What does it take to start a congregation?
Question:
Greetings,
Hope this email finds you well. I have some questions about the organization and definition of a local church.
My first question is: What are the necessary requirements for a group of Christians to form or constitute a local church in the biblical sense?
I understand that an agreement to work together (worship, evangelism, edification, and benevolence) is required. However, my question is more about the following: Is such an agreement sufficient to make a local church? I know it's necessary, but there's a significant difference between what is "necessary" and what is "sufficient". A "sufficient condition" guarantees the truth of another condition. This would mean that the agreement to work together as a local church is enough to make a local church. A "necessary condition" is required for something else to happen, but it does not guarantee that it will. This would mean that the agreement to work as a local church is required to constitute a local church, but other conditions are necessary as well (the agreement alone is not enough).
My second question is: Can a group of only Christian women form a local church? Can they collect and administer the offering and do all the work a local church is required to do?
Here is the reason for my first question: If the agreement between the members is enough (sufficient), then they can. However, if they can't be a local church, then this means the agreement is necessary but not sufficient (there are other requirements as well).
For the moment, I'll leave it here and wait for your reply. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions and clarify my doubts. I'm not in a hurry, so take as much time as you need. I'll really appreciate a detailed answer with Bible verses supporting your conclusions. If you have any Bible study (written or video) on a topic related to this, I'll appreciate it as well.
May God bless you,
Answer:
A local church is the gathering of Christians in an area to function as a church. It is not one person, but a group.
- "... when you come together as a church ..." (I Corinthians 11:17).
- "Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper" (I Corinthians 11:20).
- "So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another" (I Corinthians 11:33).
- "... if the whole church assembles together ..." (I Corinthians 14:23).
- "What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification" (I Corinthians 14:26).
An important part of the gathering is to partake of the Lord's Supper together (I Corinthians 10:16-17). However, the congregation also gathers for other aspects of worship to help the members grow stronger in their faith (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:23-25).
It is implied that there is a mutual agreement to work together -- not in the form of a formal document, but with the intent of each member. Governments typically request more formal documents to determine who represents the group, but such is not biblically required. For instance, to create a treasury for the collections (I Corinthians 16:1-2), a bank will require a formal document stating the organization's identity and who represents the group to the bank.
A congregation typically starts without elders (Acts 14:23). However, elders are needed to make a well-running organization. The church in Jerusalem existed for a while without deacons (Acts 6:1-6), but deacons make a church function better. Sometimes churches start without a preacher because Christians move to an area and start the work (Acts 8:4). Thus, a church can start and fill in the necessary roles later.
In the same way, if all the Christians in an area happen to be females, then a church can still start. It is not ideally organized, but that can happen later as the church grows. Women cannot be elders or deacons because the job description requires them to be husbands (I Timothy 3:1-13). A woman cannot be the preacher, but women can share the duties of teaching each other (Titus 2:3-4).
A congregation that is lacking parts works to mature its members to fulfill the roles, or invites qualified men to move into the area.
