Are elders responsible for the employment of preachers?

Question: I enjoyed and appreciated your article on the work of the evangelist.  I find it quite different from many by what you might consider institutional churches of Christ. I am concerned about the final paragraph on the selection of the minister.  As I understand first-century history,  many preachers were involved in the establishing, building up,…

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The Autonomy of the Local Church

by Keith Sharp Introduction Several years ago I spoke by phone to a preacher who works with a large congregation in South Texas. As we conversed he asked if I was “anti-cooperation.” I told him I knew what he was talking about, but that I advocated scriptural cooperation between churches of Christ. He changed the…

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A Thought on Business Meetings and Elderships

by Bill Jackson In any situation involving men laboring together, some decisions are going to have to be made and some course of action must be decided upon by someone if any good product is obtained. In the congregations of God, the thousand-and-one details wherein the work of the congregations goes forward must be decided…

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If the whole church makes decisions, how is it organized?

Question: I read the reply by Ney Rieber, to the question posed by one that was having a problem reconciling with a congregation that does not have elders. These questions come to mind and I hope you can help answer them when you have time or maybe point me toward a similar question you have answered.…

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How should business meetings be conducted?

Question: We have no elders at our small congregation. Do you have information available on the workings of these meetings and its rules? What authority its president has versus its preacher? This probably a funny question to ask, but we do need some advice. Answer: It is clear in the New Testament that congregations did…

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Can a church be scriptural without elders?

Question: I’m having a problem reconciling attending a church without elders. The Bible doesn’t lay out an alternate plan for church leadership. What does a church do in lieu of leaders? Can a church be scriptural without them? Who is responsible for the growth and protection of new members if there are no elders? Answer:…

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Should a person leave a church that doesn’t have elders or deacons?

Question: How long should a person attend a church that does not have any elders or deacons?  What are some of the problems associated with a church not having any elders or deacons? Answer: The follow-on question is: Are there no elders because none one currently attending is qualified, or are there no elders because the…

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Majority Versus Elder Rule

by James R. Cope in The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 5, March 1952. To Bible students and faithful Christians majority vote and rule in the church of Christ are as foreign to the Bible’s teaching on church government as Russia is foreign to a democracy. The majority vote always means an open division in the body…

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Majorities and Manners

by James R. Cope via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 4, February 1952. All civilized countries recognize the necessity of government. Different forms of government hold sway in various lands but all admit the necessity of some final tribunal and ultimate authority. Chaos and confusion prevail where no rule obtains. Whether we study the civil,…

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Pastors and Preachers

by James R. Cope via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 3, Jan. 1952. The word “pastors” occurs only one time in our English version of the New Testament. More often the original is rendered “shepherd” or “shepherds.” By implication, the pastoral work is identified with the office of bishops or elders. Since this office is…

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Can a church choose men to lead when there are no elders?

Question: When there are no elders in a congregation and the church chooses certain men to lead, is this scriptural? Answer: I probably would need more information to answer your question. Much depends on what you mean by “lead.” During worship service, there are men who lead various parts of the worship. “How is it…

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Who can give communion?

Question: We have a doubt about administering communion; that is, who can give communion? We are seven who as started a church and now it has grown to 30 people. We have one leader but none of us is ordained. Now, who can give communion? Or should we find an ordained preacher to give communion?…

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But You Don’t Have Elders

by Karl Diestelkamp via Think on These Things, January-February-March, 2011, Volume 42, Number 1 No telling how many times brethren, who are working hard to worship God in truth and purity and to preach the gospel and to work in every scriptural way, have heard these words from brethren who move into their area. Wouldn’t every…

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How tight of a reign should elders have over a preacher?

Question: I am a minister in the Lord’s church and want to get your understanding of what authority elders have over the minister.  I guess I am interested in how detailed can they be in managing the preacher?   I am told I must do a weekly report and email it to the elders and I…

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May a church without elders appoint deacons?

Question: May a church assign to a servant or servants (deacons) a specific task or tasks in which they will serve the congregation and for which they will be responsible and answerable to the congregation for performing if the church does not have elders. In other words, may they set or appoint men as servants…

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Does “the whole church” refer only to the men?

Question: I am so appreciative of all the information from your studies of God’s word that you make available on your web site. I have recently been studying, teaching and preaching on the subject of the Christian woman’s role and her silence or quietness. The information on your web site has been so helpful! I…

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Business Meetings

I.          In the organization of the church, we read – Eph 4:11              A.         There were Apostles and prophets, involved in the establishment of the church.              B.         There are evangelists (preachers), pastors (elders), and teachers, involved in continuing the work to build up the church.              C.         Each part, working together, causes the growth of the church – Eph 4:14-16                           1.          Though…

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Can you explain the gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-16?

Question: Regarding Ephesians 4:11-16, can you help clarify the scope of this context with regards to the “spiritual gifts” mentioned in verse 11? Do all Christians in the Lord’s one true church have spiritual gifts? If so, how does a Christian determine the gifts given to them? Also, why does it seem that most congregations…

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How do we decide what offices in Ephesians 4:11 remain?

Question: Ephesians 4:11 (King James Version): “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” Question: Since all offices were given for the same reason according to verse 12, how do we decide which offices still remain? Answer: By the qualifications for the offices. Apostles were selected by…

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Five Synonyms: One Office

by Jeff Smith In the New Testament, we find at least five words that describe both the office an elder holds and the work that he does. Elder is from the Greek word, presbuterous. Paul told Titus to “appoint elders in every city” in Titus 1:5. The lexicographer, Thayer, comments that this particular term denotes the dignity…

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Can a preacher kick members out of a church?

Question: Can a preacher kick members out of the church? Answer: The primary job of a preacher, as described in the Bible, is to be a herald of God’s good news. He teaches those outside the church how to become a part of the church. He teaches those inside and outside the church how to…

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Prophets

Text: Jeremiah 23:9-40   I.         At the founding of the church, Peter quotes the prophet Joel – Acts 2:14-21             A.        A part of the foundation of the church were prophets – Ephesians 2:19-20             B.        People in denominations claim that prophecy continues                         1.         Some claim they have prophets in their midst                         2.         Others essentially claim they all prophesy. They do not…

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Can a church organize tasks without elders?

Question: I would like your thoughts on organizing works in a church that does not have the luxury of elders, such as visitors,  attendance,  sick members, evangelism. Can men be appointed or volunteer to serve as leaders over these areas with an assistant? Wouldn’t this make these areas offices?  Do we have authority for this?…

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