Church Government

## Core Position

The church is not governed by institutional hierarchy but by Christ as head, with servant leadership equipping the saints for ministry. The fivefold ministry serves the body — it does not rule over it. No pope, bishop, or denominational structure holds binding authority over a local church. Elders and leaders are accountable to Scripture, to the body, and to God — not to an external institutional chain of command.

Christ as Head

Colossians 1:18 — "He is the head of the body, the church." Christ alone is head. Not a pope. Not a bishop. Not a denomination.
Ephesians 5:23 — "Christ is the head of the church, his body."
Matthew 16:18 — "I will build my church." The church belongs to Christ — not to an institution.

Servant Leadership

Matthew 20:25-28 — "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant... the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve." The model for all leadership in the body.

1 Peter 5:2-3 — "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you... not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock." Leaders lead by example, not domination.

Ephesians 4:11-12 — "He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry." The fivefold equips the saints. The saints do the ministry.

The New Testament Church Pattern

Acts 15 — The Jerusalem Council: apostles and elders deliberating together over a doctrinal question, writing a letter, sending representatives. Collegial, not hierarchical. No single authoritative figure issuing decrees.

Acts 14:23 — "They appointed elders for them in every church." Plural elders in each local church — shared leadership.

Titus 1:5 — "Appoint elders in every town." Local leadership for local churches.

1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9 — Qualifications for elders — character-based, not institution-based.

The NT pattern is plural eldership in local churches, collegial discernment on larger questions, servant posture throughout, and Christ as the only institutional head. No single person or institution exercises binding authority over the universal church.

The Three Historical Models — Evaluated

Episcopal (Catholic, Anglican, Methodist) — a bishop hierarchy with authority descending from the top. The pope (Catholic) or archbishop holds supreme authority. Rejected: Colossians 1:18 (Christ alone is head); 1 Peter 5:3 (not domineering); the pattern of Acts 15 is collegial, not hierarchical.

Presbyterian (Synods, General Assemblies) — elders govern at local, regional, and national levels through assemblies. Closer to the NT pattern in some respects — plural eldership, collegial discernment. But external assembly authority over local churches goes beyond what Acts 15 establishes. Acts 15 was a voluntary consultation, not a binding legislative body.

Congregational (Baptist, Independent) — the local congregation governs itself under Christ. No external authority over the local church. Closest to the NT pattern in terms of local autonomy. Risk: can produce isolation and lack of accountability. The fivefold network provides relational accountability without institutional control.

What This Rejects

Papal supremacy — Colossians 1:18 (Christ is head); no NT text establishes a universal bishop.
Episcopal hierarchy as binding authority — 1 Peter 5:3 (not domineering); Matthew 20:26 (servant, not ruler).
External denominational control over local churches — Acts 15 is collegial consultation, not a binding legislative precedent.
One-man rule without accountability — Acts 14:23 (plural elders); 1 Peter 5:1-3 (servant posture required).