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Elders

Chapter 9: The Future

3 Oct 2016, by AHB Library

“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His Name.”—Malachi 3:16

Neither Luther or Calvin held those shallow Pelagian views, now so common, of a gradual amelioration and Christianising of the world. Calvin writes, “It is a superstition to think that the world is improving in religion and morality. It is not improving but it is always going back.” Luther says, “I know that the world is becoming epicurean; that is to say, they will lose faith in God and immortality, and give themselves up to the pleasures of the things of this world, and then suddenly shall be heard the voice, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.'” These statements are Scriptural; we have no warrant to expect the conversion of the world, but in the words of James to the Church at Jerusalem, God visits the…

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In: John E. Hazelton, "Hold-Fast" (Complete) | Tags: Authorised, Baptists, Bishops, Calvinism, Communion, Deacons, Duty, Elders, Faith, Free, Gospel, KJV, Law, Offer, Particular, Pastors, Strict, Version

Preface

18 May 2015, by Jared Smith

The subject of eldership in Baptist circles has been one of the most misunderstood issues of recent years, with the result that it has become fashionable and even considered orthodox for churches to supplement or replace a single pastor with a team of ‘elders’. I contend this mode of governance is unscriptural, impractical and unconventional. This pamphlet is designed to argue the case why Baptist churches should retain their historic practice of appointing one bishop/pastor, assisted by a group of deacons. I have completed a comprehensive textbook on this subject, which is under review for publication. In the interim, this pamphlet is an abridged preview of the larger forthcoming work, and I extend special thanks to Adam Nixon who encouraged the pamphlet’s preparation, and to Yasmin Cooper and Kevin Price for their editorial notes and helpful suggestions.

Jared Smith

May 2017

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Jared Smith, Eldership | Tags: • The Church, Baptist, Bishop, Deacons, Elders, Pastor, Polity

Introduction

18 May 2015, by Jared Smith

It is commonplace to hear it staunchly affirmed by preachers that the term elder is one and the same with bishop and pastor; that the term is usually used in the plural, indicating the early churches were overseen by a plurality of elders. Hence, it is argued, if churches today are to reflect the most Scriptural form of governance, then elders must be appointed as overseers.

• Some believe there is parity among the elders, wherein all share equal authority as teachers/rulers; whereas others believe there is…

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Jared Smith, Eldership | Tags: • The Church, Baptist, Bishop, Elders, Pastor, Polity

1. Elders Are Unofficial Leaders Never Elected Or Appointed To An Office

18 May 2015, by Jared Smith

The Biblical term ‘elder’ was based upon the traditional cultural understanding of what the word universally meant. For in every culture and community, elders are the patriarchs and matriarchs of local and extended family units. These elders are never elected or appointed to an office—they merely assume this unofficial role of leadership by virtue of age, wisdom and influence. An example of continuity in the practice and use of the term surviving with its meaning intact from earliest times until today is cited with perfect clarity by S. M. Stiegelbauer in her paper on the First Nation Elders, published in The Canadian Journal of Native Studies. With reference to the Inuit people who today still inhabit the Arctic regions…

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Jared Smith, Eldership | Tags: Elder, Elders, Father, Head, Honour, Household, Leaders, Matriarch, Mother, Old, Patriarch, Respect, Seniors

2. The Terms Elder, Bishop And Pastor Are Not Interchangeable

18 May 2015, by Jared Smith

When the term elder is used within Christian circles, it conjures up ideas of ecclesiastical clergy, either elected to office by the congregation, or appointed to office by the denomination. In fact, it is only within Christian churches that the term elder is made to mean something other than persons honored in virtue of their age, wisdom and influence. This irregular interpretation is rooted in a flawed hermeneutic of several biblical texts which refer to elders. It is assumed, because a few scripture passages use the term elder when identifying a bishop/pastor, that therefore, most (if not all) references to elders in the early churches must be bishops/pastors. The absurdity of this presupposition is comparable to one who boasts that all…

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Jared Smith, Eldership | Tags: • The Church, Appointment, Baptist, Bishop, Elders, Election, Officers, Pastor, Polity

3. Evangelists, Bishops And Deacons Are The Only Permanent Offices Recognized In The New Testament

18 May 2015, by Jared Smith

Ephesians 4:11: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

The apostles and prophets were temporary offices, laying the foundation for both the establishment and edification of Christian churches—apostles were primarily sent to organize new churches; prophets were appointed to nurture existing churches. The evangelists and pastor-teachers are permanent offices carrying out a…

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Jared Smith, Eldership | Tags: • The Church, Baptist, Bishops, Deacons, Elders, Evangelists, leadership, Missionaries, Officers, Pastors, Polity

4. The Church Is Designed After The Model Of The Family Unit, Not The Jewish Synagogue

18 May 2015, by Jared Smith

The Jewish Synagogue was not ordained by God as a religious institution. It came into existence as a result of God’s judgment upon the nation—The divinely instituted temple had been destroyed, the people of God scattered, and in desperation the scattered Jews established tiny groups which became known as synagogues. During the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles, the Jewish Synagogue always…

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Jared Smith, Eldership | Tags: • The Church, Elders, Family, Synagogue, Tabernacle, Temple, Worship

6. An Adoption Of Elders Introduces A New Set Of Problems For The Church

18 May 2015, by Jared Smith

Eldership advocates tend to sing the praises of the many benefits a church receives by appointing a plurality of elders. Seldom do they sound the alarm for the serious problems that arise from the appointment. Baptist historian Dr. Kenneth Dix confessed this was the initiating cause which led him to reject plural elderships—he believed too many churches have jumped on the bandwagon without giving sufficient thought to the inevitable problems arising from an eldership. To name just a few drawbacks:

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Jared Smith, Eldership | Tags: Baptist, Bishop, Elders, leadership, Pastor, Polity

Those Elders—What Are They?

18 Dec 2014, by Jared Smith

As I am in the middle of finishing an exhaustive book on the subject of elders, it is frustrating that I am not yet ready to fire back at those who are exerting great effort in promoting this newfangled theory of a plural eldership in Baptist churches. Their forceful claims to have received an inner revelation from God’s Word to which our Baptist forefathers were ignorant, is quite frankly a very arrogant position to nurture. When they boast their theory of leadership in churches is the ‘biblical way’, they censure and condemn all churches who have…

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Jared Smith, Eldership | Tags: • The Church, Baptist, Bishop, Elders, leadership, Pastor, Plural, Plurality

Eldership Lectures/Book

10 Sep 2013, by Jared Smith

The Reformed Baptist Movement has given rise to a new form of church leadership not practiced by Baptist churches prior to the 1950’s. The majority of modern books and articles almost invariably assert that each church should be overseen by a plurality of elders. While many churches have conformed to the new trend, others staunchly cling to their traditional practice of having a single pastor assisted by a group of deacons. It is unwise to follow a trend, or support a tradition, without knowing the scriptural, historic and practical reasons undergirding the practice.

I have invested more than seven years of extensive research on this subject. My notes and gathered resources are several thousand pages large. Some of this material was condensed and presented in more than a hundred lectures. The material has been reworked for print and is under review for publishing. The following post is the Introduction to the book.

If the church to which you belong as a member is under pressure to adopt an eldership, please contact me direct with any questions you may have concerning its scriptural meaning, historic relevance or practical application.

Jared Smith

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Jared Smith, Eldership | Tags: Bishops, Elders, Pastors

Introduction

10 Sep 2013, by Jared Smith

Clifford Pond served in the pastoral ministry among Grace Baptist churches for more than 50 years. Having seen the need for congregations to better understand the complexities of adopting a plurality of elders, he wrote a book entitled “Only Servants.” The back cover of the book offers a reason why the author is a respected authority on the subject: “Clifford Pond writes out of a lifetime of pastoral ministry, having served churches in Suffolk and Surrey as well as exercising a wider ministry at various times by responsible leadership in young people’s fellowships, associations of churches and the council of Grace Baptist Mission.”

In the fifth chapter, under the heading “Plurality of Elders and Deacons”, Mr. Pond writes:

“Since the Second World War every part of life generally has been questioned, and churches too have been put under the scrutiny of Scripture…For example, in the earlier part of this century the most common structure in local churches was a pastor with a group of deacons. In the absence of a pastor…

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Jared Smith, Eldership | Tags: • History, • The Church, Baptists, Deacons, Elders, Government, Leaders, Officers, Pastors, Polity, Presbyterian

The Historic Affirmations

10 Jun 2013, by AHB Library

The Affirmations set forth in the following statements are representative views of the historic values maintained by Strict (restricted table) and Particular (restricted atonement) Baptist churches, before and up to the mid-twentieth century. Since the Second World War, most historic churches have (1) adopted the Westcott and Hort text, thereby departing from the high view of verbal inspiration; (2) adopted the teachings of Fullerism, thereby departing from the high view of Sovereign Grace; (3) adopted the philosophy of Ecumenism, thereby departing from the high view of strict communion; (4) adopted an adaptation of Presbyterianism, thereby departing from the high view of Baptist polity.

It appears many Strict Baptists have failed to understand that moving with the times does not mean churches must move from the truth. Conservative values are…

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In: • The Duty-Faith And Free-Offer Issue,• The Modern Translations Issue,• The Open Communion Issue,• The Plural Eldership Issue,Jared Smith, Bits And Pieces | Tags: Authorised Version, AV, Deacons, Doctrines of Grace, Elders, Election, KJV, Particular Redemption, Pastor, Strict Communion

Church Officers: Representative Documents

7 Dec 2011, by Bob Wring

This is the first article setting forth representative documents that support the truth that Baptist Churches have always had pastors and deacons as their Biblical church officers.

The First London Confession of 1644/46 and the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1677/89 are no doubt the two most influential Confessions of faith in existence. These confessions hold much weight in any discussion of Church Polity. Both can be found in Lumpkin’s Baptist Confessions of Faith. On page 166 of the First London Confession, in Article XXXVI, the subscribers tell us . . .

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Bob Wring, Church Officers (Complete) | Tags: Baptist Confession, Benjamin Keach, Deacons, Elders, Hanserd Knowllys, Nehemiah Coxe, Pastors

What are the Main Types of Baptist Church Polity?

22 Aug 2011, by Bob Wring

A review of Baptist Church History will reveal that Baptists have always maintained one type of church polity. Only in more recent days have some Baptist leaders added another way of doing church governance. Baptist history is replete with extant documents that substantiate this observation. When one reads representative Baptist ecclesiastical writings such as confessions of faith, tracts, books, ordination sermons and church minute books, it becomes obvious that this assertion is correct.

Baptists have historically interpreted the New Testament Scriptures to describe one type of church polity. This polity has been described as Congregationalism with the biblical leadership of a pastor and deacons. And if a Baptist church was large enough, it included more than one pastor in church leadership.

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Bob Wring, Church Officers (Complete) | Tags: congregational, Deacons, Elders, Government, Pastors, Polity, Southern Baptist

A. H. Strong on Pastoral Oversight

21 Jul 2011, by AHB Library

Augustus Hopkins Strong (1836-1921), a leading Theologian espousing Particular Baptist convictions and author of “Systematic Theology”. With reference to the pastoral office in a church, he wrote:

In certain of the New Testament churches there appears to have been a plurality of elders (Acts 20:17; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5). There is, however, no evidence that the number of elders was uniform or that the plurality which frequently existed was due to any other cause than the size of the churches for which these elders cared.

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In: • The Plural Eldership Issue,Augustus Strong, Eldership (Complete) | Tags: congregational, Elders, leadership, Pastors

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