Stonegate Fellowship recognizes the office of Elder that is specified in the Bible. These Biblical qualifications are primarily taken from three passages in the New Testament – 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9 and 1 Peter 5:1-3.

God calls the individual to this office, and the individual is recognized with great honor in the church in his acceptance of the calling. It is SGF’s belief that Elders are Biblically designated as officers of our local church.
The Elders are responsible for ensuring the spiritual health, protection and well-being of the church body known as Stonegate Fellowship. The day-to-day functions of the church and its mission are overseen and implemented by the pastoral, and other paid staff. However, it is the call and duty of the Elders to remain aware of the general spiritual health of the church and to guard it from error as well as provide for the spiritual care of the members. We at Stonegate Fellowship are committed to being a Biblical Church, with Biblical leadership.

Defined Purpose

1. Definition – An Elder is one member of a Biblically-qualified group of servant-leaders (collectively referred to as “Elders”) who is called by God to fulfill his role within the local church.
2. Purpose – The teaching of the New Testament is for the church to be led by a plurality of qualified men who with one mind shepherd the local church.
3. Mission – Elders, as the spiritual overseers of the church, are to determine church policy (Acts 15:22); ordain others (1 Tim. 4:14); rule, teach and preach (1 Tim. 5:17); exhort and refute (Titus 1:9); and act as shepherds, setting an example for all (1 Peter 5:1-3).

There are no more than twelve active Elders serving at any time. Elders serve a three-year term with a minimum one-year off before being considered for another term. The active elders are staggered in their terms so that approximately one-third rotate to inactive status each year. The current active Elders are presented below: