Recovering the covenantal understanding and practice of eldership is fundamental to Basileia’s mission of being kingdomcultural. The biblical concept of eldership is broader than the modern idea, which generally thinks of elders only in relationship to performing certain ecclesiastical functions within the Church. But the biblical concept is not so narrow, rather it presents the idea of eldership as a societal-wide function that is to be exercised by all elders of family, Church, and state. God has ordained that elders serve in a collective representative role in the three forms of collective governments of family, Church, and state. This differs in significant ways from the individual authority that all citizens of the Kingdom are to exercise in all forms of individual self-government. The collective governments of family, Church, and state define a person's broad and fundamental relationship to society as a whole. To be disinherited from a family, executed by the state or excommunicated by the Church has profound and far-reaching implications for an individual's membership in society both in this age and in the ages to come. This is not the case in regards to one's membership status (or lack thereof) in various forms of individually governed bodies, including educational, vocational, or associational. While membership in or removal from any of these certainly has implications, even serious ones, they are not of the same order as the far-reaching implications arising from membership in or removal from the three core collective governments of human society. Thus, since membership in or removal from family, Church, or state defines ones status in society as a whole, the Lord has ordained that membership in these institutions be administered by elders. Elders govern society as a collective, not just individuals in society. Three biblical examples illustrate this: (1) When God instructed Moses to “speak to all the congregation of Israel” regarding the ordinances for Passover (Ex. 12:3), Moses obeyed by calling “for all the elders of Israel” to gather before him (Ex. 12:21). (2) The accused who stood in judgment before the “congregation” in Numbers 35:12 (cf. v. 24) is described in Joshua 20:4 as “declaring his cause in the ears of the elders of the city.” (3) When “Joshua called for all Israel” to assemble, it was the special representatives of the people, namely the elders, heads, judges and officers who came (Josh. 23:2; 24:1).
Also see “Governing Roles of Men and Women in Basileia,” Head, Kingly, Presbyter and Presiding Member.