About two decades ago, in my previous church, the Session (or elder board) received an anonymous three-page letter full of accusations and charges against our teaching elder (pastor). The contents of letter were leaked. And many members of the congregation weren’t sure what to make of the charges. However, the Session, in view of 1 Timothy 5:19 and other passages in scripture, challenged the anonymous writer to come into the open and bring another witness to substantiate their accusations.
God prescribes how an accusation against a church elder should be handled.
In 1 Timothy 5:19, God prescribes how an accusation against a church elder or pastor should be handled. The Bible requires evidence from at least two witnesses for the charge to be received, investigated, and resolved accordingly. Now why this requirement?
What’s Behind the Requirement in 1 Timothy 5?
I believe one major reason is because Satan, the accuser of God’s people, often targets elders or pastors with false accusations, aiming at destroying them to thereby scatter the sheep entrusted to their care. So, if every accusation against an elder is to be received without the witness of at least two Satan would easily achieve his wicked intentions.
The nature of an elder’s work will never be satisfactory to everyone.
The other major reason could be that the nature of an elder’s work will never be satisfactory to everyone. Not even the sinless and perfect shepherd, Jesus Christ, satisfied everyone. Thus it would be naïve of his followers to believe that it’ll be any different for them (John 15:18). Commenting on 1 Timothy 5:19, John Calvin observes, “We need not wonder [that] they whose duty it is to reprove the faults of all, to oppose the wicked desires of all, and to restrain by their severity every person whom they see going astray, have many enemies.” It is very easy for some when they disagree with their elder to impugn motives and even fabricate lies to ruin him, just as some did in Jesus’ time.
Now this is not meant to create paranoia among elders. I don’t want pastors to be constantly looking over their shoulders. wondering who’s out to get them. Christ also promised to keep his elders from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
Beware Two Extremes
Of course, none of the above is meant to trivialise genuine charges that might be brought against an elder.
The church must avoid two extremes. The first is easily believing any and every charge raised against an elder. The second extreme is dismissing every charge. It is also very important to remember that while some in the church might be used by the evil one to bring false charges, my experience has shown me that there are even more in the church who are a great blessing to their elders. Such saints are to always be appreciated and never be taken for granted
Handling Genuine Charges Against an Elder
How then should a church handle genuine charges against an elder? Here I am assuming that the church is led by a plurality of elders, as any healthy church should. This could be a Session, Council or Elder Board.
The accused elder should excuse himself from handling the matter.
The accused elder should excuse himself from handling the matter, allowing his fellow elders to deal with the case. The other elders should faithfully investigate the charge, ensuring a very safe and non-intimidating environment for the witnesses to testify. Having heard the side of those raising charges, the elders should also allow their fellow elder to explain his side of the story. In all this process the elders should avoid any appearance of partiality, as Paul stipulates (1 Timothy 5:21).
Importantly, the elders must distinguish between matters of sin and those of preference. Not all accusations will be about a sin issue, but differences in judgments. For example, consider how we school our children. Some believers might not accept that their elder sends his children to a non-Christian school. But this is an example of preference. That is, it shouldn’t be treated as a sin issue or moral matter. The elders should also make a distinction between criminal acts or non-criminal ones. All criminal matters must be reported to relevant law enforcers.
When the Elder Is in the Wrong
If an elder has been found guilty of sin, fellow elders should follow all necessary discipline procedures according to the Bible, as well as their church polity or constitution. Some sins will need a public rebuke (1 Timothy 5:20). Others might require defrocking or excommunication. All this should be done with love and grace, desiring to win the sinner over rather than to punish him. In this whole process it is important for the Session or Elder Board to regularly update the rest of the congregation. This will minimise gossip and rumours.
Accepting God’s call to be an elder means accepting God’s call to be faithful.
I pray that elders reading this post will not have to go through this painful process. But at times it is necessary. Accepting God’s call to be an elder means accepting God’s call to be faithful in shepherding his flock. God also supplies the wisdom we desperately need in such situations (James 1:5). And Christ promises to be with his elders as they handle all matters of church discipline (Matthew 18:20).
