The Elder Candidate Interest Process
Thank you for your interest in becoming an Elder at Grace Point Church. An elder/pastor is one of a plurality of Biblically qualified men (1 Timothy 3:1-7), tested and trained, who jointly shepherd and oversee (1 Peter 5:1-4) Grace Point Church.
The Elder Process at Grace Point Church has two stages: Elder Candidate Interest and Elder Candidate Process.
The Elder Candidate Interest phase, explained below, will take a few months to complete. You must pass/be approved at each step before proceeding to the next step. Each step is an assessment point, and just completing one does not necessarily mean you automatically move to the next.
If you complete the Interest phase, you will move into the Elder Candidate Process, which takes 2-3 years to complete. The Elder Candidate Process will be discussed more thoroughly as we walk through the Elder Candidate Interest Phase.
1. Fill out Interest Form
The interest form is the first step in becoming an elder candidate. It should take 30-60 minutes to complete. The interest form is open until September 30, 2024.
2. Elder Application
Once you have filled out the interest form, it will be reviewed by the current elders. If you move on to the next step, you will receive an Elder Application to complete. The application is a thorough spiritual, personal, financial, marital, and theological questionnaire. It should take 10-16 hours to complete.
3. Soul Care Session
The current Elders will review the Elder Application. If you move forward, you will be asked to complete an Enneagram profile. The Elders will then meet with you in person, along with your wife, if applicable. This step requires 3-4 hours.
4. In-Home Interview
Upon completion of the Soul Care Session, Elder Applicants moving forward will be invited to a dinner and discussion with you and your wife, covering topics from the Elder Application. This step will take 3-4 hours.
5. Elder Candidates
At the end of this process, we invite candidates to join the Elder Process and become Elder Candidates. The Elder Process is a two-year commitment during which Elder Candidates will take eight 10-week cohorts. It requires three or more monthly meetings.