Paul describes elders as the spiritual leaders of the congregation.  They review the administrative business and program of the church but have no responsibility or authority to direct either.  The elder accepts the call of God to be active in maintaining the focus of the congregation on the divine purpose of the church:  to worship God, to minister to the congregation, and to extend God’s mission in the world.  Consequently, the elder uses the moral and spiritual authority of the position to attempt to make certain that the business and the program of the church are directed toward the spiritual goals of the church.  Of course, no elder is really qualified for this.  Fortunately, the elder is not called to be perfect, but only to be loving and thoughtful.  The history of Christianity is that of an imperfect people struggling to know God and to share God’s love with the world.

Because communion is such an essential element of worship in the Disciples’ tradition, the elders who serve at the table in worship on a particular Sunday also take communion to those members of our congregation who are physically unable to attend worship and who have requested communion. When visiting a shut-in, the elder is extending the presence of the congregation.