The Elders Service Committee (ESC) continues to support the training and development of elders and elderships worldwide.  Last year, the ESC began work to write and publish a companion book to Church Building Elderships: Godly Qualities that Produce Great Churches (2019), edited by Wyndham Shaw and Al Baird. In April, the ESC completed this second book on elders and eldership development with the publication of Fortifying the Flock: Building Effective Elders and Elderships. The committee collaborated on this book with the goal of providing more practical and inspirational material to church leaders and elders-in-training across the world.

The number of elders and elderships worldwide continues to grow. Earlier this year, during the ESC’s eldership training program for South Asia (organized by Walter Evans in collaboration with its churches), four new elders were appointed, adding elderships in Chennai and in Coimbatore. Currently, there are 224 elders worldwide. With nine non-US regions without elderships, the need to raise up elders around the world still remains.

The ESC continues to serve as ligaments that support the maturing body of Christ (Eph 4:16). It engages in conflict resolution activities worldwide, dialoguing and walking with many along the way. It labors to follow and support the four unity proposals and one affirmation adopted by the ICOC fellowship in 2022, including the proposals for conflict resolution and handling intractable conflict. In the March 2024 Pasadena meetings, it presented to the leadership the need for humility and forging unity across the fellowship.

The ESC will continue to focus on these efforts. Recently it also acknowledged with much gratitude the Zieglers for their labor, as Tom and Lori stepped off of it in order to focus fully on their current shepherding. Meeting regularly, the ESC will continue to work for a unity that honors God, one that crosses boundaries and connects generations.

Chairman: Walter Evans (Philadelphia)
Eldership Development and Training:  Oleksii Kravets (Kiev), Yannick Le Noan (Paris), Mike Van Auken (Boston), Frank Okodugha (Lagos)
Marriage and Family: Frank Kim (Denver)
Conflict Resolution: Larry Craig (New York), Walter Evans (Philadelphia)
Unity: Darren Gauthier (Chicago)
Minutes and Communication: Dan Liu (Hong Kong)