About Elders ShopNotes

This ministry, founded and formerly directed by Chuck Gianotti from 1999-2014, was formed to provide encouragement and practical teaching for elders who shepherd God’s people in the local church.

Many elders juggle full-time jobs, families, and various ministries. In addition, some have been thrust into eldership with little or no training. The busy elder has precious little time for self-study and further training. Much of the practical teaching for pastoral leadership is contained in resources geared more toward a traditional full-time pastor than a working elder.

The goals for ESN are to provide:

1. “Bite-sized” teaching for the working elder whose time is ever at a premium
2. How-to’s for shepherding the congregation
3. Basic biblical leadership principles
4. Teaching to help elders’ wives support their husbands

For Whom?

This ministry aims to support secularly employed elders in their effectiveness as shepherds, without taking sides on controversial issues. We desire to encourage and build up elders, not to persuade them of a particular slant on issues. Invariably there will be implications made related to certain interpretations, but the primary thrust will be to edify, not to argue.

We believe the scriptures present a plurality of elders as the norm for church government. The general tenor of the pastoral teaching in scripture and the record of the beginning of the church in scripture supports this conclusion. While some give their time vocationally to pastoral work, we believe the elders should share in the responsibility of the ministry. They are not just “board” elders, but should be pastoral, shepherding elders.

In rare cases, plurality is temporarily impossible (in circumstances such as a church plant, initial missionary work, or a lack of qualified men). But healthy churches should always be moving toward plurality. This is assumed in the ministry of ESN.

We recognize that some will disagree with this approach (as God’s people, we do tend to disagree at times). We accept this and recognize that our efforts here will not satisfy everyone. It is the local church’s responsibility to determine its beliefs and interpretations on these matters, and we respect that. Our goal is simply to come alongside churches and provide help.

How Did Elders’ ShopNotes Begin?

This ministry is the outgrowth of a series of biblical eldership seminars. Many appreciated the biblical teaching, but expressed a need for practical training on the “how to’s,” such as visiting the sick, conducting funerals, etc. The result was this bi-monthly newsletter. Special thanks to Jack Spender for his many articles included in ESN.