OUR JOURNEY
What began as a deepening conviction to align our church leadership structure with the teachings of Biblical Eldership, we are now ready to take the next step in seeing that vision become our new reality.
The Timeline:
2022-2024: Pastor Matt began to share with the Board of Trustees his desire to restructure the pastoral and organizational leadership of the church. In February of 2022, THIS DOCUMENT was written and submitted to the Board of Trustees for initial conversation.
Fall 2024: Pastor Matt approached Evan Dailey, Chris Roberts, and Ben Stratton about prayerfully considering joining the inaugural elder cohort. The concept of Biblical Eldership was first taught as part of Foundations.
January 2025: The elder cohort began meeting weekly to pray, study, discern, and prepare their hearts for eldership.
February 2025: Pastor Matt did a final round of collaboration and feedback with the Board of Trustees before bringing this shift to the congregation publicly.
April 2025: On Sunday, April 27, Pastor Matt taught on Biblical Eldership from 1 Peter 5 and gave vision for the shift from a “Senior/Lead Pastor Model” to a “Shared Plurality of Elders”. A night of questions and conversations followed, giving the church the chance for early feedback and understanding. Since then, the elder cohort has continued to meet weekly and has began to functionally lead the church, providing spiritual direction and oversight, alongside Pastor Matt.
July 2025: Each elder in the cohort taught their first Sunday morning teaching from the book of 1 Peter.
Oct - Dec 2025: Each elder in the cohort taught on Spiritual Disciples and led a small group as part of Formed.
April 2026: The Elder Cohort went on a spiritual retreat together, doing a final assessment of their spiritual qualifications and willingness to serve in this capacity.
What’s Next?
On Sunday, May 24, the official amendment to our bylaws will be given and read to the church for their review ahead of the vote.
On Wednesday, May 27, from 6pm-8pm in the church lobby, the elders will be available in person for questions and conversation in the church lobby.
On Sunday, May 31, an official vote will take place as part of our Sunday gathering.
Resources:
CLICK HERE to download a copy of our current Bylaws.
CLICK HERE to download a copy of the proposed amendment formalizing the shift and installing the cohort as elders.
CLICK HEREto watch the April 2025 teaching that first teaches on Biblical Eldership and names the members of the elder cohort.
CLICK HERE to watch Pastor Matt’s most recent teaching from James 3, on Sunday, May 17, that includes information about this transition. (Begins at 15:27)
CLICK HERE to explore resources related to the theology and practice of Biblical Eldership.
Do You Have Questions? Ask!
Email info@bridgechurch.app
Join the conversation on Wednesday, May 27, from 6pm-8pm in the church lobby.
Elder Cohort
Our elders serve as the shepherds of our church, humbly guiding and serving the flock in three core areas: teaching, direction, and discipline. Our elder cohort is made up of the current elders in formation. We are on a journey of reorienting our church leadership structure around a theology of shared leadership through a plurality of elders. The men in this cohort are the first group of prospective elders on a track towards installation as elders in our church family.
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The Lord brought Evan Dailey to Bridge Church, along with his wife, Cassandra Williamson and their three children, in January 2020.
Evan has been active in lay Christian ministry for over 25 years with diverse experience in youth ministry, church planting, and church eldership. He is passionate about scripture, theology and doctrine and helping people find deeper relationship with Jesus through those means.
He has worked in the building construction industry for 30yrs as an architect and project manager.
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Benjamin Stratton and his family have attended Bridge Church for over 10 years. He graduated from Teays Valley Christian School, where his wife Lindsey now teaches. They have been joyfully married for 14 years and have two children.
His ministerial focus is musical worship and he has served in that capacity for over 20 years. He thoughtfully seeks to cultivate strong congregational worship that embraces a diverse range of modern, traditional, and original songs that are doctrinally sound and done in excellence.
He works as a Telecom Engineer and enjoys hiking, disc golf, poetry, cinema, board games, and sushi.
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Chris has attended Bridge Church off and on for nearly 30 years, and has a heart for helping people grow in a biblical community with a deeper commitment to Scripture. Professionally, he works in health tech SaaS sales, but is especially passionate about community groups, missions, discipleship, family ministry, and stewardship. Chris and his wife, Sarah, are grateful to be raising their son Solomon within a church family that has shaped and encouraged them through many seasons of life.
Proverbs 3:5–6 has long been a guiding verse for Chris as he seeks to trust the Lord faithfully and lead with humility, wisdom, and dependence on God’s direction, always.
Board of Trustees
The Bridge Church Board of Trustees is the governing body accountable for the business operations and liabilities of the 501(c)3 organization of Bridge Church, which also includes the ministries of Teays Valley Christian School, Teays Valley Child Development Center, and Camp Appalachia.
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Board Chair
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Vice-Chair
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Treasurer
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Secretary
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Member at Large
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Member at Large