Officers:
A church officer is someone who has been publicly recognized as having the right and responsibility to perform certain functions for the benefit of the whole church. --Grudem p. 905
Apostles: (The word can also be used in a non-technical sense of those sent.)
Function:
Spoke with special authority, writing Scripture and giving authoritative direction
Qualifications:
Witness of Christ's resurrection: Acts 1.21-22; 1 Cor. 15.7-9
Personally commissioned by Christ: Matt. 10.1-7 these he sent out (Paul Rom. 1.1)
The twelve Apostles Rev. 21.24 - Acts 1 Matthias replaced Judas
Acts 14.14 apostles Paul and Barnabas
Gal. 1.9 saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother...
Possibly others
* Because of the unique qualifications and purpose, we believe that there are no longer Apostles in the technical sense of the word.
Elders:
Titles/functions:
Pastor/teacher: Stresses their heart
Ephesians 4:11 "pastors and teachers"
Ephesian elders told "to shepherd the church of God" Acts 20.28
Presbyters (Elders): Stresses dignity and maturity
Word can be used generally of an older man (1 Timothy 5.17) or woman (1 Timothy5.2)
Distributing money Acts 11.30 sent it to the elders...
Decisions about doctrine (Acts 15.2, 4, 6, 22; 16.2)
Rule (1 timothy5:17)
Shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5.1-3)
Pray for the sick (James 5:14)
Acts 20.17-32
Overseers bishops: Stresses oversight responsibilities
overseers to shepherd Acts 20.28ff teaching, guarding from wolves/false teachers 28-30
position of a bishop, a good work 1 Timothy 3:2 (Titus 1.7)
Qualifications:
Personal: esp. blameless 1 Timothy 3.2-3; Titus 1.7-8
Family: manages household 1 Timothy 3.4-4-5; Titus 1.6
Spiritual: track record of faithfulness to and teaching the Word 1 Timothy 3.6-7; Titus 1.9 (10-11)
Deacons:
The word is sometimes used in a non-technical sense of someone who serves in the church.
Qualifications: 1 Timothy3:8-13
v. 13 promise of a good standing and boldness in the faith
Functions:
Acts 6.1-6 Handling day to day administration so the Apostles could devote themselves to the Word and prayer
Qualifications might suggest
"not greedy" financial oversight
"manage" administrative duties
"no slanders" counseling
name "deacon: to serve, minister
Deaconess?
1 Timothy 3:11 "women" wives or female deacons? passage is not completely clear
Romans 16.1 Phoebe general or official sense?
Our practice (not explicit conviction) at TBC is to have men in this official roll even though many women actively serve and appropriately lead in ministries.
Forms of Church Governments
Episcopal: Governed by the authority of the bishops
Example of Timothy and Titus appointing elders
James in the church of Jerusalem
Presbyterian (Elder Rule)
Frequent mention of elders in the NT:
The fact that they are mentioned in the plural (never explicitly one in a church)
Congregational:
Congregation's involvement in
selecting deacons Acts 6.3-5
entire church included in the Jerusalem letter to the gentile churches (Acts 15.23 ...the Apostles, the elders, and brethren.)
the entire church's role in church discipline 1 Cor. 5:12; 2 cor. 2.6-7; 2 Thess 3:14)
testing the spirits 1 John 4.3
Church Discipline:
1. Church discipline begins with a loving, tight community of believers who support and encourage each other.
2. When a brother engages in flagrant (or serious), repeated, unrepentant sin the mature members and leaders (if needed) attempt to restore them.
(At TBC the counseling/admonishing process is carried out primarily by a person's elder and other leadership (usually are familar with them) who report to the board at large.)
3. If, after repeated, admonitions the person continues to function in the body in their sinful lifestyle, they are asked to leave and the members break fellowship with them.
(At TBC this is usually announced with a written statement during Sunday school. The purpose is not to shame anybody, but to notify the members and regular attenders of the situation.)
4. Usually a person living that kind of lifestyle will leave themselves without having to be asked.
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ARTICLE V
BOARD OF ELDERS
Section A. COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD.
The government of the Church shall be vested in the Board of Elders which shall be composed of the Senior Pastor who shall be a member of the Board by virtue of his office and four or more other members. The total number of members of the Board of Elders shall be determined by the Board of Elders as needed.
Section B. QUALIFICATIONS.
The Elders of the Church shall be Members of the Church who meet
the qualifications specified in I Timothy 3: 1-7 and Titus 1: 6-9.
Section C. SELECTION.
The selection of Elders of the Church shall be made by the Board of Elders, subject to the approval of two-thirds of those Members voting at a meeting of the Church.
Section D. TERM OF OFFICE.
The term of an Elder's office shall be from the time of his approval by
the Church until the next Annual Meeting, provided that, in the event an Elder ceases being a Member, his term shall automatically terminate.
Section E. VACANCIES ON BOARD.
In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Elders, the same may be filled by the remaining Board of Elders, subject to the approval of two-thirds of those Members voting at a meeting of the Church.
Section F. OFFICERS OF THE BOARD.
A Board Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and such other officers as the Board may choose shall be selected by the Board of Elders each year. Every Member of the Board of Elders shall be eligible to serve in such offices.
Section G. DUTIES.
It shall be the duty of the Board of Elders to govern all of the ministries and business of the Church which shall include, but not be limited to, the carrying out of the shepherding, teaching, disciplining, and overseeing of the Members of the Church. The Elders shall be considered as pastors with regard to the confidentiality of communication between Elders and the members of the church.
Section H. TRUSTEES.
The Board of Elders shall be the Trustees of the Church to fulfill the legal requirements of the State of Oklahoma for nonprofit corporations. In addition, the Chairman of the Elder Board shall be the President of the Corporation, the Vice Chairman of the Elder Board shall be the Vice President of the Corporation and the Secretary of the Elder Board shall be the secretary of the corporation, each for terms concurrent with their corresponding terms on the Board of Elders.
ARTICLE VI
DEACONS
Section A. COMPOSITION.
The Deacon Ministry of the Church shall be conducted by a number of men as determined by the Board of Elders.
Section B. QUALIFICATIONS.
The Deacons of the Church shall be men who are Members of the Church and meet the qualifications specified in I Timothy 3:8-13.
Section C. SELECTION.
The selection of Deacons shall be made by the Board of Elders, subject to the approval of two-thirds of those Members voting at a meeting of the Church.
Section D. TERM OF OFFICE.
The term of a Deacon's office shall be from the time of his approval by the Church until the next Annual Meeting, provided that, in the event a Deacon ceases being a Member, his term shall automatically terminate.
Section E. DUTIES.
It shall be the duty of the Deacons to manage the temporal affairs of the Church under the supervision of the Board of Elders.
Section F. OFFICERS.
A Chairman and such other officers as may be determined by the Deacons shall be selected by the Deacons each year.
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