MEET OUR LEADERSHIP

The Rooftop Bylaws require that the size of the Elder Team must be between 3 and 12 individuals, and that new Elders are added at the Fall Business meeting, and are approved (or not approved) by the Voting Roster. Every year, the existing Elders discern whether or not to expand to Elder Team according to the needs of the team and the church. If the team senses that more Elders are needed, Elder candidates are nominated by the team itself. From this list of potential candidates the Elder Team identifies those qualified for Eldership (according to a pre-set standard of elder qualifications—see below), and meets with those qualified to discuss their willingness and ability to serve in the role. From there, we agree on a certain number of candidates to put forward to the Voting Roster.

Our baseline qualifications for Elders include the following: 1) Fully involved and committed to Rooftop, and a fourth-floor participant for at least one year, 2) Demonstration of some measure of spiritual and/or organizational leadership, in both informal and formal roles, 3) Some combination of shepherding, teaching, and leadership gifts, 4) Respectable family life (if relevant), and a good reputation with outsiders, 5) Knowledge of Scripture and no disagreements with the Rooftop Statement of Faith, 6) A commitment to meet the time and energy demands of eldership, 7) Life marked by the Spirit’s fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, 8) Basic agreement with Rooftop’s ministry philosophy and practice, 9) Life marked by prayerful conversation with God and other spiritual disciplines. 

It is the opinion of the Rooftop Elder Team that the Bible teaches that men and women have generally been given different roles to serve in life and faith. A combination of Scriptures (1 Timothy 2:8-15; Mark 3:13-19; 1 Cor. 11:2-16; Genesis 2:18-24; Titus 5:1-9) has led the Elders to conclude that God has given the role of ultimate theological and spiritual leadership of His local church to qualified and godly men (i.e. Elders) who are recognized as such by the people of God, led by the Spirit of God. The Elders do not believe this undermines the inherent and equal value of women before God and alongside men, and try to follow Scripture by encouraging and expecting women to serve to the fullest of their God-given gifts—including teaching, preaching and leadership.

Yes. The Rooftop Bylaws require that the Lead Pastor of the church serve perpetually on the Elder Team, as (theoretically) he is qualified to serve as an elder and should be serving in that capacity. Where there are conflicts of interest (such as salary and performance review), the Lead Pastor is asked to excuse himself from conversation. Other paid staff members are not allowed to serve on the Elder Team.