ELDERS AS A PRAYER TEAM
PURPOSES
There are four purposes in calling the elders of a congregation to meet once a week for prayer:
- to reclaim the function of elders as spiritual leaders of the congregation
- to develop an intercessory prayer force for the church
- to help the elders function with the pastor as a ministry team
- to help the elders grow spiritually as they experience God's presence and activity through prayer
MEETING TIMES
Possible meeting times: a weekly breakfast or lunch meeting, an evening meeting, or 30-45 minutes before church activities begin on Sunday morning. Limit the meetings to one hour, maximum. Start and end on time.
GETTING “BUY IN”
If you think getting the elders to "buy in" will be a problem, start on an experimental basis, with a short-term commitment of 6 weeks. Evaluate at the end of that time. Most likely, at least some elders will want to continue meeting.
GETTING STARTED
The pastor should provide leadership for the meetings, at least at first, to stress the importance of this ministry. The pastor should personally invite all elders to participate, stressing that prayer together is vital to their ministry as elders. Some elders may choose not to participate. Don't spend valuable time worrying about those who do not participate. Claim the promise that Christ is present, even if "only two or three are gathered." (Matthew 18:20) The congregation should be informed that their elders will begin a weekly prayer time. Petitions from the congregation can be gathered for the meetings.
A FORMAT FOR THE MEETINGS
1. Focusing on God
Share a brief reflection on a Scripture passage concerning prayer. Share "praise reports" of how we've sensed God's presence and activity in our lives this week. Sing a hymn or chorus that helps express praise and thanksgiving to God.
2. Sharing Concerns
Petitions from congregation members are mentioned. The pastor and elders share needs of members and their own needs.
(The leader needs to make sure that the group does not spend so much time discussing needs that they don't get around to praying. The leader also needs to ensure that confidences are not broken. The leader should emphasize that this is not a group to discuss people's problems or to try and solve them, but to lift persons and their needs before God who knows the solutions. The leader should encourage the elders to risk becoming vulnerable in sharing their own needs with the group, but keep the group becoming a "therapy session" for anyone.)
3. Lifting Up the Needs of the Church
It is very important that the elders own their ministry as intercessors for the congregation as a whole, as the congregation seeks to discern and fulfill its mission.
Pray for the spiritual health of the congregation, for increasing capacity to know God and make God known. Pray for the guidance and empowerment of God's Holy Spirit as the congregation is involved in mission. Pray for the specific needs of the congregation (example: a Sunday School teacher for the third grade class, funds to launch a new ministry, etc.)
4. Praying Together
Spend at least half of the time actually praying. As the group enters into prayer together, invite persons to pray aloud, but don't pressure anyone. Assure the group that God hears the prayers expressed in our hearts as well as those spoken aloud. Don't be afraid of silence, or feel that silence must be filled. Even long periods of silence can be very beneficial. Help the group learn to value silence as a time for "listening" to God.
5. Conclusion
Conclude the meeting as it began, with expressions of praise and thanksgiving to God.
SOME HELPFUL STATEMENTS ABOUT PRAYER
- We don't always know how to pray, but we can trust that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26).
- Jesus modeled a close relationship with a heavenly parent in whose presence we can feel free to be ourselves and bring our requests (Luke 11:9-13).
- Prayer is not "manipulating God" to get what we want. We bring our petitions with open hands, trusting God to work in the best way.
- One of the major values of prayer is that we are drawn closer to God and made more capable of doing God's will.
- Prayer is "the act of being in God's presence." Prayer is growing in relationship with God. As in human relationships, spending quality time together is essential. As in human relationships, listening is as important as speaking.
- God acts in response to our prayers. (James 5:16)
- Prayer is a vital way in which we work in partnership with God.
- As we offer our petitions, we should be aware that God may use us in some way as part of the answer. Ours may be the feet, hands, and voices God uses.
- It may be helpful to use written prayers, or an outline for prayer, such as ACTS (A - Adoration; C - Confession; T - Thanksgiving; S - Supplication) or the outline provided by the Lord's Prayer.
These suggestions were prepared by Judy Turner when she was on staff of Homeland Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The suggestions came from her experience as a pastor of a local congregation in which the elders became a prayer team. Because they are still being requested, we are making them available on our Website. They should be applicable for any church that uses lay elders or equivalent offices. You are free to use any resources on our site, but please donate to the work of Christview Ministries Center so that we can continue to produce such materials and make them available.