Featured Church government

Where I live in West Kentucky, the local Baptist churches follow two types of government. Either they have congregational rule, or elder rule. In congregational, the congregational votes on issues. In elder rule, elders are elected, and some decisions are a vote of the elders, and some the vote of the congregation. I cannot understand why you include deacons, as they are NOT a governing authority in either case. They are servants.

In both cases, the pastor is the administrative head of the church. In elder rule, he is usually the chairman of the elders. Sometimes a group of elders is called a synod.

The reason I object to elder rule is that elders are suppose to be elected on the basis of spiritual maturity. More often than not, they are elected on the social status within the community, and in the final analysis, are no more spiritually mature than the average layman. Elder rule becomes elder admiration.

In Baptist churches, regardless of type of government, churches are autonomous, and do not have a hierarchy.

There is Biblical support for both forms.

 

Elder led is popular in our area.

As for myself, my beliefs run the opposite into pure congregational under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

 

Just who are these 'original elders' you're citing?

 

Modern day elders are not on par with the apostles. If a local church decides on elder rule, that is their business, since they are autonomous. I would not belong to a church that had such a government. I lived under that government in a Presbyterian church for 27 years. I do not know what you mean that "we should listen to the elders." They are just church members. You also say elders should be appointed. Appointed by whom?

 

We have a Sr pastor, Associate Pastor, Elder Board, SR pastor on Board as an Elder...


they make the financial/spiritual decisions in what to resent to the membership, but we vote on things such as Budget, Elders etc!

 

So in the first church, at Jerusalem, who were the elders?
Was it James? Please supply the Bible passage describing his appointment. Thanks.

 

Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas. These were the men chosen to handle the business of the church -- in Acts 6:1-6, which at that time was limited to the feeding of the communal believers, either forced out of their homes and jobs because they belonged to the Way, or who sold all they had and gave the proceeds to the church to feed and house those who had lost everything.

No, he was an apostle.

 

:thumbsup:

 

Acts 20 provides some light on the subject.

Paul, in Miletus, sent for the elders of the congregation at Ephesus. When they arrived, he gave them sort of a farewell, beginning in verse 19.

In verse 28 he instructed them:

(ESV)

Paul uses the analogy of the flock, likening the members of FBC Ephesus to sheep. Therefore, the elders were also to function as shepherds. Another word for shepherd is pastor.

Paul also described these elder/pastors as overseers, made so by the Holy Spirit. Another word for overseer is bishop. This title also describes the function of elders/pastors as overseers.

Notice that all these descriptions apply to one person. The elder's role is to be pastor (shepherd) and bishop (overseer) FBC Ephesus, by the way, had a plurality of elders (as did FBC Jerusalem).

Here's an interesting thing. Peter, writing in his first general letter referred to Jesus as the "Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (I Pe 2:25)

This helps us understand why our pastors are sometimes called "under-shepherds."

It also helps us understand that, even though our churches are congregational in government, the elder-pastor-bishop may rightly be considered the "chief among equals."

Another axiom is that with responsibility must come commensurate authority. It is self-defeating to deny God's called elder-pastor-bishop the authority he needs to fulfill his calling.

In some Baptist churches, deacons mistakenly think they are supposed to run the church, partly because the members also think that's what deacons do.

Deacons are servants, and should be some of the most spiritual men in the church. Sometimes churches will look to those spiritual men for leadership, which is okay. But in no case should those deacons consider themselves a "board."

 

Many churches have a hybrid reflection; a mixture of governing models This is true in my church where many decisions are made by the congregation. However, these decisions come about on recommendation of the deacons. My deacons have dual roles. They help me shepherd the congregation and function as elders would. Don't know about this being unbiblical. It works well for us. As pastor and administrator I often direct issues away from deacons to specific committees and leaders of ministries enabling them to function as designed. I am trying to train people to not first run to me or a deacon when they have a question or a problem about the church. Got a light bulb out don't tell me about it or run to your deacon. Go to the bldgs and gnds chair. Better yet, be empowered and change it yourself.

 

Who Got the Keys?

Mt. 16 speaks of authority and commission to carry out matters in the assembly. The majority of those called Christian are still having difficulty with the particulars. This includes everything from the holy(?) see to a congregational majority with members having one vote, including the pastor and deacon.

Is it possible to have church without a pastor or deacon? Apparently not.

Many congregations have shirked their responsibilities by allowing the paid clerics, clergy, and deacon boards of F&AM to to run the churches of The Lord Jesus Christ. He is giving some time to repent; others have had their candlesticks removed. This is another thread: who still has their candlestick? Some never had a candlestick. See Rev. 2,3, the letters to the Seven Churches of Asia.

Jesus has a problem with lording over His flock, He calls it the deeds of the Nicolaitains--the overthrow of the people. See also the etymologies of St. Nicholas aka St. Nick. See also: Nike.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Bro. James

 

Another thing to remember is this:

no matter the form church government takes, all authority in the church comes from God to the church. The church then mediates it, some directly through congregational vote and some through elders.

But never and at no point are we to become blind followers.

A church in our town (not a Baptist church) is "elder led with the pastor chief among equals."

Said church is currently, under the pastor's leadership and with the elders busy "discerning", considering beginning to do gay "blessing ceremonies."

So whichever you are led to be part of, never ever take off your thinking cap!

There may be only one in a million bummy pastors or elder boards, but if you encounter that one, it could do you and your family grave harm.

Peace and enjoy your Thanksgiving!

 

I neglected to state my conclusion in my earlier post.

It is that the church knows only two offices: pastor-elder-bishop and deacon.

 

Good discussion, let me ask, which is the worse recipe for disaster:
- An overbearing Pastor, my way or the highway.
- A board of deacons that run the show
- A committee for everything under the sun, many of which are run/chaired by the same small group in a church.
- A "family" church where a large percentage of the congregation is made up of branches from two or three family trees.