Meet our Elders
What are elders?
At Menlo Church, our elders are a dedicated group of volunteer leaders—both men and women—who form a group known as Session. They oversee our church with wisdom, ensure its financial well-being, offer thoughtful guidance for congregational care, and provide prayerful protection for our mission.
In keeping with our Presbyterian heritage, our congregation elects elders to govern the church. Elders work closely with staff leadership and represent the congregation as a body across all campuses in fulfilling their role as spiritual oversight for our community.
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Menlo church governance
We believe the Church is the community through which God wants to bring love, healing, growth, and eternal life to the human race, and to which he invites everyone to follow Jesus. Menlo Church is one church in many locations, pursuing our mission to bless the Bay Area for Jesus through a transforming relationship with Christ and authentic community with each other. We are part of the denomination ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO). The church's governing body is called the Session. The Session focuses on discernment and strategy to guide the church's biblical mission in the world; on the spiritual health of the congregation, including discipline; and on oversight of church resources and staff accomplishment through the senior pastor, to whom it delegates ministry leadership and church operations.
As an ECO church, Menlo Church is governed by its Session. Made of elected elders and the senior pastor, Session has the responsibility and authority for governing the congregation and guiding its mission for Christ and the world. In our Reformed tradition, Session ensures that the church, through delegation to staff and lay leaders, proclaims the Word, celebrates the Sacraments, and exercises discipline. Session also ensures the provision of worship and ministries, pastoral care and guidance for the congregation and oversight of the spiritual, financial, and organizational health of the church. Menlo Church is committed to pursuing its mission as a church with God-honoring love, zeal, and excellence in all that we are and do.
QUALIFICATIONS
Elder nominees are required to be a Menlo Church Covenant Partner (membership). We look for spiritual maturity, alignment to Menlo’s vision and mission, ability to prayerfully discern God’s call for Menlo, work with and communicate with other members of Session and church staff, eagerness to represent all congregants beyond one campus site, and affirmation of the ECO Essential Tenets. For a detailed list of qualifications see this outline of Elder Qualifications.
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Considering being an elder?
Menlo Church is prayerfully seeking spiritually mature Covenant Partners to serve as elders on Session—leaders who are deeply rooted in faith, active in ministry, and aligned with our mission and values. Elders are servant leaders committed to spiritual oversight, governance, discernment, and supporting the church’s vision through collaboration with staff and the congregation. This high-impact role requires character, wisdom, leadership, and a heart for shepherding God’s people in the unique context of the Bay Area. Here is a link to learn more about being an Elder.
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Want to nominate an elder?
It’s that time of year when we begin prayerfully discerning who God is calling to serve as the next class of elders, with terms beginning this October. Serving as an elder is both a divine calling and a meaningful opportunity to support and guide the spiritual life of our church.
We’re seeking nominations for brothers or sisters in Christ who are faithful, prayerful, and committed contributors to the Menlo Church community—whether through their spiritual gifts, time, or resources. Here is a link to a detailed outline of the roles and responsibilities of an elder.
If you know a Covenant Partner, even it is yourself, who exemplifies spiritual maturity, servant leadership, and alignment with Menlo Church’s mission and values, we invite you to submit a nomination for their consideration as an elder. Please prayerfully discern and submit your nomination here.