At 21, in Youth With A Mission (YWAM) England, I was impressed by the wisdom of national leaders in their thirties. I listened eagerly as they spoke or discussed issues at staff gatherings. One or two even talked with me and advised a ministry strategy for my return to university after working in the refugee camps with YWAM Thailand.
Just back at university, I was excited to hear that a YWAM speaker gifted in prophecy would minister at our ‘cell’ church of young people. Nearly everyone was prayed for. The prophetic words were accurate and highly encouraging, and most people were falling when hands were laid on them. When it was my turn to be prayed for, I didn’t fall. The words spoken over me were negative, all about demonic bondage, and the YWAM ‘prophet’ moved on to pray for others. I returned to my seat, alone, feeling stunned.
“If this is what charismatic gifts can do to people,” I thought, “I don’t want anything more to do with them. “
Soon, an elder in the church, a 28-year-old who had served in YWAM, sat down beside me. I knew he was a friend of the ‘prophet’ and had invited him. What would the elder say or ask?
He said, “John, I heard the words prayed over you, and I think they were off. I don’t think you should receive them.”
I was helped to process an experience that could have damaged not just an individual but the missionary calling of many of my friends. That year, we gathered 40 university students interested in missions, joining in weekly intercession, monthly ethnic meals, and a mission retreat. Many later served in YWAM.
Eldership in Everyday and Complex Situations
My story is an example of the “everyday” kind of eldering. Everyday Eldering could be guiding a person through open-ended questions about their life and calling, correcting the interpretation or application of a prophetic word, assisting a team or community in growing in health by discerning biblical teaching, or guarding through intercessory prayer and wise counsel.
We also need eldership in more complex situations, such as senior leadership transitions and appointments, disciplinary issues, serious complaints against leaders, drift from YWAM values and core beliefs, or loss of apostolic vision. These matters require more wisdom and discernment, and elders must function in teams and work with leaders involved in the context. In some complex situations, elders need to lead.
Debating the Definition and Role of Elders
The definition and role of eldership have been debated in YWAM since Singapore 2014. The move was away from national and regional leaders/directors towards functioning in many polycentric Area Circle Teams (ACTs) with convenors to allow for renewed apostolic growth. Some leaders question whether elders should exercise any authority or only be advisory.
One question might be: “Who really has ultimate power or authority here?” That’s the wrong question. The response should be “Jesus,” and not just in lip service. At the same time, discussing and clarifying the distribution of power, decision-making processes, roles and responsibilities, and accountability is vital if we are to lead and elder in Christlike ways.
If you read Loren Cunningham’s teaching on “Spiritual Eldership,” you might notice that he uses “elder(ship)” and “leader(ship)” almost equally and without distinction. However, the type of leadership/eldership authority exercised is “spiritual” and “relational,” not “hierarchical.”
Some leaders would like the difference in roles to be more clearly defined. In Loren’s gift and God’s wisdom, an understanding of eldership and leadership must be worked out in national and local contexts in YWAM.
Wisdom from Experience in Leadership and Eldership
I have been asked to share some wisdom from my four decades of service in various local and national leadership and eldership teams in YWAM England.
When Suzi and I were praying about stepping down from leading YWAM Harpenden, in the middle of the night I heard: ‘Stay engaged in the Spirit. Stay engaged in your heart. Let go with your hands.” I took this to mean that we were to step back or “withdraw” from task-orientated executive leadership but to stay involved in spiritual and relational eldership.
In a location, you might act as a leader sometimes or in some parts of the ministry and as an elder at other times. You might be a leader in one team and an elder for another. You might be an ‘elder only’ and no longer a ‘leader’ in one or several locations. You can avoid a lot of misunderstanding if you clarify which role you are speaking from.
Keep Drawing from the Bible
The Bible should always be our reference point when considering eldership in our context. Peter urges:
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings… Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:4
Elders are to be good and gentle shepherds of God’s people, providing spiritual care, guidance, and protection. Three words that could be used for eldership are: 1) Growing, 2) Guiding, and 3) Guarding. Elders are to willingly watch over those in their care, without greed or self-interest, serving eagerly and humbly as examples.
As younger leaders, we should be full of energy to get things done and move forward with a vision of God’s desired future. We also, quite naturally, have a part of our identity wrapped up in our leadership roles and accomplishments or failures. Senior elders should be free of having to prove themselves in leadership.
Prayerfully seek out and recognise two or three elders
I urge every local leadership team to prayerfully seek and recognise at least two or three elders. Before appointing elders, ask others who know them about their gifts and character.
In England, we formed a national eldership among elders of local teams and several others whose gifts, wisdom, maturity, and availability commended them. If the eldership is larger than 10, it needs a core team of three or four elders to convene it. The core team can facilitate connecting potential elders with local teams. It is best if eldership and leadership meet together several times a year. Appoint an ad hoc team of three or four elders or senior leaders to deal with a complex situation and report back.
Time is the currency of relationships. Elders need time to know leaders, but they also need to know the other local staff. One difficulty is that situations are sometimes only narrated from a leader’s perspective. Relationships with other staff can bring a different and sometimes more realistic perspective.
Elders have different gifts and experiences and should be valued as individuals and function in eldership teams. Seek unity, but with diversity. Secure leadership can make room for the gifts and anointing of senior leaders rather than restricting their ministry only to an advisory eldership function. Senior leaders and elders can open doors of opportunity for younger leaders.
A Foundational Virtue: Humility
A foundational virtue of eldering is humility. My definition of humility is: “patterns of integrity, honest self-assessment of strengths and shortcomings, confidence in who we are that frees us from concern about being treated as less than others, exercising our gifts in ways that honour God and others rather than towards self-interest or self-promotion, not arrogant or prideful.”1 (Peachey, 2020, p.269)
The skill of listening is essential. We must learn to ask questions and listen to people, not just their words but their emotions and motivations. We listen to the others involved and discern as we listen to God and our fellow elders and leaders to understand more of the truth of a situation and what would be a wise and loving way forward. We cannot discern God’s will without listening.
Listening to God and Eldership Voices
During one leadership transition, we emphasised that all teams should listen to four voices: 1) Listen to God, 2) Listen to ourselves and those in our team, 3) Listen to other teams and those affected, and 4) Listen to external voices. We tend to listen to those who share our views and fail to listen to God and external voices. Eldership can provide a discerning external perspective.
Eldering as Priestly Intercession
Finally, we must recognise the importance of the priestly intercessory role. Our prayer and exercise of spiritual authority in Christ provide a covering of protection for God’s people. We see this in the apostolic prayers in the New Testament, and it is a high calling.
John, and his wife Suzi, led a YWAM campus for many years and live in intentional community in the UK. They have served as part of the national eldership and as elders for several YWAM teams and locations. John received his PhD through the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. His research areas include virtue formation in missional communities and distinctively Christian higher education. John currently chairs the board serving the SEND UK & Ireland.
