Principles of Church Government 5 Ecclesiology Review 1

Principles of Church Government (5) Ecclesiology

Review 1: theory • Practical polity: The underlying question • Is the NT offering a prescription or a guideline for church government in its pages? • Church Government (concepts) • Definition: A church “is an assembly of professing believers in Christ who have been baptized [Trinitarian] and who are organized to carry out God’s will. ”

Review 2: types so far • • Minimal Church Government • Examples: Plymouth Brethren, smaller “house” churches National Government • Official State sponsorship and control. Hierarchical Government Congregational government • • • Authority: ultimate authority for government rests in the members themselves • Fellowship: congregational autonomy does NOT preclude fellowship with like-minded churches Autonomy: each congregation governs itself independently of other congregations Responsibility: daily administration is conducted by duly authorized leadership who participate in congregational decisions equally with all members

Federal type of church government • “In relation to a governmental concept, the federal system means, according to the dictionary definition, that individual units ‘surrender their individual sovereignty to a central authority but retain limited residuary powers of government. ’” • Individuals give some of their power to leaders (elders) • When such churches are in a denomination, individual churches give some of their power to a higher organizational structure

Examples of the federal type • Reformed churches • Presbyterian churches • Many Independent Bible churches

Federal denominational structure • Presbyteries (regional group of representatives from local churches) • Synods (larger group, representing several presbyteries) • General Assembly (an annual meeting [or bi-annual] of representatives of the whole denomination)

Support: the Bible on Leadership • The NT describes leaders who are not accountable in every matter to the local church • Members are called to submit to their leaders – thus authority given to leaders, not members (Heb 13. 17) • However, leaders are warned against dictatorship

Support: Biblical appointment of leaders • In the NT, some leaders clearly were appointed (Ac 14. 23; Titus 1. 5) • Congregationalist argue that both of these verses indicate action under apostolic authority • Nevertheless, no verse speaks of leaders selected by the congregation

Support: Biblical discipline procedure • Whole congregation involved • But leaders gave instruction 1 Cor 5. 3; 1 Tim 5. 20 Support: Ordination (1 Tim 4. 14) • Laying on of hands by the presbytery [elders] mentioned

Observations 1 • In practice, many churches are a blend of federalism and congregationalism. • Too much federalism puts too much authority in an organizational structure above local churches. • Historically, if denominations tolerate doctrinal error, it is virtually impossible for local churches to call them to account. • For such churches to leave failing denominations there may remain an enormous cost (including loss of property). • Too much congregationalism • • Fails to profit from leadership Allows immature and/or carnal believers to have an equal say in proceedings

Observations 2 • The church and the Roman government were completely separate in the days of the early church. • • • No national church in NT times. The ecclesiastical hierarchy developed after the first century. Local churches did have a governmental structure Local churches fellowshipped with one another, but not organizationally linked Congregations and leaders both exercised authority “The New Testament picture seems to include a blend of congregational and federal government, limited to the local level. ”