Ex-JW Becomes Evangelical Elder

It was a real blessing for me this month to ordain our brother Matthew Purves as an Elder of Stockport Evangelical Church. Matthew has worked faithfully “behind the scenes” as it were in encouraging and ministering to others and is well known for his grasp of the word, Apologetics and  Biblical Theology.

 

Matthew already has a successful internet presence, through his YouTube channel “Truth4JWs” and is himself an Ex-JW Elder, spending six years at Bethel, the Watchtower’s UK Headquarters. After serious concerns, leading to disillusionment with the organisation, he began to earnestly seek God for an answer and found truth, grace and liberty in  Jesus Christ.

 

In most Protestant churches, ordination to Eldership is the rite by which churches:

• recognise and confirm that an individual has been called by to a Leadership position,
• acknowledges that the individual has gone through a period of discernment, prayer and preparation related to this call, and
• authorizes that individual to take on the role of Elder.

In this church, whilst we are an autonomous, independent fellowship, we recognize the need for spiritual, practical and effective leadership based on Biblical principles. Elders should able to teach, refute error, be of good reputation and lead their households well. This necessarily involves gifting, spiritual maturity, an understanding of God’s word and an adherence to sound doctrine. The use of the word “Elder,” can be seen in the two following verses:

“ The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ...” 1 Peter 5:1 (KJV) Peter here applying the word "elder" to Apostles.

“… ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:” Titus 1:5 (KJV) The Apostle Paul commanding the ordination of elders.

 

 

Matthew’s role as Elder will be to assist me in teaching, serving and generally caring for the spiritual needs of the congregation. The position of Elder is a position of authority within the church and is exceeded only by that of the Minister, who is in effect the senior Elder. (See Acts 12:17, Acts 15:13-19)

 

Paul Jennings.