Someone inquires whether an elder may resign from the eldership. Historically over the last three centuries, the church has observed elders resigning for a number of reasons. Likely, from time to time since the establishment of the Lord’s church nearly 2,000 years ago elders have resigned from their respective elderships.
Some reasons for which elders sometimes resign include the death of a spouse or their failing health or the failing health of their respective family members. In addition, since elders are appointed over the congregations of which they are members, were an elder to move away, obviously he could not serve as an elder over a congregation with which he no longer worships. Furthermore, he would not automatically be an elder over whatever congregation with which he next placed his membership.
Among the qualifications for the appointment of elders in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 is especially one requirement that pertains to this inquiry. The very first qualification listed is that a man desire the office of responsibility of being an elder in the church. “…If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work” (1 Timothy 3:1 NKJV). If for whatever reason a brother serving as an elder no longer desires to serve in that capacity, then owing to not possessing the very first qualification of being an elder, it is reasonable for him to resign from the eldership.
