Featured Hierarchy in Baptist Churches

Good question. Our Presbyterian brethren would claim they are not hierarchical in their church government. They see the authority in the church vested in elders. The Papist system is a true hierarchy with one man who calls the shots at the top.

Even in elder lead Baptist churches there is not one person in charge at the top.

Pastor lead Baptist churches can operate differently. In some of those churches the pastor reigns with almost dictatorial impunity. The deacons/elders have little say. Still, there are some churches where the pastor has very little say. The deacons/elders are the ones who give him his marching orders.

Baskin Robbins may have 51 flavors, but Baptists rival the ice cream giant in their own right.

 

Hopefully a Bible believing and Bible behaving local church will have far more wisdom than a pope or Council of Bishops. It may not have the collective wisdom of a presbytery,synod or general assembly however.

 

Was this within the Presbyterian church you were associated with or your current Baptist church?

Earlier you said deacons thought they ran the church. But in reference to the same situation you said the congregation has the right to take away his ordination. Was it one deacon or several?

Do you have elders in your church?

 

I think a good church is one elder lead with lay elders that are well schooled in the Bible and meet the biblical qualifications. I could see a senior pastor, asst pastor and maybe three good lay elders. These guys shouldn't be yes men nor should they allow mob rule of the church to influence them.

I myself have been in churches where the church board is made up of families and moved pastors in and out as soon as he disagreed with them. These types of churches never grow.

 

Why do you think it is just "a reformed mindset"? Isn't it a biblical mandate? What do you think of the authority of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1?

When I was with the Plymouth Brethren there was a plurality of elders and that was in a more Arminian context.

I think it is a shame that many Baptist churches have deacons but no elders. That's out of biblical kilter. Some of those churches actually are against the office of elder and they are vocal about it.

 

should be able to help, but in practical terms, many times a small local church might hve a financial situation, pastor/elders 'fooling around", teaching bad doctrines etc, and will need some higher authority outside to come in to straighten things out!

 

Uhh.....baloney

 

Are you being taught this at your Baptist church, or is it residue from your lengthy Pentecostal training?

 

The Baptist church I belong to is one among several that make up a Association that has a name to identify each Association from their sister Associations. One time a year each Association is called into order to report on finances and membership ect. It lasts a couple of day and sister associations are invited to correspond by letters and delegation and visitors. There is preaching and lunch served. The Association have no power to lord it over God's heritage nor have any ecclesiastical power over the churches, reserving the right to withdraw from any church acting disorderly. Each Association when in session is made up of delegates sent by each church which are the Association when called in order by the Moderator. Elders are preachers that have been ordained by their home church that meet the qualifications. Preachers are not called Reverend but Elders, Deacons are also ordained by their home church. The government is with the body of each church, Deacons and Elders having only one vote.

 

would say that it would be mainly how it functioned while in the Assemblies of God...

As a NMatist church has local autonomy though as to how it will govern itself, what it teaches, spends funds etc...

just saying that still have experienced first hand seeing large baptist churches split down middle due to either pastors not living when voted out, or elders deciding to 'force their agendas!"

how would those things get resolved?