Each and every weekend, nearly 20,000 people participate in Willow Creek’s services. Each and every day, the six members of Willow Creek’s Elders Board are committed to shepherding and leading all of the people who call Willow their church home.

“I’ve spent a fair amount of time researching what the Bible says about how the church should be led,” says Steve Bartz, who has been an Elder for 15 years and also helps other churches better understand the biblical role of Elders. “Looking at the New Testament principles of church leadership, a central theme is that the church needs to be led by a plurality of godly leaders.”

The key word: plurality.

“If you study the history of governments, corporations, and ‘religious’ organizations, the effect of the concentration of power in one individual can range from ineffectiveness to corruption and ruin,” Steve says.

Keeping Willow On Course
The Elders take seriously their charge to bring honor to the bride of Christ — as the church is referred to in the Bible. This means wrestling with difficult decisions from a macro and micro perspective … with a lot in between.

“When dealing with difficult issues, we know we need to come to an agreement that is consensual,” Steve says. “We work, pray, and stay at it until we all come to an agreement that is consensual —among a plurality of godly leaders.”

That plurality of leadership extends to the Elders empowerment of the Board of Directors and the Strategic Leadership Team.

“There is a high level of trust, respect, and recognition of the specific gifts and talents resident within each group,” Steve says.

Character, Competency, Chemistry and Calling
The specifics of being an Elder start with character.

“When you look at the role of Elder in Scripture, most of Paul’s teaching isn’t about job descriptions,” Steve says. “It’s primarily about character. The game is won or lost on character.”

Character, competency, and chemistry make up what Steve refers to as the 3Cs of the Elder board selection. Another key C: calling.

“My call to the Elder team was a very clear sense of direction from God,” Steve says. “It takes such a commitment of time and effort that you have to have that strong sense of calling. The role is very demanding, but we’re doing it with a group of people we enjoy and respect.”

As a body and as individuals, the Elders serve as representatives of the church.
“Elders are appointed by the congregation and once a year, we’re affirmed by the congregation,” Steve says. “Consistent with the Bible, we’re accountable to the congregation.”

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