical aspects of putting biblical structures and methods to work. Also explored are implementation techniques: from the small church, to the church plant, to the large church with many members and ministries.

About the Author

RICHARD SWARTLEY is a founding elder of Church of the Saviour in Wayne, Pennsylvania, a nondenominational church with an adult attendance of two thousand. In the past, Dick served two terms as chairman of the church’s elder board. In the mid-nineties, he was instrumental in the restructuring of the church from a senior pastor framework to team ministry, with three elders sharing the pulpit. He remains active as an elder, author, church consultant, and counselor.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: ECS Ministries (February 2005)
• ISBN-10: 1593870167
• ISBN-13: 978-1593870164
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,032,571 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Alternative to the, March 16, 2005

By	John Ellis "Fellow elder" (Rosemont, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dick Swartley draws on over thirty years experience as a tentmaker elder of a church, which grew to an attendance of 2000 adult worshipers, to authoritatively deal with governing a church in a Biblical manner. He experienced hierarchical methods of organizational direction in a large business with governmental customers. And he encountered such methods in the local church where they were characterized by manifestations of "ego, power and privilege - as well as men's timidity, passivity, and acquiescence in responsibility."

A primary value of "Eldership in Action" is its practicality. Dick provides practical guidance for efficient conduct of meetings, determining vision, mission, and strategic planning, delegation, reporting and accountability, communication among leadership and with the congregation, confidentiality, emergency decisions, and terminology which reinforces Biblical truths; and the like.

In dealing with an elder council as a corporate body, "Eldership in Action" is an excellent complement to "Biblical Eldership" by Alexander Strauch, which focuses on the personal attributes and conduct of individual elders. Both books are of value, not only for present elders, but in the training of elder candidates.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Practical Guide for Elder-Led Churches!, March 3, 2005

By	Jackson Cramer (Boise, Idaho USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Our church (a large one) has been moving from a Sr. Pastor model of church leadership to an Elder-Led model. This book has turned out to be a gold mine of practical information for us! From the biblical basis for multiple leadership, to how elders are to function, to how staff and elders relate--this book covers many of those difficult issues an elder-led church must deal with.
I would highly recommend this book whether you are already functioning under an elder-led model, or whether you are reconsidering your current structure. This book challenges the prevailing thinking regarding church leadership, giving us a more biblical alternative to the common Sr. Pastor model.