Theology IVProfessor Christopher Ullman

Church Government

Part Two

Authors

• Peter Toon• L. Roy Taylor• Paige Patterson• Samuel E. Waldron

Episcopalian: Overseen by a Bishop

• Local congregations are governed by a hierarchy

• The office of bishop is distinct from and superior to the officers of local churches

• The territory and churches over which the bishop rules is a diocese

• Examples: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopalian, United Methodist and some Lutheran groups

Episcopalian Form

Presbyterian: Overseen by Presbytery and General Assembly

• Congregations are ruled by teaching elders and ruling elders forming a session

• Members of sessions are also members of the presbytery which oversees the local congregations

• Some members of the presbytery are also members of a general assembly which governs the entire denomination

• Examples: PCUSA, Presbyterian Church in America, Christian Reformed Church, AG

Presbyterian Form

Congregational: “No HQ but Heaven”

• No ruling body outside the local congregation: local church is autonomous (independency)

• Grudem recognizes five different forms of congregational government

• Two forms are prominent: single-elder and plural-elder

Single-Elder Congregational Form

Single-Elder Congregational

• Pastor is the only elder in the congregation• An elected or selected board of deacons

serve under him, assist him, and in some cases supervise him

• Pastor serves as CEO in implementing the decisions of the deacon board on a day-to-day basis

• Examples: Baptist, Congregational

Plural-Elder Congregational Form

Plural-Elder Congregational• Like presbyterian, the local congregation is to

be governed by more than one elder or pastor• Elders have no authority over any other

congregation than their own• No distinction is made between teaching elders

and ruling elders• All elders are considered equal in authority: no

“senior,” “head,” or “lead” pastor. All are to be in mutual submission to one another

• An elected or selected board of deacons may serve under the group of elders

• Example: Evangelical Free Churches

Corporate-Board Congregational

Corporate-Board Congregational• Patterned after the example of a modern

corporation the “you-work-for-us” structure• Church Board hires a pastor who then has

authority to operate the church on a day-to-day basis

• Board guidance and interference can be next-to-nothing to invasive

• The Board retains the right to terminate the pastor

• Examples: All Nations Church, Philadelphia Church

Pure Democracy Congregational

Pure Democracy Congregational

• Every issue must come to the congregational meeting.

• Every issue may be decided by voting by the entire congregation, or by the voting membership.

• Decisions are often argued endlessly.• As the church grows, decision-making may

reach a point of paralysis.• Examples: house churches, independent

churches

Pneumanarchy Congregational

Pneumanarchy Congregational

• The congregation denies that any form of government is needed.

• All the members of the congregation are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their own lives.

• Decisions are made by consensus.• In a short time, this approach gives way to

a more structured form of government.• Examples: house churches, new start-ups