Category: Church Governance

7 Tips for a Practical Theology for Eldership 1: Make the Biblical Standard Your Goal             There are many ways in which churches communicate their values. Some ways are through official mission and vision statements. Often, true values and goals come across in what is preached and taught, as well as what is omitted. Preaching… Read more

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Theology of Governance by a Plurality of Elders Previous posts have looked at the biblical preference for plural leadership and the biblical teaching about elders. We have looked briefly at the most significant passages about church governance by a group of men called elders (1 Peter 5:1ff., bishops, (Acts 20:28)… Read more

Theological Drift: How Did We Get Here?             Without strong theological convictions, other influences will draw us away from biblical teaching. A look at church history in virtually any doctrine will provide evidence of this principle. This post will examine the history of the theology of church government including the early unanimity and two historical… Read more

Plurality of Eldership Taught             We are now ready to deduce the New Testament’s model of church governance. The issue of church polity, the way we organize the church, is hotly debated. A quick survey of churches will reveal Popes and Patriarchs, bishops and synods, pastors and presbyters. Each will argue some sort of biblical… Read more

Pastor, Elder, Bishop              The previous post explored the general biblical preference for plurality of leadership. We function better when we work together. The old phrase “it’s lonely at the top,” does not have to be the case. Perhaps the model that puts one at the top, alone, is the problem. You can go back… Read more

Going it alone? The topic at hand is biblical church leadership. There are many models of church leadership. Books abound to help leaders develop their skills and giftings to be as effective as possible. Here, we will take a quick look at one often overlooked aspect – you don’t have to be alone. The Bible… Read more