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In pre-Christian Western civilization and wisdom respecting native cultures, the concept of an elder is a person valued for their wisdom, in part for their age and in part for their experience and learning.
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Under modern western based society, the value and respect of elders has been diminished largely because they are seen as representing an image of “out of date” thinking and more significantly the breakdown of multi-generation family living and small community systems.
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Origin of word (Etymology)
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The word “elder” originates from the early 17th Century as an equivalent concept to the Ancient Greek word πρεσβυτερος [presbyteros] meaning “wise elder”. The English word is an extension of the Old English word eald meaning “old”.
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While the attempt in the 17th Century was to try and resurrect in western philosophy the ancient system of respect for elder members of society, present day beliefs still largely refer back to the original English root of the word which simply implied “old”.
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One Heaven definition of an Elder
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Under the constitution of One Heaven, an Elder is defined as:
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An Elder is a departed person, respected as a guiding member of a family or group, having shown clear and unmistakable leadership and positive moral leadership in their lives and elected to the office of Elder at least once under the rules of a General or Great Conclave according to the Constitution of One Heaven.
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Therefore, the title of Elder is one of election. However, the importance of representation of Elders is that it means local families and communities may elect individuals who they believe represent those leading lights of their family and group traditions, thereby respecting the memory of their ancestors and connecting their living community to the spirit community of One Heaven.
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Spirits: Elders 
