• Importance of church order • Most common forms of church order => Episcopalian: hierarchical => Presbyterian: representative form of church government => Congregational: democratic form of government => Free: government rests in the hands of gifted men • Simpler form: Elders and Deacons => Acts 20:17, 28 => Titus 1:5-8 • Duties (from KBC Constitution) => Superintending the doctrine and life of the congregation (Acts 20:28; 1 Thess 5:12; 2 Tim 1:13-14; Heb 13:17) => Feeding the sheep (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim 5:17; 1 Pet 5:1-4; Heb 13:7) => Giving themselves to prayer for the congregation and visitation of the sick (Acts 6:2-4; James 5:14) => Receiving, disciplining, dismissing members (1 Cor 5:1-5) => Meeting at least monthly for prayer, planning, and decisionmaking • Plurality of elders in a single church => Acts 20:17, 28; Phil 1:1; James 5:14; Heb 13:7, 17, 24; 1 Thess 5:12; 1 Tim 5:17
• Tenure of elders: for life, unless there is moral failure
• Method of choice of elders is the most contentious issue => Acts 14:23: Apostles appointed; Acts 20:28: Spirit appointed
• Failure of elders (1 Tim 5:19-21)
• Qualifications for elders (1 Tim 3:1-7) (NEXT WEEK!)
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