Our Elders

Dennis Hood	John Hooker	Jimmy Dryden	Jeff Leonard

Our Elders are the spiritual shepherds and overseers of the church at Leoma. The first charge of shepherding the Lord’s sheep came in Jesus’ words to Simon Peter in John 21:16,

 “He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep’” (ESV).

Two clearly defined lists of the qualities elders are to have before assuming their roles are found in 1 Timothy 3:1—7 and Titus 1:5—9. These qualities require that one must earnestly desire the office, be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. In addition, he is to manage his household well, not be a recent convert, and those outside the church must think well of him. Men are selected and appointed to be elders based on these important qualities.