We endeavor, as much as possible, to appoint elders according to the Spirit's leading. This means, first of all, that they are not appointed quickly. When a church is just beginning it is not apparent who the elders will be. It takes time for a person's life and ministry to demonstrate that he is qualified to lead God's people. So what are the qualities that demonstrate that a man is qualified to be an elder?
An elder must be apt to teach (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:9). This means that he must be able to minister life for the building up of the church. Cleverness or a high position in the world are of no value at all. He must have the spiritual insight and experience to minister life to all the saints to meet their needs.
An elder should not Lord it over the saints but rather cherish them with tender, loving care like a shepherd (1 Pet. 5:1-4). He should be able to guide and lead them like a father and nourish and support them like a mother.
His living should be an example to all the saints (1 Pet. 5:3; Heb. 13:7) so that when he ministers he is speaking out of experience. Even his family should be exemplary (1 Tim. 3:4-5; Tit. 1:6) showing that he has lead them well. Finally, an elder must be one who loves the Lord deeply. He should be endeavoring, through the Lord's mercy and grace, to perfect the saints to also love the Lord supremely.
A test that someone possesses the qualities of an elder is the consciences of all the saints. They should sense the Spirit's anointing in his ministry. Everyone should recognize the elders as the ones who have the genuine care for the church. If all the saints spontaneously look to someone for leadership this confirms that his leadership is of the Lord.
As a church grows and matures some of the brothers will gradually be manifested as the ones who are the most mature in the Lord, weighty in their fellowship, exercised in the care of the saints, etc. At that time an apostle (Titus 1:5) who is ministering to the churches in that area will name the elders and make the eldership official. By the way, we don't have any structure, organization or process to name apostles. But the one whose ministry has raised up and strengthened the churches in the area (1 Cor. 9:2) will function in that role for the churches. The churches honour a Christian worker as an apostle whose ministry is full of life and truth more than others.
This means that elders are not appointed by themselves, other elders, or by a vote of the members. The waiting for a period of years allows time for the real spiritual value of each one's labour to become evident to all. The confirmation of an apostle is to ensure, as much as possible, that those who are appointed to be elders of a local church are the ones the Lord has chosen.