Harvest Bible Fellowship Church Government
We are committed to upholding the Bible's teaching that men who hold the
offices of Elder and Deacon are to oversee various functions of the
local church.
The Bible's teaching on the subject of two church offices is found in
1 Timothy
3:1-16 and
Titus 1:5-9.
Although there are three terms used for the offices of the church:
bishop, elder, and deacon, analysis of these terms indicates that bishop
and elder are used interchangeably.
Elder Qualifications
(
Titus 1:6-9)
- Above reproach
- Able to teach
- Husband to one wife
- Not addicted to wine
- Temperate
- Not antagonistic
- Prudent
- Uncontentious
- Respectable
- Free from the love of money
- Hospitable
- Manage own household
- Not a new convert
Elder Duties
The Scriptures show that the elders serve by leading and that their
responsibility involves the spiritual oversight of the congregation. All
elders are equal in authority but not necessarily equal in influence.
The elders' primary responsibilities include:
Plurality of Elders
The Scriptures teach that a plurality of elders governed individual New
Testament churches (
Acts 14:23;
Acts 20:28;
Titus 1:5;
Philippians
1:1). The Scripture does not mention any congregations featuring a
stand-alone pastor and leader. A plurality of godly elders, exercising
their individual giftedness, squares with the Scripture's teaching that
wisdom is found in a multitude of godly counselors (
Proverbs
11:14;
Proverbs
12:15;
Proverbs
15:22;
Proverbs
19:20;
Proverbs 24:6).
This truth does not eliminate the possibility and likelihood that one
or more elders will stand out from the others as more public in their
ministries or more influential in their workings on the Elder Board.
Senior Pastor
The Harvest Bible Chapel Senior Pastor automatically serves as an elder
and, because of his public presence and responsibility before the
congregation, may be considered first among equals as a member of the
Elder Board. The Senior Pastor should be gifted primarily as a
preacher/teacher and as a leader.
Deacons
The Bible teaches that deacons lead by serving (Acts 6). The
qualifications for elders and deacons are the same regarding an
individual's character, but they differ in aptitude. The elders are to
be able to teach while the deacons are to be able and proved as
servants.
Deacon Qualifications
(
1 Timothy
3:8-12)
- Individual of dignity
- Above reproach
- Not double tongued
- First tested as servants
- Not addicted to wine
- Spouses must be faithful
- Temperate
- Not fond of sordid gain
- Holding to the mystery of faith with a clear conscience
- Husband of one wife
- Manages household well
For more Information:
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT...
THE FOUR PILLARS