Why I Chose To Be Called "Elder"

The calling of pastor is a high calling, and in Black Baptist churches, there’s a deep honor placed on what you call your pastor.

Early in my ministry at Little Zion, where I currently pastor, the members asked me what I’d like to be called. I had never thought very deeply about it. In the Southern Baptist churches, Presbyterian churches, and church plants I’d been a part of, we just called the pastor by his first name. I feel weird doing it now, but it's not a part of their culture.

In Black church circles, it's a huge no-no. It’s often viewed as a sign of disrespect for the office and could even be considered dishonorable. In other words, people want to honor the pastor, so they ask, “What should we call you?”

At my previous church, an elder-led, congregationalist Baptist church, I had been called an elder before. However, it wasn't common to hear “Elder Logan” or “Elder Chrys.” In fact, I was called “Pastor Chrys” only occasionally—mostly by the lead pastor’s sons. But the reality was simple: we were elders, faithfully leading a congregational church together.

So when I was asked what my title would be, it only made sense to me: I’d be called “Elder Chrys Jones.” This was partially due to the fact that I had been ordained as an elder (or pastor) at Shawnee Run Baptist. Also, I grew up under the ministry of Elder D.J. Ward, and his sovereign grace preaching and biblical teaching had a major impact on my life. He and the group of preachers he trained (including my father when I was young) often went by “elder”, so it was a common term in my early years with regard to the church and pastoral ministry.

But the chief reason I chose to be called “Elder Chrys Jones” is because I see that specific term used frequently throughout the New Testament in the ESV translation. For example, when I memorized the book of Titus, I rehearsed day after day “appoint elders in every town as I directed you” (Titus 1:5). When I think of the qualifications of a pastor, I often say “qualifications of elders” because of this passage. 

Here are a few passages where elder (Gk. presbyteros) is used in the NT:

• Acts 14:23 – And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
• Acts 15:4 – When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
• 1 Tim. 5:17 – Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
• 1 Tim. 5:19 – Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
• James 5:14 – Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
• 1 Pet. 5:1 – So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:

Other similar terms for pastors in the New Testament include shepherd, overseer, etc. While I could’ve chosen any of those titles, you don’t often hear of pastors being referred to as “Shepherd John Piper” or “Overseer Tim Keller.” I wanted to opt for a term that I was personally familiar with—one I had read often in my Bible. Many people today question anything that’s not explicitly found in the Bible, especially when it comes to religious tradition. So I chose a term that shows up clearly and frequently in the Word. For the sake of clarity, I consider the term "pastor" (Gk. Poimēn) to be a very biblical term (used very frequently in the NT), but it is often translated as Shepherd in many translations. 

I’m honestly blown away that God would call me to such a noble task (1 Tim. 3:1). I don’t have a doctorate or a seminary degree. I don’t come from a religious line of pastors. I’m a little guy from a small town. Yet, God called me to pastor a church, and I’m thankful for that. If it were up to me, I’d simply go by “Chrys.”

To my wife, I’m Chrys.
To my children, I’m Daddy.
To my parents, I’m Chrys.
To my dearest and nearest friends, I’m Chrys.
To my students, I’m Mr. Jones or Coach.

I don’t refer to myself as Pastor or Elder Jones. In fact, one of my church members jokingly rebuked me because I didn’t have “Elder” or “Pastor” Chrys Jones on my voicemail greeting. I’m honored to be a pastor. I’m honored to be a pastor in the rich tradition of the African American church. I'm even more honored if I am able to pastor well—which I hope to do by the grace of God. I used to say to my members, “You don’t have to call me anything but Chrys.” But I’m fine with “Pastor Jones”, “Elder Jones”, or even “Brother Jones”. And I won't be bothered if  someone simply calls me "Chrys".

Since many of my heroes of the faith didn’t have spectacular titles or formal education, I have not been focused on titles myself. At the end of the day, no matter our title, when we see our Savior face to face, we will hear: “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21). I pray that I will be known as servant more than anything else, for “if anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).