Posted on 08/23/2007 7:29:04 AM PDT by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain
There seems to always be a discussion going on about the authority of the Pope in the Catholic Church, but I have long wondered about the authority figure, government set up, in other denominations also.
I spent 10 years in the Baptist church, and after studying some on this topic, IMO, the Baptist's, independent, and Southern both, don't have it right either. I have seen in several Baptist Churches where they have "Head" Pastors/preachers, and "Associate/Assistant" Pastors, "youth" pastors. But in these churches the Head Pastors had the "final" say in any decisions or settling any disputes, he is in complete authority over the church, and answers to no one.
Does anyone else have a problem with this:)? Is this scriptural? Does anyone else see any evidence of "Head" Pastors, and "Assistant" Pastors in the early churches? I can't find it. I can't find that the Pastors duties involved decision making at all...they preached. From what I read there should be Elders, plural, to run the church, and Christ is Head (Eph. 5:23) ....how can there be more then one head??? I have asked several of these "head" Pastors to give me scriptural backing for setting up the church government this way. At best the scripture they gave me was very weak in support of this.
I'm sure there are some non-denominational churches around that are set up differently, maybe even scripturally:), I'd be interested to hear of any other's that follow a different pattern of government and why they are set up as they are. I think the churches of Christ come closest to being scriptural in their governing set up.
IOW's What does the bible say about who is the authority figure in a church.
Oops, BP is supposed to be PB.
Because, biblically, there isn't one.
Check out ‘Megashift’ and the ‘Open Church’ by Jim Rutz, a couple of very cool books that caused trouble in my church. lol :p
I’m sure there is some truth to this, every denomination has it’s problems but a church being led by a group makes more sense to me then having one man incharge of everything.
Becky
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