Sr. Pastor in charge?

With you on this one, webdog, all the way.
Reminds me of the church in Maryland where the congregation is asked to stand and clap their hands as the Pastor comes in.
My wife and I headed for the door real quick.

 

I don't have a problem with the senior pastor asking the other pastors to wear coat and tie......much in the same way I have no problem with a Principal asking his teachers/staff to do the same.

Nothing wrong with a professional appearance. That is, unless you're at the kind of church that doesn't do that kind of thing.....like a surfer church or something like that.

 

This is where I see problems. IMO, the Sr. Pastor doesn't have the right to fire ordained ministers called by the church. I think that the local congregation is the only entity with the authority to remove an elder.

Other staff, however, such as secretaries and janitorial employees, are another matter.

 

A Radical Speaks UP!!!

I would not remain in a church that had a dress code....it is not in the Scripture, like you say, and it sure isn't in my personal way of ministering. I like casual, and if that didn't feel right for the Sr. Guy, I would find another place to serve the Lord.

 

Does the church even vote to install these men?

 

Where in Maryland, if I might ask?

The Archangel

 

Wow. No wonder I couldn't understand what was going on. It doesn't sound traditionally "Baptist" in terms of congregational governance.

 

A pastor holds the office of bishop. A bishop is an overseer with the authority to see that what is done is done properly, decently and in order. Whether or not each bishop in a church has equal authority is a determination of the local congregation, however, even in cases where there is equal authority, the Apostle's admonition (which is especially to the elders) is that "ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Cor. 1:10) If one is going to kick against the request that one wear a manner of dress befitting of his calling, I would wonder about his qualifications to serve as a pastor.

 

I'm failing to understand where the Sr. Pastor has the authority to make the other pastors wear what he wants them to wear.

Where is it found scripturally that the Sr. Pastor (elder) has authority over the other e

Are you serious, you don't know or are you just trying to get something started?
Try something easy like, Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.

 

Congregational polity is another thread, but I wish our church was like this sometimes. We have business meetings out the wazoo...

 

Note the plural. IMO, the pastors of the church are all elders. What gives one elder the right to unilaterally determine policy for the other elders?

 

The church gives him the authority to determine that policy in the way they set up the job positions.

 

I'm speaking scripturally. Is such an arrangement scriptural?

 

What about the Scripture that speaks to good order. We have over a dozen pastors on staff. They can't all have equal status on all issues. They are human. I do have an instance in mind and it didn't play out well.

 

The same argument can be (and is) used to completely undermine congregational polity.

I do believe that the pastors can be given areas of responsibility, but to place one elder in a position over the others to the extent that he has the power to unilaterally dismiss another elder is closer to episcopal church polity than baptist polity.

 

I do think things get tricky in a very large church with many pastors and it's been years (since I was a teen) that I've been a member of a church less than at least 5000 members.

At my current church, we do have pastors come and go and move into new positions without our (the general congregations) knowledge which I'm not happy with - although I am sure the deacons have been consulted (or just told). AND I'm volunteer staff (with the media center) and staff (with the day school) so I'm more in the know than the general congregation and things still surprise me. We've been here going on 15 years. My rememberance of how things were done at past churches is fading.

Scripture aside, I think churches have gone toward the trend of running like a business with the senior pastor operating as a President/CEO of a company and the financial person operating as a CFO. Again, the only scripture I can think of to support this are the ones indicating that things should be done orderly. mmmmm Well there are the ones about Chief Priest too . . .