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Jan 4, 2022 · Church Structure - Head of the church. If we were to create an organizational chart, Jesus Christ would fill the positions of Founder, President, CEO, CFO, and Chairman of the Board. In biblical language, Christ is “head over everything for the church ” (Ephesians 1:22; cf. Colossians 1:18).
- What Does The Bible Say About Church Hierarchy
The Bible gives basic instructions on how a church should be...
- What Are The Different Forms of Church Polity
One type of church polity is episcopal. The word episcopal...
- Who is The Head of The Church, Biblically Speaking
Church members are to follow Christ first and earthly...
- What Does The Bible Say About Church Hierarchy
Jan 10, 2024 · The church is an earthly manifestation of God’s kingdom under the Lordship of Jesus that represents God’s will and work in the world. Because God has always ruled over his people, he has manifested his kingdom in different ways throughout the history of the Bible.
- The Number of Church Offices
- The Office of Elder
- The Office of Deacon
- Conclusion
Apostles, Prophets, & Evangelists
In Ephesians 4:11 Paul mentions that the risen Christ has given leaders to the church, including “apostles,” “prophets,” and “evangelists” (cf. 1 Cor. 12:28). Should each congregation therefore have such designated offices? The reason most Christian congregations do not use these titles (perhaps with the exception of “evangelist”) is that these offices were not tied or limited to a single congregation. This is especially true for apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (and the apostle Pau...
Informal Terms
Sometimes leaders are mentioned but no title is given. For example, Galatians 6:6 mentions that those who receive instruction should support “the one who teaches.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Paul exhorts the congregation to give recognition and respect to “those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.” The author of Hebrews likewise urges the congregation to “obey” their leaders and “submit” to them (Heb. 13:17; cf. 13:7, 24). Although we do not know what particula...
Elders & Overseers
The terms “elder” and “overseer” are two different titles that refer to the same office. This can be demonstrated in a least four ways. First, the two terms are used interchangeably. In Acts 20, Paul calls for the “elders” of Ephesus to meet him at Miletus (20:17) and then tells them that the Holy Spirit has made them “overseers” to shepherd God’s church (20:28). Paul writes to Titus instructing him to appoint “elders” in every town (Titus 1:5), but when he gives the needed qualifications jus...
Elders & Pastors
Although the title “pastor” is commonly used today, it is used only one time in the New Testament as a designation for a church leader. In Ephesians 4:11, Paul declares that in addition to apostles, prophets, and evangelists, the risen Christ has given “pastors and teachers” to the church. The term “pastor” is linked with the term “teacher,” which together denote one order of ministry (i.e., the pastor-teacher). What then is the relationship between the office of pastor and that of the elder...
The Number of Elders
Although the New Testament does not designate a particular number of elders to lead the church, there is a consist pattern of each church being led by a plurality of elders. In fact, shared leadership is a common theme in the Bible, which is seen in the Old Testament with the elders of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus chose twelve apostles to lead the church. The early church also appointed seven men to assist the apostles to care for the needs of neglected widows (Acts 6:1–6). This patter...
The office of deacon is a separate and distinct office to that of the elder (or overseer or pastor). The word “deacon” comes from the Greek term diakonos, which normally means “servant.” In some contexts, however, the term can be used more formally to designate someone who holds an office in the church. Of the 29 occurrences of diakonos, only three...
The New Testament presents a consistent, though perhaps not completely uniform, pattern of church leadership. Sometimes these leaders were called “elders,” “overseers,” or “pastors” (all three of these terms refer to the same office and were used interchangeably in the New Testament). The overwhelming evidence in the New Testament is that every con...
Apr 27, 2022 · What is an effective church organizational structure? Simply, it is the framework. ‘Structure’ is the people, programs, and processes of your church. Another way of explaining structure is the who (your staff and volunteers), the what (your events and activities) and the how (your policies and systems). Your church structure answers the key ...
- Simply, it is the framework. ‘Structure’ is the people, programs, and processes of your church. Another way of explaining structure is the who (you...
- It leads to good decision-making and governance processes, growth in individuals and ministries, and resources being maximised and used well. It cr...
- Mission-centred framework, focused use of resources, cultural space, and responsiveness to strategic development
- Resources will not be maximised, or the church will be program-driven, process-led, or politically-led instead of being mission-led.
- Missional priority, correct deployment of resources, clear empowerment of leaders, and unity across church governance levels.
May 9, 2022 · ‘Structure’ is the people, programs, and processes of your church. Another way of explaining structure is the who (your staff and volunteers), the what (your events and activities) and the how (your policies and systems). Your church structure answers the key question ‘what is your church building?’
- It leads to good decision-making and governance processes, growth in individuals and ministries, and resources being maximised and used well. It cr...
- Mission-centred framework, focused use of resources, cultural space, and responsiveness to strategic development
- Resources will not be maximised, or the church will be program-driven, process-led, or politically-led instead of being mission-led.
- Missional priority, correct deployment of resources, clear empowerment of leaders, and unity across church governance levels.
The Bible offers many principles regarding church structure within the New Testament. These include its ultimate leader, its human leaders, its members, and its relationship with other churches. First, the head of the church is Jesus Christ.
Dec 25, 2022 · Organizational structure of a church can be broadly classified into three categories: ecclesiastical, functional, and administrative. Ecclesiastical structure refers to the hierarchy of the church, while functional structure refers to the various ministries and functions that the church provides.
