Strauch has done an excellent job of reviewing bibilcal leadership - a highly detailed, exegetical approach. He is very conservative in his views and conclusions. Strauch gives compelling support for his views, laying his reasoning before the reader.

I must agree with a fellow reviewer who indicated that Strauch, at times, goes to great lengths to justify what appears to be a presupposition rather than a conclusion based on evidence (his defense of male only leadership comes to mind).

I have not seen a better, more detailed review of the subject than Strauch gives, but it is decidedly not for the average reader, who would likely not wade through the material. For a minister looking for good research and something to stimulate his thoughts about a crucial subject, Strauch comes very close to a "must read." You will not agree with every point Struach makes (I don't), but he will challenge you to either agree or defend your position. Causing others to think is what makes for "iron sharpening iron."

This is a thoughtful and thoroughly biblical look an how a church is to be led - by a team of qualified Elders. This book would be helpful for church leaders who are interested in self-evaluation; church planters who are looking to get off on the right foot; and men who desire to become leaders in the context of the local church.

After reading this book, I have decided to use it as the basis for a mentoring program in my church.

What's taught in this book will test most Christians' allegiance. We evangelicals like to think we do not put tradition above scripture, but be prepared to take the Mark 7:13 test as you read this book. We men at our church had come to see an eldership government before reading Mr. Strauch's book, based on an open-minded study of the word. But we kept trying to figure out how to have a pastor too. And if we did, what would his function be if the elders are to feed, teach, rule, and oversee the church (Acts 20:17, 28; 1Tim 3:1-10; 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; 1Pet 5:1-4; Heb 13:7,17,24; 1Thes 5:12)? Mr. Strauch's points helped to confirm our position that the elders are the pastors, and that a plurality of elders for a church is the New Testament norm (Phil 1:1; Heb 13:7,17,24; James 5:14; Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; 1Tim 5:17; 1Thes 5:12). We had been struggling to be scriptural AND keep tradition. We chose scripture over tradition and for the last 11 years, the eldership model has served us very well. When asked, "Who's your pastor?" We simply say, "We have three" and give their names.

The only small technical issue I have is how Mr. Strauch simply equates the words "bishop" and "elder". "Elder" speaks of maturity (1Pet 1:1-5). "Bishop" is the actual office of leadership to which he is ordained (1Tim 3:1 KJV). Elder speaks of character; Bishop speaks of position. One does not become an elder in a day by ordination. An elder can be ordained to the office of bishop by meeting certain spiritual qualifications that only an elder could possess (Titus 1:5-7; 1Tim 3:6). So, only elders are to function as bishops (Titus 1:5-7). In short, bishops are ordained elders. In everyday practice, this is not a big deal since the words "elders", "bishops", and "pastors" are all valid scriptural names to refer to those spiritually mature men who have been duly appointed to feed, rule, teach, and oversee the church.

This book along with the Workbook and Mentor's Guide are a great help to preparing leadership for the Church. Strauch does a fine job communicating the qualifications, and duties of an Elder. I believe it to be one of the best resources for Eldership training.