1. Theology IV Professor Christopher Ullman
Church Government
Part Two

2. Authors
Peter Toon
L. Roy Taylor
Paige Patterson
Samuel E. Waldron

3. Episcopalian: Overseen by a Bishop
Local congregations are governed by a hierarchy
The office of bishop is distinct from and superior to the officers of local churches
The territory and churches over which the bishop rules is a diocese
Examples: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopalian, United Methodist and some Lutheran groups

4. Episcopalian Form

5. Presbyterian: Overseen by Presbytery and General Assembly
Congregations are ruled by teaching elders and ruling elders forming a session
Members of sessions are also members of the presbytery which oversees the local congregations
Some members of the presbytery are also members of a general assembly which governs the entire denomination
Examples: PCUSA, Presbyterian Church in America, Christian Reformed Church, AG

6. Presbyterian Form

7. Congregational: “No HQ but Heaven”
No ruling body outside the local congregation: local church is autonomous (independency)
Grudem recognizes five different forms of congregational government
Two forms are prominent: single-elder and plural-elder

8. Single-Elder Congregational Form

9. Single-Elder Congregational
Pastor is the only elder in the congregation
An elected or selected board of deacons serve under him, assist him, and in some cases supervise him
Pastor serves as CEO in implementing the decisions of the deacon board on a day-to-day basis
Examples: Baptist, Congregational

10. Plural-Elder Congregational Form

11. Plural-Elder Congregational
Like presbyterian, the local congregation is to be governed by more than one elder or pastor
Elders have no authority over any other congregation than their own
No distinction is made between teaching elders and ruling elders
All elders are considered equal in authority: no “senior,” “head,” or “lead” pastor. All are to be in mutual submission to one another
An elected or selected board of deacons may serve under the group of elders
Example: Evangelical Free Churches

12. Corporate-Board Congregational

13. Corporate-Board Congregational
Patterned after the example of a modern corporation the “you-work-for-us” structure
Church Board hires a pastor who then has authority to operate the church on a day-to-day basis
Board guidance and interference can be next-to-nothing to invasive
The Board retains the right to terminate the pastor
Examples: All Nations Church, Philadelphia Church

14. Pure Democracy Congregational

15. Pure Democracy Congregational
Every issue must come to the congregational meeting.
Every issue may be decided by voting by the entire congregation, or by the voting membership.
Decisions are often argued endlessly.
As the church grows, decision-making may reach a point of paralysis.
Examples: house churches, independent churches

16. Pneumanarchy Congregational

17. Pneumanarchy Congregational
The congregation denies that any form of government is needed.
All the members of the congregation are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their own lives.
Decisions are made by consensus.
In a short time, this approach gives way to a more structured form of government.
Examples: house churches, new start-ups