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Originally Posted by calgal  Quote:
Originally Posted by joshua Quote:
Originally Posted by calgal i understand the issue for Baptists: they combine the office of Deacon and Elder. |  Which Baptists do this? | I was attending a certain large SBC out west and they had deacons and no elders: the deacons acted as elders would in reformed churches. Of course this was LaHaye's old church so.....  In all seriousness, how do Baptists view the office of Elder? It seems to be either for the pastor only (from the outside). |
So I suppose you meant Arminian Baptists, then? Reformed Baptists (and there may be exceptions) definitely view a difference between the offices of Deacon and Elder. Elders are those who meet the qualifications for overseers as outlined by Paul in Timothy and Titus. They are to be able to teach, etc. So they rule, teach, preach, counsel, etc. Deacons do not perform these functions (although they may teach a class, etc. if asked by the Elders). They generally overwatch the finances of the Church, the needs of the Church, serving, etc.