ALEX BIGHAM, SHEPHERD, has served as an Elder at NVCOC for many years following his service as a Deacon serving the congregation's youth. Although Alex has many duties as a son, father, brother, husband and business leader, he deems his service in the Lord's Church as an Elder as his most important duty. He frequently preaches and teaches at the North Valley congregation as well. Alex also serves on the Board of Directors for Copper Basin Bible Camp, which is located in Prescott Arizona.
Alex is married to his amazing wife of 29 years, Csilla. He has two adult kids, Tyler and Garrett. Tyler is an Air Force Lieutenant and Pilot, and Garrett is a Lieutenant in the Marine Corp.
Professionally, Alex was trained as a Chiropractor, but for the last 15 years has owned and operated surgery centers. Currently, Alex is a managing partner in a Financial Services company that serves the medical community and their patients who have suffered traumatic injury.
MIKE SCHLACHTER, SHEPHERD, has served on several Christian College and University Boards. He served as a Deacon for many years in the education and benevolence areas of work. He is retired and keeps busy with mission work and serving the congregation. Prior to his retirement Mike was an executive with GVNW Consulting, a national consulting firm in Telecommunications. Mike and wife Linda have three sons and seven grandchildren.
Gary Wolf, Shepherd, has also served as a Deacon in areas of serving and in the oversite of the building and grounds. Gary enjoys educating people about the distinctive nature of the church of Christ. Gary and his wife Emily have three children that keep them ever moving and busy, as all 3 children are heavily involved in sports and school activities. Gary has his own business, Body Transformations LLC, a mobile personal training service providing programming or consultations to one’s home.
QUALIFICATIONS OF ELDERS
1 TIMOTHY 3:1-7
It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
TITUS 1:5-9
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, Namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
THE QUALIFICATIONS LISTED
Must be a male (1 Tim. 3:1; Titus 1:6)
Must desire the work (1 Tim. 3:1)
Must be above reproach (blameless) (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6)
The Husband of one Wife (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6)
Have children who believe (Titus 1:6)
Be temperate (vigilant) (1 Tim. 3:2)
Be self-controlled (Titus 1:8)
Be sensible (sober) (Titus 1:8; 1 Tim. 3:2)
Be respectable (of good behavior) (1 Tim. 3:2)
Be hospitable (1 Tim. 3:2)
Be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2)
Holding fast to the Word (Titus 1:9)
Be able to exhort and refute (Titus 1:9)
Must have a good reputation with those outside the church (1 Tim. 3:7)
Not addicted to wine (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7)
Manages his household well (1 Tim. 3:4; Titus 1:6)
Free from the love of money (covetous) (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet. 5:2)
Gentle (patient) (1 Tim. 3:3)
Not pugnacious (1 Tim. 3:3)
Not a new convert (novice) (1 Tim. 3:3)
Not self-willed (Titus 1:7)
Not quick-tempered (not soon angry) (Titus 1:7)
Loving what is good (lover of good men) (Titus 1:8)
Sensible (sober) (Titus 1:8)
Just (Titus 1:8)
Devout (holy) (Titus 1:8)
OTHER PASSAGES FOR CONSIDERATION
1 Timothy 3:11
(11) Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
1 Peter 5:1-4
(1) Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
(2) shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
(3) nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
(4) And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
The specific method of choosing elders is not regulated by Scripture, therefore, we must concern ourselves with finding a method acceptable to God, and which promotes a harmony of acceptance by the congregation.
We must first concern ourselves with the Biblical qualifications given. Each individual under consideration should meet the test of Scripture. These qualifications are not options they are imperatives which each individual must possess if we expect the Lord to bless the process of selection.
By Mike Scott