This chapter explores the original links between the Black church and HBCUs regarding appointments to leadership, with a focus on the ‘Elder’ as an archetypal leader of still great importance in the HBCU landscape. The figure, which is not gendered in contemporary settings, offers a calming, unifying voice following periods of unrest or institutional controversy; is a trusted leader to continue carrying out and developing and mentoring talent; and provides a centering ethos to align and serve as a mediator and between key collaborative interests, including alumni, donors, corporate, governmental, and auditing/governance/accrediting agencies. Either as preservers of momentum, key figureheads during interim transitions, and individuals with long-term institutional involvement, they provide key leadership and relationship to alumni, donors, and funding agencies.