Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Elders and the Congregation

and elders permitted public debate, including the presentation of the opposing view (Acts 15 25,7). The chief leaders within the leadership council brought the matters to a conclusion so that all the leaders could “become of one mind” (15225). The final decision was the decision of the apostles, the elders, the whole church, and the Holy Spirit: “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch. . ..‘For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials’” (15222,28). From these two examples, it is clear that the leadership body takes the lead for the congregation, and that the congregation participates. Depending on the circumstances, the leaders wisely use different pro cedures and strategies to help the congregation solve problems and make decisions. The New Testament does not prescribe detailed rules and regula tions regarding the elder-congregation relationship or decision mak ing process. The New Testament is absolutely clear, however, that Christlike love, humility, and prayer are to guide all our relationships and all our deliberations. As the Scripture says:

But we [church leaders] will devote ourselves to prayer (Acts 624a).

These all [the first congregation] with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 1214a).

Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Phil. 222-8).

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