new elders faq

We are thrilled to present our four new elders, who were publicly ordained and installed on April 7, 2024. They have been appointed and anointed for the purpose of protecting, directing, and correcting and to be a spiritual covering over our staff and leadership as they lead the flock. If you have further questions beyond what is listed below please email any of our elders (see contact info at the bottom of this page). Thanks!

Why are we elder governed?
While there are other governance models (hierarchical, congregational, for example) that other churches implement with success, we believe the elder-governed church model is one that is clearly expressed as part of the history of the early church as described in the New Testament. Paul and other leaders appointed elders to lead local churches. We are confident that the elder model is both biblical and can serve the growing needs of our church.

Why these four presented elders (names listed at bottom of page)?
We have been discussing adding additional elders for some time. In December 2023, we began seriously considering these four individuals and internally launched that process. When adding to the elder team became a short-term need, we continued with these four individuals and are very excited to add them to the team. They are each qualified individuals (1 Timothy 3:1-7) who love Jesus, have a passion for Big House Church, and are proven servants of the local church.

What is the process for presenting and affirming new elders?
The current elders present new elder candidates to the congregation for affirmation. The elders will then receive and review feedback from the congregation on these proposed elders to ensure the candidates exhibit the qualities and characteristics listed in 1 Tim 3:1-7. Once this process is completed, the current elders will invite our apostolic oversight to install the new elders during our Sunday services.

This feels fast. Why so fast?
As noted earlier, for some time we have recognized that we have needed to have more elders to meet the growing needs of our church. Until September 2023, we had four members of a very solid elder team. With just two elders currently and with our church in an important transition, we feel it is best for the church that we move expeditiously to add more elders. We also prefer that any major decisions be made after the new team is established. With our church in the midst of a major building program and facing other important decisions, we wanted to establish the new team this spring.

Who will lead the elder team?
Frank Meadows and Steve Elliott will continue to lead the new elder team through this transition. We expect the new elder team will establish leadership and roles within the team. Our elders have always sought to make major decisions with consensus of all elders and we expect this will continue.

Why only men?
Big House Church has been blessed to have women in many leadership roles, including preaching, leading worship, and leading vital ministries of our church. Also, there is nothing in our bylaws establishing male-only elders. That said, since our founding, men have served in the role of elders. We are open to that changing and are trusting a new elder team to process this along with many other decisions as our church moves forward.

What about a Lead Pastor?
Once established, one of the first priorities of the new elder team will be to establish a long-term Lead Pastor for our church. The Lead Pastor will also be added to the elder team, giving us seven leaders in the elder team.

Will more elders be added in the future?
Like many decisions, the future composition of the elder team will be determined by the new elder team. We anticipate that the composition of the Big House elder team moving forward will be more dynamic than in the past and that we will establish protocols for adding new elders, terms, periods of rest, etc. This is all necessary to meet the needs of our growing church.

Are the elders paid?
Our elders serve voluntarily in our community and are not paid.

What about the new building?
We are excited and confident that the Lord has guided us this far and will continue to guide us toward completion of our new home on Virginia Beach Boulevard, just 7 miles from where the settlers first came ashore and planted a cross. We walk humbly through this process, trusting the Lord’s timing each step of the way.

Big House Church Elders