09/04/2026
FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU:
A Quick-Start Guide to the BER Website
Whether you’re new to Biblical Eldership Resources or a long-time subscriber to our blogs and online resources, we’re happy you’re here, and we want to make sure you are fully aware of all the free resources you have access to on our website. (www.BiblicalEldership.com).
The Passing the Baton blog is back from summer break with a quick-start guide to BER’s resources.
The purpose of our ministry and website is to promote biblical eldership for the glory of God by providing teaching, resources, training, and mentoring for current and future church leaders, in hopes that they will pass the baton to others.
Below you will find four scenarios people are typically in when they come to BER—and the free resources we offer to help you with each one:
SCENARIO 1:
You’re discovering biblical eldership for the first time, trying to wrap your mind around a church leadership model that differs from the common single-pastor format.
Most churches today have either a single pastor or a pyramid-style leadership structure, with board elders and associate pastors reporting up to a senior pastor who has the ultimate authority. This leadership model is so widespread that few people question it, but it’s starkly different from what the New Testament sets forth.
Under the Biblical Eldership tab on our website (the first among five tabs across the top), you’ll find two key resources:
-Brief Explanation > What the Bible Teaches About Elders.
This is an online abridgement of Alexander Strauch’s book Biblical Eldership: Restoring the Eldership to its Rightful Place in the Local Church. This is a great starting point for understanding biblical eldership and sharing the concept with others. (You can also order the printed booklet from this link => https://www.biblicaleldership.com/product/biblical-eldership-abridged-2024-edition/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
Restoring Biblical Eldership video series. (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/what-biblical-eldership-0/restoring-be-series/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
This is a nine-part video series in which Alexander Strauch explains the New Testament teaching regarding local church leadership by a plurality of elders. He describes the full biblical requirements for Christian elders and their God-given tasks to teach, protect, and lead God’s flock. The teaching in these nine messages is the foundation of the Biblical Eldership Resources ministry.
If the idea of an elder-led church is unfamiliar to you or the other leaders in your church, these resources are the perfect place to get a solid foundation without reading the entire Biblical Eldership book (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/product/biblical-eldership-restoring-the-eldership-to-its-rightful-place-in-the-local-church-2023-revision/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
(though we highly recommend reading that as well!).
SCENARIO 2:
You want to transition your church from a single-pastor model to biblical eldership.
Perhaps you’ve recognized that biblical eldership is the correct leadership model, but you aren’t sure how to broach the subject with your pastor. Or perhaps you are the pastor, and you see the need for shared leadership. How do you proceed?
The Implementation tab on our website has everything you need, developed by a team of experienced elders who have coached other churches through the transition to biblical eldership. (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/implementation/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
The extensive content in this section will help you identify your scenario, determine your approach to the transition, and formulate your plan.
Under “Formulate Your Plan,” you’ll find detailed guidance for every step of the process, from forming your church’s shepherding team to strategically leading your congregation through the change. (google.com/url?q=https://us.list-manage.com/19Xa1AlJieQ?e%3Dfe4e28fd4e%26c2id%3D24d8ce883cf01e59a0c3b09385b8c4b4&source=gmail&ust=1788556667220000&usg=AOvVaw2Wx20iCIfNZ1NH5loxO3A0)
We highly recommend reading through this content and using these instructions to guide you through the process so the transition goes as smoothly as possible.
SCENARIO 3:
You want to recognize new elders in your church.
Whether your church is new to biblical eldership or already practicing it, times will arise when new elders are needed. How will you identify the men whom God is calling into the role? Our Elder Qualifications tab is designed to help you with this. We believe the Bible emphasizes character over gifting—in other words, it is essential that a church’s elders be men who meet the character-based qualifications laid out in Scripture rather than simply those who have the biggest personalities or preach the most dynamic sermons.
(https://www.biblicaleldership.com/2025/04/30/character-over-gifting/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
Under the Biblical Eldership tab (the first tab), you will find a section called Elder Qualifications. (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/elder-qualifications-2/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
There, we review the 31 elder qualifications (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/category/elder-qualifications/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e) in detail (as listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1) and provide Elder Evaluation Tools to help you: (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/elder-evaluation/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
Identify men who are potentially qualified
Formally evaluate them according to the 31 qualifications
Train them for the shepherding role
SCENARIO 4:
You want to train and develop existing or up-and-coming elders or further develop your own skills.
We have several training programs for elders:
Our basic Training Program: (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/implementation/formulate-your-plan/identify-and-train-elders/training-program/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
A simple training plan that combines studying the Biblical Eldership book with mentorship and hands-on shepherding experience. This is suitable for newer churches establishing a leadership team and churches transitioning into biblical eldership. Ideally, your elders’ training will eventually go deeper than this, but circumstances do not always allow for a years-long training process before new elders are established.
The more in-depth Elder Development Program: (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/effective-shepherding-172/elder-dev-prog-2/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
A robust one- to two-year development plan, formatted into a 50-page document that you can print and use to train elders in your local church. This approach is ideal for churches that already have elders in place and are looking to add new ones who are thoroughly prepared, or to further develop their existing elders (or other leaders in the church). This program includes detailed instructions for evaluating the character and doctrine of potential elders, a recommended schedule of rotations through various shepherding responsibilities, suggestions for gathering congregational feedback, and much more.
Free topical video teaching on our website: Under the Development tab of BiblicalEldership.com you will find 40 different video series for elders. Here, you can learn from several of BER’s current and former core team members about everything from developing your teaching skills (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/effectiveness/teaching/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e) and elder relationships, (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/effectiveness/elder-team/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e) to conducting church discipline, (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/effectiveness/caring-gods-flock-0/church-discipline/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e) to counseling believers with same-sex attraction (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/effectiveness/caring-gods-flock-0/same-sex-attraction/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e) and po*******hy struggles.(https://www.biblicaleldership.com/effectiveness/protecting-0/protecting-from-po*******hy/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
Our online courses in the School of the Shepherds: (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/effectiveness/protecting-0/protecting-from-po*******hy/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
A series of online classes for elders that you can purchase for a modest cost (the first class, 101: Introduction to Shepherding, is free.) (google.com/url?q=https://us.list-manage.com/YdrKFtM6W5k?e%3Dfe4e28fd4e%26c2id%3D24d8ce883cf01e59a0c3b09385b8c4b4&source=gmail&ust=1788556667220000&usg=AOvVaw2HFGw7dtGqJTixL7CuVNf6) Soon we will be redesigning SOTS to make it easier to use. Stay tuned!
BONUS SCENARIO: YOUR WIFE NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT IN HER ROLE.
The job of an elder or deacon isn’t easy—and neither is his wife’s. The wives of church leaders have unique challenges and responsibilities. That’s why, along with the Passing the Baton blog you’re reading now, we send a women’s blog every other week. (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/titus-2-blog/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
We know the integral role a godly wife plays in shepherding, and the Titus 2 Women blog aims to encourage and equip women in ministry and in their walk with the Lord.
Check out the archive to see recent articles (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/category/titus-2-women/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e), and enter your email address (or your wife’s) on the subscription page to receive these every two weeks. (https://www.biblicaleldership.com/titus-2-blog/?mc_cid=b3ff3744fa&mc_eid=fe4e28fd4e)
Photo by Tamas Tuzeskatai on Unsplash
www.BiblicalEldership.com
