Meet Our Elders

Get to know the hearts behind the leadership. Click on a bio to learn more about each elder—who they are and how they serve. We’d love for you to connect, ask questions, or simply say hello next time you see them!

Lea Collins
  • Elder
The Role of an Elder in our community:
Ephesians 4.11-16: So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ...
  • Equip the church
  • Pray for the church
  • Pray for the spiritual health of us and to lift needs up to God.
  • Teach the church
  • Be involved with the teaching of the word of God: making sure that we all are being well fed spiritually so we are maturing in Christ.
  • Lead the church
  • Seek the will of God for direction through prayer, studying the scriptures, and wise consideration of the needs of our community.
  • Care for the church
  • Be available to pray with and counsel anyone in the body struggling with spiritual, emotional, or physical problems.
  • Guard the church
  • Be constantly on guard against any false teaching or harmful behavior in the church. 
The above descriptions can be found in these passages of scripture.
Acts 6.4; 20.28-31; Ephesians 4.11-16; 1 Timothy 3.1-7; 5.17; Titus 1.6-11; James 5.14-15; 1 Peter 5.1-3.
Why Elders?
The Anchor Fellowship operates its church governance through elders chosen from the congregation itself. The elders of the local church retain complete authority of their church, and make decisions as a group. Our pastors generally serve as elders, but each has no greater authority than any of the other elders.
Each of the churches represented in the New Testament had elders who provided oversight, direction and correction to the church, and that is the model for us today. Of the elders, there are individuals who serve as the preaching pastor/elder, but all of those who serve as elders share equal authority in the local congregation. The authority does not (and should not) belong to one individual. The truth is that there are no churches listed anywhere in Scripture which were shepherded by a single pastor/elder.
Scripture provides the guidelines for leadership within the local church, and a plurality of elders is the method demonstrated consistently throughout the New Testament. Paul, in providing instruction to Titus, said to “appoint elders in every city” (Titus 1.5). Likewise, James referenced the elders of the church (James 5.14). Paul and Barnabus appointed elders in every church (Acts 14.23). Most notably, Paul gave great instruction to Timothy concerning the church at Ephesus, and referred to the elders of the church (1 Tim 5.17; Acts 20.17). The case for a plurality of elders is strengthened by the fact that all instances of presbuteros in the Greek New Testament are in a plural form, with three exceptions. The Apostle John used it of himself (singularly) in both 2nd John and 3rd John. Peter also used it of himself (singularly) in 1 Peter 5.1. With the exception of these three personal references, every other usage was in a plural form.