Tonight is our church’s fall business meeting. Baptist churches have a reputation when it comes to business meetings. In fact, they have a reputation when it comes to making church-related decisions in general. You’ve probably heard this question:
How many Baptists does it take to change a light bulb?
Depending on which site or meme you’re looking at… here are some of the answers you’ll see…
- One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad.
- They can’t. That would involve raising their hands in the church building.
- No change until the whole congregation votes on it!
- Change!!!????
Yeah, those are well-deserved. 🙂
I’m grateful to have served two wonderful congregations — one currently in Maryland, and the other in Ohio. Both awesome congregations. But, yeah, when it comes to church governance and how we should make decisions…Baptist culture runs deep. 🙂
So, how should churches govern themselves? How should congregations make decisions?
Three Basic Models of Church Polity
Churches and denominations have different ways of organizing, leading, and making decisions. Generally, church polity falls into one of three categories: episcopal, presbyterian, and congregational.
- Episcopal churches are governed by bishops who have authority over multiple congregations. This hierarchical structure can be seen in denominations like the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and the Methodist Church (though they do this in a more “bottom-up” way).
- Presbyterian churches are governed by a group of elected elders, known as the session, with authority shared between local elders and higher governing bodies like presbyteries and general assemblies. The Presbyterian Church is a clear example of this model.
- Congregational churches place authority within the local congregation itself, where leaders are selected and decisions are made by members of the church (via some form of democratic governance). This is the model of most Baptists (that’s us! 🙂 ) and many independent and non-denominational churches.
Regardless of tradition, what matters is whether we’re doing things God’s way. While there is some liberty, the Bible provides clear guidance on how churches should be structured and governed. We are not left to figure this out on our own. Throughout the New Testament, we see a pattern for how churches are meant to function, and it’s crucial that we follow this biblical model.
Christ at the Head of the Church
First and foremost, the church belongs to Christ. He is the head of the church, not any one individual or group. This is made clear in passages like Matthew 16:18, where Jesus says, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Likewise, Colossians 1:18 reminds us, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
Christ’s leadership is supreme. All of our decisions, structures, and processes should reflect His authority over His church. Ephesians 1:22 reinforces this: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.”
Leadership and Accountability in the Church
The Bible also teaches that local congregations should be led by Spirit-called, biblically sound, morally qualified, godly leaders. This includes pastors or elders (these terms generally overlap and can be used interchangeably). These leaders serve under the Lordship of the Chief Shepherd (I Peter 5:1-4).
Ephesians 4:11-16 lays out a vision of church leadership designed to build up the body of Christ: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”
Read that above passage again. It explains precisely what pastors and elders are to focus on.
The qualifications for these leaders are outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. Leaders are called to live lives of integrity, serve with humility, and care for the spiritual well-being of the congregation. They are not rulers to be served but shepherds who serve the flock. And their leadership must be in alignment with God’s word, not their personal preferences or agendas.
Assuming pastors and elders remain in good standing biblically and ethically, Hebrews 13:17 calls on us to respect and support them: “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
At the very least, this means that congregations should be rowing in the same direction–and they should at least consult with the pastor(s) on what that direction should be. I think it means more than that, but it at least means that!
It also means–again, at the very least–that church members need to cooperate with, and (on many matters) defer to, their pastoral or elder leadership. There’s no reason for church members to try to micro-manage how the pastor(s) or elder(s) do things.
And, yes, it means that church members should cooperate with spiritual accountability coming from the pastor. A pastor should be able to call out sin in the life of a church member without fear of losing that church member.
Oh, and if the pastor issues a call to prayer or encourages the members to read their Bibles, church members should be receptive to that.
Congregational Involvement
The Bible also emphasizes that congregations should not be passive spectators. The New Testament shows that the congregations played a role in ordaining elders (Acts 14:23, I Timothy 4:14). And, clearly, we see them play an active role in the selection of deacons (Acts 6:1-7).
In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14, Paul encourages believers to support their leaders but also to admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, and help the weak. Everyone in the church has a part to play. And in Galatians 6, the congregation is called upon to hold one another accountable and carry one another’s burdens. In other words, the congregation cares for itself under the facilitation and management of the deacons — and the oversight of the elders.
Each member of the church is to be dedicated to his or her own spiritual growth. Parents are to disciple their children. And all the church is to be committed to making disciples, loving one another, caring for one another, encouraging one another, and engaging the community. These are not things they outsource to the clergy. The entire church is to be active and engaged.
Guiding Passages for Congregational Governance
For more in-depth biblical teaching on how a church should govern itself and make decisions, I encourage you to do a study on the following passages:
- Matthew 16:18: Christ is the builder and foundation of the church.
- Colossians 1:18: Christ is the head of the church.
- Ephesians 1:22: All authority belongs to Christ over the church.
- Ephesians 4:11-16: God appoints leaders to build up the body of Christ.
- I Thessalonians 5:12-14: Church members are called to support and encourage each other and their leaders.
- Acts 6:1-7: The congregation plays a role in selecting leaders.
- I Timothy 3:1-13: The qualifications for elders and deacons.
- Titus 1:5-9: Instructions for appointing elders in every city.
- Hebrews 13:17: Church members should submit to and support their leaders, recognizing their responsibility.
Conclusion
Church governance is not about power. It’s about mutual accountability and responsibility. As a longtime Baptist pastor, I oppose any kind of unaccountable hierarchy that we’ve seen cause too many churches to break apart. I support Christ-following, Spirit-led, disciple-driven congregationalism. But congregational polity absent those qualifiers — “Christ-following,” “Spirit-led,” and “disciple-driven” — is not something any of us should support.
Those of us who have been saved — have been adopted into the family of God. We are all called to be disciples of Jesus. And the church is the bride of Christ. The church isn’t something we go to. It’s what we are in Christ.
Therefore, when it comes to making decisions within the church, it’s not about our preferences, convenience, agendas, interests, or any of that. It’s not about what we like or what we want. It’s about how we can better glorify God and make disciples–what the church is supposed to be all about.
Let’s commit to doing church His way, together.
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