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Originally Posted by Dr Mike Kear  Brethren, I need some opinions and recommendations about elders. Coming from a Baptist background I have been exposed almost exclusively to the idea and practice of Single Pastor Congregationalism. However, I have been convinced over the years that a plurality of elders is more biblical. But I have questions on a practical and local level. For instance, which is more correct in a local church context: an elder ruled church or an elder led congregationalism? Can a church be Presbyterian and yet not under submission to a larger ecclesiastical oversight (a presbytery)?
Secondly, what books on elders/eldership would you recommend for someone like me whose previous training in ecclesiology has been exclusively Single Pastor Congregationalism?  |
Within Presbyterianism, the Session (which is a court of the church), is made up of Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders (the Ministers) who have jurisdiction over the congregation and each member of that congregation. A Presbytery is made up of RE's and TE's from a common region and the Presbytery has original jurisdiction over the TE's in that Presbytery (TE's are not members of the local congregation) and a Session of a church in that Presbytery.
In your case, the Ruling Elders and the Minister would work as a Session and have jurisdiction over the congregation. The Session would have the responsibility of overseeing all the activities of the congregation including Worship, Sunday School, and what is taught and preached. Presbyterianism does require higher courts like a Presbytery or Synod. Congregationalists would not be considered Presbyterian since there is no further oversight beyond the Session. For further explanation, I would recommend reading the PCA and OPC Book of Church Order for more details.
Also, do the By-Laws of your church require subscription to a confession in regards to ordination?
As far as other info on Elders, I am positive that Andrew "Links" Myers will be able to provide a number of links to articles on the Web that can help.
