eldership
Council of ancients
Eldership is the position, status, or tenure of an elder—someone holding authority by virtue of age or experience.
The word appears most often in religious contexts, referring to leadership roles in churches governed by elders: He was ordained to eldership in the Presbyterian church.
More broadly, eldership can describe the collective body of elders or the quality of being senior: The eldership met to discuss the matter.
Guidance from experienced person
- counselExpert guidance offered
- adviceGuidance on decisions
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- tutelageGuided instruction, oversight
nurturing · wisdom · discernment · stewardship · shepherd · protector · advisor · consultation
Clergy's work or state department
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- pastorChristian congregation leader
- deaconJunior clergy member
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
parish · ordination · presbyter · ecclesiastic · bishop · rector · vicar · chaplain
Wisdom keeper or seasoning
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
understanding · discernment · foresight · sagacity · counsel · lore · tradition · knowledge
Duration of existence
- tenureProtected employment status
- precedenceSuperior rank or importance
- rankPosition in hierarchy
- patriarchMale head of family
matriarch · primogeniture · firstborn · generational · succession · lineage · birthright
Profound admiring respect
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
dignity · homage · recognition · tribute · appreciation · regard · filial piety
mentorship
Guidance from experienced person
tutelage · nurturing · wisdom · discernment · stewardship · shepherd · protector · advisor · consultation · oversight
ministry
Clergy's work or state department
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- pastorChristian congregation leader
- deaconJunior clergy member
congregation · parish · ordination · presbyter · ecclesiastic · bishop · rector · vicar · chaplain · theology
sage
Wisdom keeper or seasoning
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
experience · understanding · discernment · foresight · sagacity · counsel · lore · tradition · knowledge · ancestral wisdom
longevity
Duration of existence
- tenureProtected employment status
- precedenceSuperior rank or importance
- rankPosition in hierarchy
patriarch · matriarch · primogeniture · firstborn · generational · succession · lineage · birthright
veneration
Profound admiring respect
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
honor · dignity · homage · recognition · tribute · appreciation · regard · filial piety
- governing bodiesgoverning body, governing council, senate, board of directors, parliament
- religious groupscongregation, congregations, sect, parishes, fellowship
- Elder Wisdommentor, sage, wisdom, patriarch, matriarch
- church governancediocese, episcopacy, polity, parish councils, archdiocese
- PresbyterianismGeneral Assembly, presbyteries, synods, presbytery, Westminster Confession
- RestorationismChristian Church, Walter Scott, adult baptism, immersion, Lords Supper
eldershipyouth leadership
Young people in charge
youth · juniority · inexperience · apprenticeship · childhood
eldershipmembership
State of belonging
laity · subordination · followership · rank and file · novitiate
elder, elderly, eldest, elders, elderberry, eldercare, elderflower, elderliness