The Biblical Role of Pastors/Elders and Deacons by Timothy Cowin (Resources Used as listed in Bibliography)

Introduction

QUESTIONS?

1. What is the authority for ordering the life of our church?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Should the Bible be the supreme guide for ordering our fellowship?______________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Are there instances and cases where God’s Word can be set aside?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Are there cases where we need to add to God’s Word? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. If upon careful study of God’s Word there is found to be a doctrine or a practice that is not supported by Scripture, what should be done? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Authority for the Ordering of Church Life.

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There can be competing influences upon a church that vie with the Bible for authority in determining how a church is ordered and structured. Among these influencers are:

1. Tradition2. Culture3. Personalities4. Ingenuity

5. Expediency1. Every faithful church will pro-actively determine that the Bible,

God’s Word, will be the Supreme authority in guiding and instructing its doctrine and practice.

If the church does not vigilantly remain loyal to Scripture, it may drift away from the will of God as revealed in His word. Competing influencers slowly begin to re-shape the church that does not test everything by Scripture.

Can you think of any examples of this trend in church History, among Baptists, how about in our church? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. It is extremely important for our church to be ordered in a way that is faithful to Biblical teaching for various reasons:

a. We must submit to the authority of God’s Word to fully glorify and please Him.

b. If the Bible is truly God’s Word to us, then it reveals God’s ways and plans for us. Following God’s plan is not an option, it is our Christian obligation.

c. We guide our members to have a reverence and honor for God’s Word as we are faithful to apply its teachings in our fellowship.

d. As a body of Baptist Christ-followers, our history has concerned itself with what the Lord, by His Holy Spirit, has breathed to us (2 Timothy 3.16) through His Holy Word. It is in this spirit that Baptists first formed and endured the persecution of other Christian bodies who would attempt to force them to comply with their man-

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made doctrines that were not found in God’s Word. We have been called “People of the Book!”

e. Christ Jesus our Lord was adamant that the Pharisees were wrong to, Teach as doctrines the commandments of men. (Mark 7.7)

f. Our own Church constitution rightly declares that: We affirm the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God, and as the only basis for our beliefs. (Article III – Statement of Faith)

Part 1: What Does the Bible Say?

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Biblical Guidance Concerning Pastors/Elders/Overseers.There are two Church offices revealed in Scripture.

The two ongoing church offices presented in the New Testament are:1. Elders/Pastors/Bishops/Overseers.2. Deacons.

1. References to Elders (Presbuteros) in the New Testament:

a. Acts 14:23And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.

b. Acts 20:17And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.

c. 1 Timothy 5:17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching;

d. Titus 1:5This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.

e. James 5:14Is any among you sick? Let him call the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

f. 1 Peter 5:1So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed.

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2. References to Overseers/Bishops (Episkopos)in the New Testament:

The terms Bishop/Overseer, Pastor, and Elder were used as synonyms in the bible. These three terms all refer to the same position in the church. Our understanding of the biblical terms is clouded by the contemporary use of the Noun -- “Pastor.” In the Bible, the term “Pastor” is used only in one instance (Ephesians 4.11). Here it describes a gift but not the office. When the Bible refers to the office in the church it is always elder (presbuteros) or overseer (episkopos).

a. When we compare Titus 1:5 with 1:7 we observe that the terms bishop/overseer and elder are interchangeably used.

b. In Acts 20, Paul calls the "elders" to come down from Ephesus. Then he says to them in verse 28 that God has made them "overseers/bishops" among the flock. So we observe that the elders are the bishops/overseers in the church at Ephesus.

c. In 1 Timothy 3:1 Paul says, "If any one aspires to the office of bishop/overseer, he desires a noble task." Then he gives the qualifications for the overseer/bishop in verses 2-7. Unlike the deacons, the overseer must be "able to teach" (v. 2) and in v. 5 he is said to be one whose management of his own household fits him to care for God's church. These two functions are ascribed to elders in 1 Timothy 5:17: teaching and governing.

d. In Philippians 1:1 Paul writes, "to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops/overseers and deacons." These are the two offices of the church as also seen in 1 Timothy 3:1-13.

e. The office of bishop/overseer is the same as the office of elder in the New Testament. It is listed beside the office of deacon (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-13) in such a way as to show that these two were the main offices by which the ongoing life of the church was to be managed.

3. References to Pastor (Poimen) in the New Testament:

a. Ephesians 4:11 is the only place in the Bible where the word “Pastor” is used. It treats pastors and teachers as one group and thus suggests that the chief role of the pastor is feeding the flock through teaching, a role clearly assigned to bishops/overseers in 1 Timothy 3:2 and to elders in Titus 1:9.

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b. In Acts 20:28 the elders of Ephesus are encouraged in their "pastoral," that is, shepherding task, thus showing that Paul saw the elders as the shepherds/pastors.

c. In 1 Peter 5:1-2 the elders are told to "tend the flock of God" that is in their charge. In other words, Peter saw the elders essentially as pastors or shepherds.

4. Biblical guidance for the functions of Pastors/Elders.

a. Prayer and the Ministry of the Word, Acts 6.4b. Managing the Church, 1 Timothy 3.4-5c. Leading and Overseeing the Church, 1 Timothy 5.17d. Caring for People in the Church, 1 Peter 5.2-5e. Giving Account to God for the Church, Hebrews, 13.17f. Being an Example, Hebrews 13.17g. Preaching and Teaching, 1 Timothy 3.2, 5.17h. Praying for the Sick, James 5.13-15i. Refuting False Teaching and Doctrine, Titus 1.9j. Protecting the Church from False Teachers, Acts 20.17-31

6. The two major roles of Pastors/Elders: The responsibilities of elders are summed up under two heads: governing and teaching.

GOVERNING

1 Timothy 5:17Let the elders who rule (proestotes) well be considered worthy of double honor. . .

1 Timothy 3:4-5He must manage (proistamenon) his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage (prostenai) his own household, how can he care for God's church?

Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2

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The duty of elders to "oversee" or "supervise" the flock implies a governing function.

1 Thessalonians 5:12But we beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and are over you (proistamenous) in the Lord and admonish you. . .

Hebrews 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account.

TEACHING

Ephesians 4:11Pastors and teachers are pictured as one office, so that the pastor (whom we have identified as an elder) has the responsibility of teaching.1 Timothy 3:2The overseer must be "able to teach". And we have seen that the overseer and elder are the same office. 1 Timothy 5:17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Titus 1:9He must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.

(Not all elders need to be able to do public preaching. The requirement is not for a preaching gift, but for a solid grasp of doctrine and ability to spot and correct errors and explain Biblical truth plainly)

Four conclusions from an examination of the New Testament.

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1. Pastor, elder, bishop/overseer all refers in the New Testament to the same office. This fact is clearly seen in Acts 20, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5.1-2 where the terms are used interchangeably.

2. Paul’s mission in church planting included the appointment of these elders in all the churches.

3. The Bible always speaks of a plurality of elders/pastors/overseers that are given the role of governing and teaching the church.

4. God meant for a team of men to lead His ecclesia.

Part 2: Is it Baptist? Baptist History Concerning Pastors/Elders/Overseers and Deacons

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1. London Baptist Confession of 1644. XXXVI. Being thus joined, every [local] church hath power given them from Christ, for their wellbeing, to choose among themselves meet persons for elders and deacons, being qualified according to the word, as those which Christ hath appointed in His testament, for the feeding, governing, serving, and building up of His Church; and that none have any power to impose on them either these or any other. Acts 1:23,26, 6:3, 15:22,25; Rom. 12:7,8; 1 Tim. 3:2,6,7; 1 Cor. 12:8,28; Heb. 13:7,17; 1 Pet. 5:1,2,3,4:15.

2. London Baptist Confession of 1689. 8. A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons. ( Acts 20:17, 28; Philippians 1:1 )

9. The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself; and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein; and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.

( Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:3, 5, 6 )

3. The Philadelphia Confession, 1742.

A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church, so called and gathered, for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or

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duty, which He entrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops, or elders, and deacons.15

The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop, or elder, in a church is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself;16 and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein:17 and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.1815. Ac 20:17,28; Php 1:1. 16. Ac 14:23. 17. 1Ti 4:14. 18. Ac 6:3,5-6.

4. The New Hampshire Confession of Faith, 1833. Of a Gospel Church We believe that a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers (66), associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel (67); observing the ordinances of Christ (68); governed by his laws (69), and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his Word (70); that its only scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and Deacons (71), whose qualifications, claims, and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.

5. The Abstract of Principles, 1858 (The Current Doctrinal Statement of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary).

XIV. THE CHURCH. The regular officers of a Church are Bishops or Elders, and Deacons.

6. 1925 Baptist Faith and Message 12. A GOSPEL CHURCH: Its Scriptural officers are bishops or elders and deacons.

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7. 1963 Baptist Faith and Message (The first time in over 300 years of Baptist Confessions that the Biblical term Elders was not used).

VI. The Church

Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. Matt. 16:15-19;18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23, 27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-15; 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; 21:2-3.

8. 2000 Baptist Faith and Message VI. The Church Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3.

9. General Southern Baptist History. W.B. Johnson, First President of the Southern Baptist Convention:

“Christ strictly required each church to have plural eldership and plural diaconate.”

A plurality of Pastors/Elders was common in the first Baptist Churches in England during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Unlike Presbyterians, Baptists rejected elder-rule, but recognized the Pastors/Elders-role as leaders of a congregationally governed church. The early confessions all recognized elders until the 1963 BF&M. Even then, the word is “pastors” and not a singular “pastor,” recognizing the fact that he Bible always refers to this position in a plural form.

Early Baptists in America called their leaders “elders” in keeping with the Biblical terminology.

Since the conservative resurgence, which rescued the SBC from a trend toward liberalism, there has been a revival of the faith in God’s Word as being both Inerrant and Sufficient. Leaders are now using God’s Word as the sole authority for guiding the practice and doctrine

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of their churches. This has led to the return to Biblical forms of church leadership.

Part 3Biblical Guidance Concerning Deacons.

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1. Deacons and Elders are the two distinct offices in a New Testament Church.

a. The two New Testament offices are only twice mentioned together: Philippians 1:1 and in 1st Timothy 3. In 1st Timothy 3 the qualifications are spelled out for the two offices: bishops in verses 1-7, and deacons in verses 8-13.

b. The term “bishop” is translated “overseer” in some translations. It is the word, from which we get our word “episcopal,” which means, “to look upon, inspect, oversee, look after, and care for.”

c. The term “Bishop” is used interchangeably with “elder” and “shepherd” (i.e. pastor) in Acts 20 and 1st Peter 5. There is no question about the authority of the office:

“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Timothy 5:17)

2. Three facts stand out from an examination of Scripture:

a. Deacons and Elders are the offices in the church. The offices are different. Elders are not deacons. Deacons are not elders.

What is the Role of a Deacon? What is the Role of an Elder/Pastor?

b. The terms, Elder (presbuteros), Pastor (shepherd-poimen), and Overseer (bishop-episkopos) are used synonymously in the New Testament.

c. In the New Testament, elders had the role of the general oversight of the church and deacons focused on service and ministry as helpers to the elders.

3. In the original language, the word, Deacon, means “Servant.”

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The title itself is as descriptive as any job description could be. In the Bible, words have meanings and the word "deacon" means servant. Here is how the word has been defined in its various forms:

"Diakoneo” and its derivatives, as their etymology suggests, are used mainly for personal help to others."Diakonia” is found 34 times in the NT. It means service at the table. (See: Luke 10:40; Acts 6:1) "Diakanos” is found 29 times in the NT. Its primary meaning is one who serves at tables."In Philippians 1:1 and in numerous references in early Christian literature outside the New Testament, bishops and/or elders and deacons are mentioned together, with deacons mentioned last. Because of this order, and because of the natural connotations of the word diakonos, most interpreters believe that deacons, from the beginning, served as assistants of church leaders." (Deacon, Deaconess, Fred A. Grissom, Holman Bible Dictionary, Holman, 1991)

4. The office of Deacon was first created for the purpose of handling the benevolence ministry.

The Biblical account is quite clear on the founding of the deaconship and nowhere does Scripture repeal the original purpose:

“Now about this time, when the number of the disciples was greatly increasing, complaint was made by the Hellenists (the Greek-speaking Jews) against the [native] Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked and neglected in the daily ministration (distribution of relief). So the Twelve [apostles] convened the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not seemly or desirable or right that we should have to give up or neglect [preaching] the Word of God in order to attend to serving at tables and superintending the distribution of food. Therefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good and attested character and repute, full of the [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business and duty.’” Acts 6:1-3 (Amplified)

5. The office of Deacon was established to free the Apostles (who functioned as the first pastors) to pray and to give themselves to the ministry of the Word. The first deacons served under the Elders as their helpers.

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The Apostles, in dealing with the benevolence ministry problem at the Jerusalem church, told the congregation to choose men that the elders may appoint to be their helpers:

"It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:2-4

Dr. Robert Naylor describes the role of the first deacons: “The word ‘business’ should be discussed a little to prevent any misunderstanding. The Greek word is chreia and basically means ‘need.’ It is so translated twenty-five times. This is the only place it is translated ‘business.’ Hence there is no Scriptural authority for the deacons to make financial decisions of the church. Church decisions must remain church decisions.”

Deacons are servants/helpers who assist the pastors/elders in meeting the “needs” of the church.

6. The early Deacons were selected for their spiritual qualifications.

1st Timothy 3 and Acts 6 expound the qualifications for the office of deacons; the later contains what could fairly be called the "core qualifications":

"Men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom" Acts 6:3 "And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit" Acts 6:5

7. Deacons are to be capable of serving the Lord in spiritual ways.

The original seven deacons were people who were able to serve the Lord in ways which were more spiritual in nature than merely delivering food. Stephen was a man of spiritual power: "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8 NJKV). Philip was not only a deacon, but also was gifted in evangelism. (Acts 8:5-7). 8. The office of Deacon requires a firm grasp of sound doctrine.

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A church is content oriented. It is a doctrinally driven community, built upon truth. Every member should have this approach in this fellowship; leaders such as deacons, not less but, more so. "They must possess the mystic secret of the faith [Christian truth as hidden from ungodly men] with a clear conscience" Acts 6:9 (Amplified)9. The presence of deacons should advance the unity of a Church.

When the Apostles laid out the plan for the creation of this office, "The saying pleased the whole multitude" (Acts 6:5). The complaints about the benevolence ministry stopped. And the complaints were by the Greek speaking Jews, the Hebrew speaking Jews obviously bent over backwards to preserve the church's unity, for all the men selected had Greek names. It is still true today: Any time a church has deacons who are properly doing their jobs; the church is more likely to be in unity. Deacons are to be peacemakers. Their ministry was first established to bring peace to the first church. 10.The presence of Deacons should advance the mission of the

Church.

The immediate impact of the creation of the office of deacon was to eliminate the controversy in the church and to get the church back on course in fulfilling its mission. The Bible says that: "Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:8). Again, it is still true. When a church has deacons who are in God's will, the cause of world evangelization will be aided.

Three conclusions from an examination of the New Testament:

1. The two offices of the church are a plurality of Elders/Pastors and a plurality of Deacons. This fact is clearly seen in Philippians 1.1 and 1Timothy 3.

2. In accordance with the meaning of the words and the practice of the New Testament, Elders/Pastors are charged to lead, care, manage, and shepherd the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers, (Acts 20.17-28, 1 Timothy 5.17, 1 Peter 5.1-4).

3. In accordance with the meaning of the word “Deacon” and the practice of the New Testament, Deacons are to be helpers of

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the Elders/Pastors and servants of the Church, (Acts 6.1-6, 1 Timothy 3.8-13).

Part 4The History of Deacon Ministry1. In the second through fifth centuries.

Deacons were the real agents of the charity provided through the church, providing for widows and orphans. They visited the sick and, as early as the third century, had deacon family ministry plans.

They visited the martyrs in prison. Deacons helped to train new converts. They kept watch over the church members, reporting to the bishop any

who seemed about to fall away.

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They attempted to restore the excommunicated. Deacons carried out administrative assignments given them by their

bishops and met daily to receive instructions from him. Failure to carry out their assignments was cause for removal.

If they had the authority from a bishop and a presbyter they could baptize.

They also assisted with the Lord's Supper. (Compiled from Charles W. Deweese, The Emerging Role of Deacons, Broadman Press, 1979, pages 12-15)

2. During the Middle Ages the office of Deacon came to less resemble the New Testament model.

"Later, medieval deacons assumed an increasingly ecclesiastical role, and their tendency to become candidates for the priesthood became more pronounced than ever. Almost no one was ordained to the diaconate unless he intended to advance to the priesthood."(Deweese, Page 18)

3. During the Reformation the return to Scripture resulted in a return to the Biblical role of Deacons. Martin Luther:

"The diaconate is the ministry, not of reading the Gospel or the Epistle, as is the present practice, but of distributing the church's aid to the poor"

John Calvin: "Scripture specifically designates as deacons those whom the church has appointed to distribute alms and take care of the poor, and serve as stewards of the common chest for the poor."

Again, Calvin:"Here, then, is the kind of deacons the apostolic church had, and

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which we, after their example should have." (Deweese, page 19)

Timothy George summarizes Calvin’s' view of the biblical role of deacons: "Calvin did in fact hold the office of deacon in high esteem. Deacons were public officers in the church entrusted with the care of the poor. He urged that they be skilled in the Christian faith since, in the course of their ministry, ‘they will often have to give advice and comfort.' Indeed, the deacons in Calvin's Geneva should have experts in what we call today social work as well as pastoral care."

(Theology of the Reformers, Broadman Press, 1988, page 241)4. In the 1600's early Baptists such as John Smyth and Thomas

Helwys, saw the primary role of deacons as that of carrying out the benevolence ministry of the church.

In 1654, in what would become an often repeated description, Thomas Collier pictured the work of deacons as that of serving tables:

The table of the Lord,

The table of the minister,

The table of the poor.

(Deweese, page 20). Later Southern Baptist leaders would utilize this description to

describe the work of the deacon. Southwestern Seminary founding president B.H. Carroll recalled hearing a sermon delivered by S. S. Lattimore with this very outline and stated that he "thought it a very ingenious division of the table question" (Commentary on the English Bible, Volume IV, page 135).

As recently as 1997, former SBC president Jim Henry used this outline as part of his materials in Deacons: Partners in Ministry and Growth.

5. The drift of Baptists from the Biblical model.

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"In the later half of the eighteenth century, a new concept of Baptist deacons emerged and continues to exist in many churches today. This was the view of deacons as church business managers. This view stressed to a seemingly excessive degree the administrative function of deacons and tended to distract from other areas of service previously given equally strong attention"

(Charles W. Deweese, The Emerging Role of Deacons, Broadman Press, 1979, page 34).

By 1846, R. B. C. Howell was using new terminology, saying that deacons are: "A board of directors, and have charge of the all the secular affairs in the kingdom of Christ" (The Deaconship, Judson Press, page 11). "...The deacons in their own peculiar department are, as we have said, a BOARD OF OFFICERS, or the executive board of the church, for her temporal department..." (Pages 112-113). This is when and how in Baptist life deacons came to be called a board. This term has no biblical rooting in word or concept.

There were those, at the time, who saw this trend as a cause of concern. In 1852, one New York pastor/historian warned against the concept of the deacon as being a person:

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"Of so much importance and ecclesiastical consequence in the Church, that all the membership, and all the affairs in the Church, and the Pastor, must be dictated, and ruled and governed by him." In 1897, Edwin C. Dargan, professor of homiletics and ecclesiology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, warned of the tendency of deacons to act as "a sort of ruling presbytery" (both quotes cited by Deweese, pages 47-48)

Deacons began to act as overseers and leaders of the church displacing the Pastors/Elders from leadership. Biblically the Pastors/Elders are the leaders. The deacons have their own chairman who leads the meeting, and the pastor merely becomes an item on their agenda. The pastor is not allowed to lead the leaders in this new order, he reports to them. This new order has become an unhealthy reality in many Baptist churches and the cause of much division, dissension and unrest. The Pastor is treated like another entity that is reporting to a council. He does not lead the council, he is not a seen as a member of the council; he just interacts with the council. This unbiblical model often results in a struggle between the Pastors and Deacons for leadership and influence in the church.

When particular deacons see themselves as managers and overseers of the church, the result is ensuing conflict with the Pastors who are attempting to be the leaders God, in his Word has intended them to be. Baptist churches are notorious for internal conflict between deacons and pastors precisely because of the lack of understanding of the distinct roles each body is to have in the church.

6. How to Know if Your Church is Off Track.

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Howard Foshee listed three evidences that deacons are operating under the concept of a board:

(1) When all major recommendations from church operations and church committees are screened by the deacons whether they should go to the congregation. (2) When the pastor and staff members are directly responsible to the deacons rather than to the church. (3) When the use or expenditure of major church resources, such as facilities and finances, must first be approved by the deacons. (The Ministry of the Deacon, Howard B. Foshee, Convention Press, 1968, page 33)

Part 5 The Return to the Biblical Concept of Deaconship.

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1. Beginning subtlety in the 1950's and intensifying in the 1970's there were repeated rejections of the concept that Deacons are a “board of directors.” Robert E. Naylor, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, warned in 1955 that:

"There are churches where deacons have appropriated to themselves authority which is contrary to New Testament teaching. It may have gone so far that bossism has developed. There is a 'board' complex and a general feeling that deacons are 'directors' of the church. Nothing could be farther from the Baptist genius or the New Testament plan. Anywhere this condition exists, there inevitably are those who say that deacons are not needed. The truth is that such deacons as this... are not needed in churches"

(Robert E. Naylor, The Baptist Deacon, Broadman Press, 1955, pages 3-4).

2. in the 1970's, Howard Foshee was firmly rejecting the terminology of the period in his writings; he recounted,

"The unfortunate term, 'board of deacons' arose. The phrase is foreign to the way Baptists should work together under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. A Baptist congregation makes corporate decisions as each member seeks to vote his conviction under the leadership of the Lord."

(Howard B. Foshee, Now That You're a Deacon, Broadman Press, 1975, Page 13)

Foshee insisted that: “Deacon work originated to meet spiritual needs and Deacons should organize for ministry not to have meetings to direct/talk about the affairs of the church.”

It was during this period that various "Deacon Family Ministry" materials were made available by the Sunday School Board and became popular. This concept was intended to help deacons become helpers and not overseers.

3. By the 1990's, it was a decided issue in denominational publications and among Baptist leaders that Deacons must adhere to the Biblical model. In 1991 Jerry Songer wrote that, "The board of deacons and business

manager concept is no longer a viable model"

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(Deacons Leading with Pastor and Staff, Deacons as Leaders, compiled by Robert Sheffield, Convention Press, 1991, page 87).

In 1997, Jim Henry was returning Baptists to Thomas Collier's portrait of the work of deacons as that of serving three tables (the table of the Lord, the table of the minister, and the table of the poor) as part of his video training materials. (Deacons: Partners in Ministry and Growth: Sampson Ministries, 1997, distributed by the Sunday School Board of the SBC)

4. Also in the 1990’s and continuing right up to our current time, there is a growing return to understanding the Biblical role of both a plurality of Deacons that are servants and helpers, and a plurality of Pastors/Elders that oversee and lead. The conservative resurgence produced a climate where the Bible was

returned to its place as the sole authority to guide the church’s faith and practice. With this understanding, many are seeking to ensure that their church is ordered according to the way the church was ordered in the Bible -- with a plurality of pastors/elders and a plurality of deacons.

Mark Dever, the pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, produced a book entitled “9 Marks.” This booklet is widely used in Southern Baptist Seminaries and contains a section on the New Testament Church and its polity of pastors/elders and deacons.

5. Why the "Board of Directors" concept persists.

There are several reasons why the "Board of Directors" model persists in Baptist life:

a. It is the way we have always done it. Tradition and former practice, even in Baptist Churches, can at times have more influence than Biblical doctrine.

b. As a carry-over from rural churches and the days when they had bi-vocational, perhaps half or quarter time "preachers," who were not on the field to tend to day to day ministry and administration.

c. With the growth of the professional clergy coupled with the rise of the expectation of formal education of the minister, the plurality of elders slowly began to be abandoned as more pastors began to be formally paid. The church could afford to pay only one pastor. The plurality of non-paid pastors began to disappear.

d. The most prominent agent in the drift away from a Biblical ecclesiology was the influence of American corporate, business practices. Churches have become like businesses in mirroring its corporate structures. In

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adopting the world’s managerial pattern rather than the Biblical model, the church began to recognize the pastor as a type of CEO and the Deacons as virtually a board of directors. This model is a product of the Industrial Revolution and the rise of managerial practices in business and not reflective of the wisdom of Biblical instruction.

e. From the experience of deacons with a background in the business world (which would include R.B.C. Howell) or secular charitable institutions. Sometimes, it was the only model with which they have had any real familiarity.

Part 4. Approaches in Returning to the Biblical Model. Change Can Be Messy.

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Various approaches are being taken by churches attempting to return to a Biblical model of church organization. How far a Church is willing to go in the effort to be organized in a Biblical pattern is determined by a number of variables including:

1. The Church’s view of and emphasis on Scripture,2. The understanding of the nature of the Church, 3. The age of the congregation, 4. The unanimity of the fellowship on whether steps need to be

taken at all.

How committed should we be in seeing our church become like the church in the Bible? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Guiding Principles for The Rock Church andConclusions Gained from an Examination of the New Testament

1. The two offices of The Rock Church are a team of Elders/Pastors and a team of Deacons. (Philippians 1.1 and 1Timothy 3)

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Pastor, elder, bishop, overseer all refers in the New Testament to the same office. This fact is clearly seen in Acts 20, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5.1-2 where the terms are used interchangeably.

Paul’s mission in church planting included the appointment of these elders in all the churches, (Acts 14.23).

2. In accordance with the meaning of the words and the practice of the New Testament, The Elders/Pastors of The Rock Church are charged to lead, care, manage, and shepherd the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers, (Acts 20.17-28, 1 Timothy 5.17, 1 Peter 5.1-4).

3. In accordance with the meaning of the word “Deacon” and the practice of the New Testament, Deacons of The Rock Church are to be helpers of the Elders/Pastors and servants of the Church, (Acts 6.1-6, 1 Timothy 3.8-13).

Resources

1. Mark Dever, By Whose Authority? Elders in Baptist Life.

2. Charles W. Deweese, The Emerging Role of Deacons.

3. Howard B. Foshee, The Ministry of the Deacon and Now That You're a Deacon.

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4. Derek Gentle, A Study in the Biblical Role of Deacons In Light of Scripture and Church History and in Examination of Current Practice.

5. Timothy George, Theology of the Reformers.

6. Jim Henry, Deacons: Partners in Ministry and Growth.

7. Robert E. Naylor, The Baptist Deacon.

8. Alexander Strauch, Biblical Eldership and The New Testament Deacon.

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