Election of Elders

Definition and Meaning

The election of elders is the process by which a church chooses candidates to be installed as elders. Being chosen by a vote of the members is called pitaek (被擇, "being chosen"). A person who has been elected but has not yet been installed in the office is commonly called an "elder-elect" (pitaek jangno). In denominations that maintain the office of elder, especially in Presbyterianism, the election is regarded as a significant event in the life of the church.

Biblical and Historical Background

The New Testament records that Paul and Barnabas ordained elders in every church (Acts 14:23). The qualifications for elders are set out in Titus 1:5–9 and 1 Timothy 3:1–7. The account of the early church having the congregation choose seven men (Acts 6:3–5) is frequently cited as a basis for congregational voting. After the Reformation, the Reformed tradition, including John Calvin, established the office of lay elders, known as ruling elders, who govern the church together with ministers. This system became the foundation of Presbyterian church polity.

Practice in Korean Churches

Presbyterian Churches

Korean Presbyterian churches generally install elders through the following steps:

• The session resolves that additional elders are needed, petitions the presbytery for permission to elect elders, and obtains its approval.
• A vote is held at the congregational meeting. Many Presbyterian denominations require at least two-thirds of the votes cast.
• Those elected receive training for a set period, pass the presbytery's examination, and then receive the laying on of hands at an ordination service.

Candidate qualifications are determined by each denomination's church constitution. Typically, a candidate must be a baptized member above a certain age who has led a blameless life of faith for a specified period. Whether women may serve as elders varies by denomination. The Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap) permits women elders, while the General Assembly of Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong) and others do not (→ ordination of women).

Other Denominations

The Korean Methodist Church, the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church, the Korea Assemblies of God, and others also maintain the office of elder. However, the body that elects elders and the required qualifications differ according to each denomination's constitution. Baptists traditionally follow congregational polity, in which the entire membership governs the church. For this reason, Baptist churches often ordain deacons instead of elders.

Terms of Service and Controversies

In many Presbyterian denominations, the mandatory retirement age for active elders is reported to be 70. Some churches also adopt a term system under which elders face a vote of confidence at regular intervals. When an election becomes overheated, it can sometimes escalate into conflict among members or into church disputes.