An Elder Ruled Church, Perspectives on Polity

Traditionally, there are 3 general views on church polity (i.e., how a church is run):

• Episcopal View - The church answers to bishop(s) that possess an extra-congregational authority to rule the church. Examples of this view would include the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal church , etc.

• Congregational View - Officers lead but the congregation decides on business matters, doctrinal positions, church membership, and discipline situations. The most common example of this form of polity is usually found in Baptist churches.

• Presbyterian View - Elders possess the authority to rule the church in matters that pertain to Gospel ministry, the ordinances, membership and discipline, etc. Examples of this view include Presbyterian denominations, Brethren churches, and many Bible Churches.

There are many variations in how these views are practiced, but these are the primary views on church polity, which are ultimately divided according to where the authority to lead a local congregation lies—outside the local church, among the congregation, or with the elders.

There are some modern variations and contortions on historical categories that would be familiar to many:

• Pastor as CEO - A modern distortion of an episcopal polity that makes the pastor the head of the church. Practically, the pastor runs the operations of the church and usually has a board of deacons/elders for accountability.

• Customer is Alway Right - A modern distortion of a congregational polity also known as a “seeker sensitive” model. In practice, the church is driven by the felt needs and preferences of its people and potential visitors.

• Totalitarian Elders - A modern distortion of a presbyterian polity that takes ministry out of the hands of the congregation rather than equipping the saints for the work of ministry. In this kind of church, every detail of every ministry is micro-managed by the elders.

• Judges Model - This is what happens when there are no convictions about how the church is supposed to be led and pragmatism runs the church. Everyone does what is right in their own eyes and there isn’t much leadership in any direction.

Authority of Elders

Our church is “elder-ruled” in its polity, which means the authority for shepherding the church ultimately falls to the elders. We believe that Christ has delegated His authority over the church to the elders, so we order the church that way. This requires that elders exercise their authority as gentle shepherds, never lording their own preferences and opinions over their people. This perspective on the role of elders is affirmed in NT passages such as 1 Peter 5:1-4, that speak of the “oversight” of the elders:

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (1 Peter 5:1–4, ESV)

Specifically, the authority of the elders includes:

• The elders have a biblical authority to make decisions that affect church body life and the philosophy of ministry.

• The elders have a biblical authority to articulate doctrine that affects the teaching of the church in every ministry.

• The elders have a biblical authority to affirm leaders, including other elders, pastors, deacons, and ministry leaders.

• The elders have a biblical authority to recognize members of the church and baptize new believers into the church.

• The elders have a biblical authority to administer the Lord’s Table and to “fence the Table.”

• The elders have a biblical authority to apply discipline to professing believers living in disobedience to Christ.

Plurality of Elders

In an elder-ruled polity the church is ruled through a plurality of elders. The New Testament presents a consistent pattern of plurality of elders leading local churches (Acts 14:23). The biblical pattern of leadership requires the elders to collectively shepherd the church (Act 15:6). This means that God intends for each local church to have a unified team of qualified shepherds to lead that congregation (Tit 1:5). Among elders there will be gifted pastors with unique effectiveness in preaching and teaching (Eph 4:12; 1 Tim 5:17), who will exert an enhanced influence over the congregation by virtue of their gifting. However, the variety in the giftedness of the elders does not remove the equality of the office of an elder.

The wisdom of a plurality of elders is seen in the protection that it provides:

• A plurality protects against personal weaknesses — no lone elder possesses every gift, we need multiple men.

• A plurality protects against personal pride — no lone elder is above the temptation of pride, we need accountability.

• A plurality protects against personal preferences — no lone elder can enforce his opinions, we need shared wisdom

• A plurality protects against personal inexperience — no lone elder is perfectly proven, we need lots of proven men.

• A plurality protects against personal limitations — no lone elder could possibly meet the needs of a congregation