I feel sorry for you if you don't have elders in your church. I love my elders.
Last night I had the need to lay some pretty stern and negative words on our eldership and ask them to share with me in bearing responsibility for some problems in the life of our church.
They listened with earnestness and love and they were very willing to respond with shared dismay, apology, repentance and resolve. The whole experience gave energy to the evening's elders' meeting, rather than sapping energy.
It is lovely when spiritual rebuke can be taken as it really is: a blessing. I love my elders.
