Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Bible-Based Leadership Structure

Sacra, John E. Johnson, a Baptist pastor, asserts that the pastor finds his identity and roles in the Old Testament offices of prophet, priest, king, and sage. Regarding the pastor’s role as priest, Johnson says, “Like Old Testament priests, pastors are part of a formally designated and consecrated ministry, the nature of which calls for priestly acts at their deepest levels.” '3 Without the slightest scriptural support, he fur ther comments: Like Old Testament priests, pastors ultimately bear responsibility for the service of worship. While others fulfill certain roles, from arranging flowers to organizing the choir, the pastor carries the responsibility of preserving the dignity of God’s house. He is responsible for presiding over worship services, helping others prepare to meet God.” As for the pastor’s role as king, Johnson writes, “Part of pastoral identity is wrapped up in climbing the mountain, looking out over the horizon, charting the course, and collecting the people along the way.”’5 The Maces’ and Johnson’s claims for the pastor are unbiblical, wildly exaggerated, and utterly demeaning to the Spirit-indwelt people of God and the work and position of Jesus Christ over His people. Clericalism does not represent biblical, apostolic Christianity. In deed, the real error to be contended with is not simply that one man provides leadership for the congregation, but that one person in the holy brotherhood has been sacralized apart from the brotherhood to an unscriptural status. In practice, the ordained clergyman—the minister, the reverend—is the Protestant priest. Biblical eldership cannot exist in an environment of clericalism. Paul’s employment of the elder structure of government for the local church is clear, practical evidence against clericalism because the el dership is nonclerical in nature. The elders are always viewed in the Bible as “elders of the people,” or “elders of the congregation,” never “elders of God.” The elders represent the people as leading members from among the people. When establishing churches, Paul never ordained a priest or cleric to perform the church’s ministry. When he established a church, he left behind a council of elders chosen from among the believers to jointly oversee the local community (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). Obviously that was all he felt a local church needed. Since the local congregation was

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