Finish the Race: Final Steps in the Transition to a Plurality of Elders
September 25, 2026
September 25, 2026
Abstract: Zach Kilpatrick encourages pastors who are transitioning to a plurality of elders to finish the process well by addressing some practical questions. Questions concerning how new elders will be identified, how they will be presented to the congregation, and what this will mean for the church’s existing constitution and bylaws—along with a multitude of other practical issues—may feel less important, but, as Kilpatrick reminds us in this third article of a three-part series, they are vital if the congregation is to have confidence in the men who are selected and in the process as a whole. Ultimately, this transition should be aimed at the glory of God and the building up of his people.
You finally did it. You talked your wife into letting you turn the basement into a man cave!
However, after receiving approval, you still have to do the work. What size TV will you buy? Where will it go? How much furniture will you have? Will you put anything on the wall? Many practical questions remain.
Similarly, leading a change from a single-elder polity to a plurality of elders has final steps that are often overlooked. We know we need to educate the body on the biblical model and its practical benefits. We understand the need for discussions and an official vote. But even after all this, we aren’t done yet.
Having discussed the evaluation and education phases of this process in previous articles, we will now look at the final step, which is also vital: execution.
In his letter to the church in Ephesus (Rev. 2:1–7), Jesus commends them for their perseverance and discernment.11 .Thomas R. Schreiner, Revelation, in ESV Expository Commentary, vol. 12, 570–571. They were known for their commitment to sound doctrine and righteous living.
Yet they are rebuked because they had abandoned their first love.22 .Schreiner argues that the Ephesians had stopped loving God and others. Schreiner, Ibid., 571. These Christians, who were so committed to doing the right thing, had forgotten why they were doing it in the first place. They had orthodoxy and orthopraxy, but they were missing love.
Don’t let this be your story. It is easy to get lost in wanting to lead out in change just so we can say we did it, or out of concern to our reputation. But our motivation for change should be to bring greater glory to God and greater health to his church. So don’t lose focus after the vote is taken. See the process through to the end.
One of the first things to do after there is general agreement to move toward a plurality is to consult the church’s governing documents (bylaws, policies, and procedures). You need to determine how to officially adopt the change. Even if all the members are on board and ready, it still has to accord with your governing documents. If your documents do not allow for having a plurality of elders, then you will need to amend or rewrite them. The congregation will then need to vote to accept the amendments or new constitution. As part of this process, you might consider consulting a trusted attorney who has helped like-minded churches deal with these kinds of issues. They might have insights that help prevent you from making a costly mistake.
Once your documents are in order, you will need to identify qualified elder candidates. How this process is handled will have a significant effect on the congregation’s confidence in the transition.
One of the most important questions to answer is who will be responsible for nominating the first elders to serve alongside you. The constitution and bylaws of most elder-led congregational churches make the elders responsible for nominating new elders to the congregation. I think this is the best practice. However, since you are the only elder at the time of this change, you will need to decide whether to nominate qualified men yourself or form a one-time committee to help you. Either way, don’t undervalue the congregation’s feedback in the process.
Ensuring that the right men are identified and thoroughly assessed is crucial to a church’s health. This can’t simply be a popularity contest; these men must meet the biblical standards of character and doctrine for an elder, as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1–7. Faithfully identifying the first generation of elder candidates helps create a stable foundation for the entire transition.
Presenting and affirming qualified elder candidates is vital to this process as well. When done well, it breeds confidence among the congregation, but when done poorly—when they’re rushed, given insufficient information, etc.—the congregation can become skeptical of the process and feel that their voice has been weakened or ignored. Some more questions to consider:
I would recommend that, at a minimum, you have each candidate share his testimony, be available for questions, and, depending on how much the congregation has already heard him teach or preach, give the candidate another opportunity to do so before the vote occurs.
Churches will also need to consider factors, such as whether elders will rotate off, how many elders the church will have, what duties they will fulfill, and how staff and lay elders will relate.
As a former college athlete, I have spent a lot of time listening to coaches. When running sprints, one thing almost every coach stresses is not quitting until after you cross the finish line.
Pastor, if you’re in the middle of this process, you’re probably tired by now. You have held many meetings and taught on this multiple times, and you are ready for a break.
This transition is setting you up to have more help, but don’t quit before you cross the finish line. These final steps are ultimately aimed at protecting the church’s doctrine and ensuring that members are confident in Scripture’s teaching about leadership in the church.
You began this change for God’s glory and the church’s good, and that hasn’t changed. Keep going!
To shepherd a flock well, we need to understand that flock, and part of doing that is understanding where they have been and the events that have shaped them.
It seems the reason God gives pastors a job that is too big for one man is that he never intended for one man to do it alone!