Term of Office for Elders

Definition and Meaning

The term of office for elders is the period during which an elder actually holds and carries out the duties of office in the church, that is, the period of active service.

In Korean Presbyterianism, the eldership is regarded as a perpetual office, an office that must always exist in the church and that, once conferred, is held for life. Elders serve until the mandatory retirement age, after which they become retired elders or elders emeriti.

Some churches also have a procedure in which the congregation is periodically asked whether an elder should continue in active service. This procedure is called a vote of confidence.

Biblical and Historical Background

The New Testament records that the apostles ordained elders in every church (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), but it sets no term of office. The question of terms has therefore been left to the polity of individual denominations and churches.

During the Reformation, the church in Geneva under John Calvin is known to have elected its elders anew each year. Traditions later diverged by region:

• Scottish Presbyterianism: a tradition of ordaining elders for life became established.
• Reformed churches of continental Europe, such as those in the Netherlands: these churches have maintained a system of rotating terms lasting several years.
• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (PCUSA): elders serve for fixed terms.

Practice in the Korean Church

• Presbyterian churches: The constitutions of the major Korean Presbyterian denominations, such as the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap) and the General Assembly of Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong), generally set the mandatory retirement age for active elders at 70. The Tonghap constitution reportedly permits a periodic vote of confidence at the congregational meeting. An elder who fails to obtain the congregation's confidence generally retains the office of elder but enters inactive status and no longer serves as a member of the session.
• Term systems in individual churches: Some Korean churches provide in their church bylaws for terms of six to seven years or for votes of confidence.
• Proponents argue that such systems increase the accountability of officers, prevent authority from remaining concentrated in one person for too long, and facilitate generational transition.
• Opponents argue that such systems are inconsistent with the nature of the eldership as a perpetual office and that the votes can intensify conflict within the church.
• Methodist and Holiness churches: The Korean Methodist Church and the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church also have the office of elder. As a rule, they reportedly operate on the basis of a retirement age rather than separate terms of office.
• Baptist and other congregationally governed churches: Many Baptist churches in Korea, including those of the Korea Baptist Convention, have traditionally not had the office of elder. Instead, ordained deacons fill a similar role, and each church sets specific terms in its bylaws.