Who shepherds the church of God? The answer begins with Jesus Himself. The church belongs to Him. He is its head, its foundation, and its life source (the vine). He has placed elders as stewards and overseers to shepherd His people according to His Word. Biblical eldership is a high calling. Men who serve in this capacity must be above reproach, with nothing to hinder or compromise their faithfulness to Christ. In this introductory study, we explore five biblical principles of eldership: the office, the work, the qualification, the appointment, and the aspiration.