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Is Church Government really necessary?

Discussion in 'Polls Forum' started by SaggyWoman, Nov 27, 2013.

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Is Church government really necessary?

  1. Yes

    8 vote(s)
    66.7%

  2. No

    2 vote(s)
    16.7%

  3. Other

    2 vote(s)
    16.7%
Multiple votes are allowed.
Top Posters
  1. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    Short of pastor and staff leadership, is church government really necessary?
     
    #1 SaggyWoman, Nov 27, 2013
  2. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    Short of the pastor and staff leadership...I'd say no.
     
    #2 JonC, Nov 27, 2013
  3. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    A New Testament church should be organized for ministry not for decision making.
     
    #3 Squire Robertsson, Nov 30, 2013
  4. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    Organization is one thing. Government is another.
     
    #4 SaggyWoman, Dec 1, 2013
  5. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

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    But to be organized, IMO, some type of government is needed. If there is no church government, then there really still is. Someone IS governing the church. Better to have an organized government rather than letting whoever has the most pull run it. Either it'll be a "Pastorocracy" or someone else in the church will take over.
     
    #5 Sapper Woody, Dec 25, 2013
  6. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    How is it determined how things are done?
     
    #6 Salty, Dec 25, 2013
  7. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    What kind of things? Like church carpet? Let the group working on it decide.

    I am talking like having "board of deacons" who meet monthly or more and in some cases do radically nothing, for example.
     
    #7 SaggyWoman, Dec 26, 2013
  8. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Biblical deacons were never intended to be church administrators. Churches got into the habit of doing that to protect the church from new incoming pastors. It set up a terrible relationship between the church and the pastor.


    I have been part of a church that had no real church government. The elders ruled everything and the rest of the church had no say in anything. This is not a biblical model and it is very dangerous.

    The church should organize leadership in the areas people are gifted and can meet a need of the church. Their purpose should be to glorify God and facilitate the work of the ministry of the church.
     
    #8 Revmitchell, Dec 26, 2013
  9. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I’d add that it seems that many churches (including my own) have adopted a business model rather than biblical model for the local church. Personally, I wouldn’t mind a Presbyterian form of government but would prefer a congregational church (with an emphasis on pastoral leadership). But, what I more often see is a business model where the members are no more than consumers and the leaders strive to maintain a good consumer base. I have to admit that part of my perspective is having grown up in a local church that I would consider a true “church family.” Maybe this is unsustainable when churches reach a certain size…maybe it is the hectic and differentiated lives of the members…I don’t know.
     
    #9 JonC, Dec 26, 2013
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