Brothers, Aspire to Be Lay Elders
April 20, 2026
April 20, 2026
Abstract: Scott Corbin encourages young men to aspire to be lay elders rather than viewing the role as unimportant because it is unpaid or not an “official” staff position. For those who are biblically qualified for the role, serving as an elder is a great blessing to the church and a worthwhile use of your time and gifts for the sake of Christ’s kingdom.
My journey to pastoral ministry wasn’t a straight line.
For some, the journey is relatively straightforward—discern a call, go to seminary, work an internship, become a staff pastor, etc.—but mine was a series of fits and starts. The initial idea came from a mentor who asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I sheepishly said, “Maybe be a teacher,” and he replied, “I think you want to be a pastor.” He was right. Yet, I had no idea what pastoral ministry might look like for me.
In seminary, I came across many brothers whose calling seemed sure. When talking about the future, it was evident that their burden was to be in the pulpit every Sunday. For me? I enjoyed preaching occasionally, but the thought of a weekly pulpit ministry was frankly a little overwhelming.
Later, after having some success in my classes, I began contemplating the idea of doing a PhD, with the hopes of teaching in a classroom environment or—even better—starting a training program in a local church. However, that plan was derailed before I could even begin as my wife and I were expecting our first child. The PhD would have to wait—I needed a job!
In God’s providence, I began a career in Christian publishing. Things finally made sense. I loved books, reading, and telling others about books. Why not do it for a career? It was a great fit for my personality too, as I love to meet new people and have conversations with strangers—something I was doing a lot of.
But what about my aspiration to pastor? Was that something I’d have to give up on? No, far from it! In fact, in God’s kindness, the fits and starts of my journey made my pastoral aspirations even more clear. My aspiration was to be a lay elder.
If we’re going to have healthy churches, we need faithful lay elders eager to shepherd the flock and build up the body. The apostle Paul understood this well when he told Timothy to “entrust” what he had been taught “to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). All churches need faithful men to help lead. And while we should labor to pay pastors for their work, especially those who preach and teach (1 Tim. 5:17), many churches may only be able to pay a handful of such men. This is especially true in newly planted churches, churches undergoing revitalization, or churches in contexts where financial or demographic constraints limit staff size.
I was reminded of how vital the need for lay pastors is while visiting a downtown church in a large metropolis. The church was undergoing revitalization and couldn’t support a large staff. In fact, the lead pastor shared with me how difficult it is to labor in this bustling city because of how transient it is. Like most cities in America, it’s hard for folks to stay.
The morning I visited, I attended a Bible study before the service led by a faithful lay elder who was teaching through the book of Esther. The lead pastor remarked what a blessing it was to have faithful lay elders like this man because it eased the burdens of his ministry.
Lay elders are like Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’s arms in battle against the Amalekites (Ex. 17:10–13). They help bear the burden of ministry when the load seems overwhelming.
Based on my many conversations with aspiring brothers all over the country, I know that many wrongly think that “being a pastor” necessarily means receiving a paycheck from a local church. Some of these men desire to be lead pastors while others desire to be “staff guys” at a church. While I thank God for men who desire to serve the church full-time, I also feel the urge to remind them that pastoring doesn’t require a paycheck.
The distinction between “lay elder” and “staff elder”11 .Presbyterian churches distinguishing the office of “teaching elder” from “ruling elder.” I prefer the lay and staff distinction because of the specific responsibilities given to all elders. For the distinction within a Presbyterian context, see PCA BCO 8:5, 8:8. is helpful as we pursue the biblical principle of paying pastors (from 1 Tim. 5:17). Nonetheless, Scripture recognizes only two church offices: elders (also called pastors or overseers) and deacons. Fundamentally, there isn’t a tiered system of greater elders and lesser elders—just elders!22 .I do not deny Paul’s recognized parity in any given eldership in 1 Tim. 5:17. Some elders are worthy of more honor based on their responsibilities. My point here is simply to say that all elders start from the same baseline. No elder is more an elder than another even if he receives more “honor” (i.e., pay) for his labors in preaching and teaching. The qualifications and expectations for lay elders are the same as those for all elders (see 1 Tim. 3:1–7, Titus 1:5–9, and 1 Pet. 5).
Practically, this means that as an elder in my local church, I share the same responsibilities as my fellow elders: exercising oversight, teaching God’s Word, providing pastoral counsel, praying for the sick, mediating disagreements, making hospital visits, discipling younger Christians, and shepherding our members. These duties belong to all the elders, regardless of whether we receive a paycheck. And while we must recognize that there are differing capacities for different men, the overall thrust is the same: elders are elders, whether they be lay or staff.
In light of the need for faithful elders, I often challenge young men with this question: What might it look like to structure your life and vocation around serving as a faithful lay elder in your church?
All of us must consider a variety of factors when choosing a vocation. The obvious ones are things like compensation, opportunities for growth, the job market, skills and interests, work-life balance, personal fulfillment, and more. But what would it look like for aspiring lay elders to choose their career based on their desire to serve in their local church and, more specifically, to serve as an elder?
This might mean choosing a career where the compensation is lower but the schedule provides more flexibility to shepherd the flock. It might mean choosing a job with less travel. Or, as in my case, it might mean picking a career that “stacks” well with pastoral ambitions. Working at a Christian publisher and serving as a local church pastor actually work together in great harmony!
In some cases, aspiring (or current) lay elders might consider pursuing theological training with the goal of serving more faithfully. Not every man needs to attend seminary, and in some cases it may even be unwise. Men who have a full-time job, a family, and church responsibilities have multiple factors to consider. Yet, because theological training is now available in diverse forms—seminary, church-based programs, internships, distance learning—aspiring lay elders can more easily pursue the education that best fits their situation.
Sadly, I often hear young men say they’ve “failed” to use their seminary degree if they aren’t serving on a church staff in some capacity. What was the point of going to school, paying for classes, and graduating if I’m not going to “use” it?
My counsel is, rather than see a vocational “zag” as a failure, see it as God’s providence refining your aspirations. Might such a “zag” mean not being on a church staff? Possibly. Does it mean never getting to pastor? Not by a long shot.
Brothers, if you love the church, love God’s Word, and aspire to the pastoral office, don’t limit that calling to a paycheck. Instead, consider structuring your life around serving Christ’s church as a faithful lay elder. The church needs elders, lay and staff alike. Lay elders aren’t backup options—they are faithful shepherds of the church that Christ laid down his life for.
