"Chairman" of deacons?

Shannon,

Tried that. Wife's health prevents relocation. Blackballing by "a certain fraternal organization" has eliminated me from consideration by most congregations. Never underestimate the power of pure fiction in the hands of people with a malicious heart. "I besought the Lord three times" [more like 50] and he has not removed this thorn.

So, I counsel people and support my bi-vocational ministry habit by teaching public school.

 

Try a different denomination. Some leaders in a denomination just watch pastors get eaten up time after time in hopes that one will change that particular church. So often they just give lip service to the Bible. I know one pastor whose father in law is a major leader in the conservative resurgence. The first church he pastored disbanded and the next church he is currently pastoring is a very large church. It helps to have a relative or friend as a leader in a denomination.

Almost the same thing happened to me which happened to you. But immediately a church from another denomination contacted me. They wanted someone who would stand up and preach the truth.

 

You're not describing a Baptist church. I'd say you're talking about a Catholic mode of operation. The Pastor is the head of the body of believers but just a poor sinner like the rest of us. People should work together in the church. A Baptist church is not a dictatorship. [/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]Unfortunately, you are correct. The baptist model, for the most part, is incorrect. The elders are to be the leaders of the church (plural). There should never be just one pastor being the head, making it a dictatorship. Read 1 Timothy to see the correct church model. It never mentions a congregational democracy, but sufficient leadership. Do you think during the Millenial Kingdom the wold will be run democratically?

 

I never claimed that "they" were the twelve, rather the "multitude". You are erecting strawmen.

 

Also Acts 6:3.....who was told to chose 7 men????

 

You're not describing a Baptist church. I'd say you're talking about a Catholic mode of operation. The Pastor is the head of the body of believers but just a poor sinner like the rest of us. People should work together in the church. A Baptist church is not a dictatorship. </font>[/QUOTE]Unfortunately, you are correct. The baptist model, for the most part, is incorrect. The elders are to be the leaders of the church (plural). There should never be just one pastor being the head, making it a dictatorship. Read 1 Timothy to see the correct church model. It never mentions a congregational democracy, but sufficient leadership. Do you think during the Millenial Kingdom the wold will be run democratically? [/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]Basically, I think it's simply a question of titles when you compare the roles of Deacons and Elders. Most Baptist churches I'm familiar with have a board of Deacons that perform the role of the Elders. That's the case in my church. We also have a Board of Deaconesses which act more like the Deacons described in Acts.

We've never had strife between the Deacons and the Pastor. I think what I described previously about our last Pastor was simply my own disagreement with the way he handled some situations.