Who Rules the Church?: Examining Congregational Leadership and Church Government
Overview
Does the New Testament present an implicit system of church government? What group in the church is vested with sovereignty under God? Does the New Testament authorize election of a board of elders or deacons to govern a church?
Gerald Cowen offers answers to these critical questions concerning how the New Testament church is to be governed. Who Rules the Church? contends that the New Testament model for congregational government is pastoral leadership-congregational rule. In other words, authority is given by the Lord to the congregation itself, but the pastor is God-called to that congregation not only to serve and take care of the congregation but also to be the leader.
Top Highlights
“The thesis of this work is this: there is a New Testament model, and it is the congregational model. Authority is given by the Lord to the congregation itself. However, the pastor is a God-called, God-ordained person who not only serves and takes care of the congregation but is the leader of the church. This model could be called Pastoral Leadership-Congregational Rule.” (Pages 2–3)
“The term elder is by far the most common term used in the New Testament to denote an officer in a local church.” (Page 9)
“There is no doubt that the Bible presents the minister as a God-called man. In the Old Testament no prophet dared assume the sacred office by himself.” (Page 27)
“At least three passages indicate that these terms refer to the same office. (1)” (Page 12)
“Luke says that Paul and Barnabas ‘appointed elders in every church.’” (Page 10)
- Title: Who Rules the Church?: Examining Congregational Leadership and Church Government
- Author: Gerald P. Cowen
- Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
- Publication Date: 2003
- Pages: 160