Editor’s note: 9Marks asked Ligon Duncan, senior minister of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi, how they train men for the office of elder. We reprint FPC’s remarkable "Officer Training Manual" here (unedited), not to promote any one book, theological system, or form of polity, but in order (i) to present one viable model of elder training and (ii) to impress upon our readers the care with which churches of every polity and theological leaning should take in elder training.

Outline:

Introduction
Guidelines for Study
Resource Materials
Assigned Reading Schedule
Weekly Class Schedule
Session 1 to 8 (questions for preparation)

The First Presbyterian Jackson Officer’s Training Manual (.doc)