Question #307

I have a question about leadership in the church.

I’d like to start by saying that though I do disagree with some of the teaching on your website, I’ve been tremendously blessed by the fruit of the Word that is available from it. It’s quite clear you’ve done in depth studying of the Word, and the truth of the Word is abundant. Thank you for your obedience in the Lord’s call, and thank you for being used by God to teach. The question I have is in regard to the correct Biblical structure of the church. As I’ve read the New Testament, especially Acts, I’ve not come across anywhere that a “pastor” is mentioned as the “head” of the church. From what I can see, the apostles (namely Paul) appointed elders in each city and/or church, but other than the leadership of the apostles, I don’t find any “church” where there was one particular leader over it. It seems that the churches were led by a plurality of elders, rather than one pastor. I wonder if that tradition began in modeling the business world…with a CEO as head, a treasurer, secretary, board and all. Is this Scriptural? In the Old Testament, there was often one leader (Moses, Joshua, etc.), but I don’t see it in the early church of Christ. Could you please expound on what the Word teaches regarding correct church structure? Thanks so much!

The Answer:

Thank you for your comments concerning Thy Word Is Truth. It is a time consuming effort but the reward is great. Hopefully your areas of disagreement can be resolved by serious open-minded study of scripture. Every effort is made to expound what the Bible teaches. If you believe that we have erred in that effort, please take the time to send us the results of your study and inform us of where you believe Thy Word Is Truth has misstated that truth.

As for your observations concerning the leadership of the church, you are correct. Paul’s teaching and practice was to appoint elders (plural) in every church. Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17. There was a plurality of elders in the church in Jerusalem. Acts 15:4, 22. When James spoke of leadership in the church he called them elders. James 5:14. However, others terms are used to described elders; pastor is one of those words. It comes from the Greek word poimen, which is the word most often translated shepherd in scripture. The term bishop is also used to describe elders in the church, being from the same Greek word, episkopos, that is generally translated overseer. These terms are never used to apply to the minister or evangelist in scripture. The term “pastor” is used in the denominational world to refer to the preacher who is generally the head leader in a denominational church. This was not the case in the New Testament; elders (also called pastors, overseers, or shepherds) were the leaders in each local congregation. This began to change when one of the elders was appointed the “head elder” or bishop. The bishop gradually became the head overseer for a region, which in turn required an archbishop, which in turn required cardinals which in turn required a pope. None of this hierarchical organization was known in the church of the New Testament. See “Class: Lord’s Church” for a fuller discussion of the New Testament church. As for who is the “head” of the church, scripture is clear – it has no head other than Christ. Eph. 1:22; Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18. The elders are the leaders of a local congregation, but neither they nor any one of them is the head of the church. To claim such is to reject its true head, even Christ.

The aim of churches of Christ is to restore New Testament Christianity, including its organization. While the departure from New Testament teaching and practice began with the Roman Catholic Church, every departure that it made from the faith was adopted and continued by the Reformation Movement. That movement’s name demonstrates that it primarily desired to reform the Roman Catholic Church. The Restoration Movement seeks to reform nothing. It seeks to discard unscriptural practices and teaching, restore New Testament practice and teaching, and thereby be only New Testament Christians. No additional name is needed other than the name of Him to whom the church belongs. No additional organization is needed beyond the local congregation with its elders and deacons.

To avoid misunderstanding, keep in mind that the name of Christ is not a formal name for the church. The term “church of Christ” in not the “name” of the New Testament church, it is a description of the relationship between Christ and his followers. It designates or describes the assembly (the literal meaning of ekklesia, from which we get the translation “church”) that belongs to Christ.