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Originally Posted by raekwon  Quote:
Originally Posted by North Jersey Baptist I'm not so sure Baptist is a polity. Elder rule is a polity and that is what I subscribe to. | Quote:
Originally Posted by PuritanCovenanter Congregational Plural Elder Rule here. | Every Baptist church I know of that has elders is actually not ruled by the elders, but rather "led" by the elders and ruled by the congregation (which is still an improvement over the usual single pastor/staff-deacons-congregation model we see in most Baptist churches).
How is elder rule compatible with the Baptist distinctive of congregational government? |
The church I pastor (teaching elder might be more applicable) would be an exception. This church recently went from the typical pastor/deacon/congregation Baptist Structure to elder rule.
Is this compatible with the Baptist distinctive of congregationalism? I don't know. On the one hand, the congregation still votes to affirm some decisions, including the appointment of a new elder, although that vote of affirmation is not binding. The elders still have the final authority to make the decisions. On the other hand, I think we are more concerned with being compatible with Scripture than being compatible with Baptist distinctives.