The Elder and His Work by David Dickson

The Elder and His Work
by David Dickson
P & R Publishing, Phillipsburg, NJ, 2004

As someone ordained as an elder earlier this year, I found David Dickson's short book a tremendous encouragement, counsel and guide as I slowly worked my way through its chapters.

Originally this book was written by a Scottish elder in the 19th century. This new edition from P & R Publishing has been lightly edited by George Kennedy McFarland and Philip Graham Ryken (an elder and a minister from Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia) and given a new introduction and useful study guide with questions to consider at the end of each chapter.

This is not primarily a theological book. By that I mean that it is neither a detailed defence of Presbyterianism, nor an in-depth look at the biblical office of "ruling elder" (or "presbyter"). Rather it is a very practical and down-to-earth guide to actually being an elder and carrying out the duties of the eldership, and David Dickson, who served as Session Clerk at a church in Edinburgh for 33 years, proves a wise, trustworthy and practical guide.

The warm-hearted tone of the book is set at the very outset at the beginning of the first chapter, entitled "Importance of the Eldership," with this anecdote:

"A pious and useful rector in England once asked me, 'What objections have you Presbyterians to bishops?' 'We have no objections at all,' was my reply, 'on the contrary, we have in the Free Church alone 950 of them; but they are bishops of the same order as those ordained by Timothy, and doing the same work'."

The second chapter deals with the qualifications required in elders. It was a humbling and challenging experience to read this chapter. But it was also very useful. I will keep Dickson's advice in the back of my mind at future Session meetings: "Elders should be men of common sense, knowing when to speak and when to hold their tongues." And who could dispute the wisdom of his counsel: "Much of our usefulness will lie not only in knowing the wants, natural and spiritual, of our people, but in our having that heart-sympathy with them that will make us open our hearts to them, and will lead them to open their minds and hearts to us in return."

The book is peppered with many such wise words of advice and warning.

Further chapters deal with all aspects of being a ruling elder in a Presbyterian church:

• Duties of Elders
• The Elder and His District
• Elder's Visits
• Visiting the Sick
• Dealings with young people
• Giving people practical help when in need
• Session meetings
• Church discipline
• Encouraging and helping the minister

And so on.

The modern "study guide" questions are very important. I found them the key in trying to apply Dickson's timeless advice to our modern situations, considering they were written from the perspective of Victorian Scotland.

A very useful book all round, especially for very new elders learning the ropes, but also for very old elders in need of encouragement or reminding of what their role is in the life their congregations.