TRU Publications

Table of Contents
The Pattern and the Glory ............................................................................................................................ 3
Five-Fold Ministry ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Pastoral Church Government ..................................................................................................................... 12
Two Levels of Elders .................................................................................................................................... 14
Traditional Forms of Church Government .................................................................................................. 16
Who is Over the Pastors?............................................................................................................................ 19
When Leaders Fall Into Sin.......................................................................................................................... 21
Study Questions, Part 1............................................................................................................................... 24
Delegated Authority and Submission ......................................................................................................... 28
Board of Directors ....................................................................................................................................... 31
The Jerusalem Model .................................................................................................................................. 33
Moses’ System of Delegation...................................................................................................................... 35
Appointment and Terms of Elders .............................................................................................................. 38
Study Questions, Part 2............................................................................................................................... 40

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Study Notes

The Pattern and the Glory

God desires to fill His house with His glory. The glory only comes when
divine order and pattern have been established. First the pattern, then
the glory. It has always been this way. Moses received the pattern for
the Tabernacle on the mount with God (Hebrews 8:5). Later, upon
obedience to those instructions, God filled it with His glory. The same
held true concerning the Tabernacle of David and the Temple of
Solomon. When David tried to bring the Ark of God's presence to Zion
without divine order, it met with judgment.

1 Chronicles 15:13 says: The LORD our God broke out

against us, because we did not consult Him about the
proper order.

If God would only fill the type and "shadow of things to come" with His
glory when divine order was established, how much more the antitype,
the fulfillment of things to come – the Church. Does God expect us to
be led on a lower level of order in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit
than they were under the law? God wants to fill His house, but His
house is no longer a tent or even a building, it is His people (see Acts
17:24; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; I Pet. 2:5).

When God's people find their place in the makeup of His house, God's
glory shall be evident! Finding our place is a work of the Holy Spirit
within each believer. It is confirmed by the leadership of the local
church and by the anointing for service.

We are "living stones" of all different shapes and size that God puts
together to build a spiritual house (I Pet. 2:5). Each individual is
personally designed by God Himself. A calling, and the gifts to fulfill
that calling, were deposited in each of us from our mother's womb
(see Jer. 1:5; Gal. 1:15). Allowing the Holy Spirit to separate us to that
calling under the authority of a local church is that which makes us a
"Glorious Church" (Eph. 5:27).

To properly understand the function church leadership, it is imperative

to understand the offices and functions of the five-fold ministry. The
church is to be governed by the five-fold ministry, namely the pastor in

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Study Notes regards to the local level.

In the Book of Acts, the government of the church was in the hands of
the five-fold ministry, where God placed it. The early church had the
pattern, therefore, the glory. The reason many churches today don't
have the glory of God in them is that they're not under the
government of God-appointed, five-fold ministries – the first
foundational stone of divine order (see Eph. 2:20-22).

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Study Notes

Five-Fold Ministry
The ministry gifts that God has given to the church are listed in
Ephesians chapter four:

Ephesians 4:11-14
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the
equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity
of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and
fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting

For the body of Christ to reach its full potential, it is important to

understand and receive the five-fold ministries and their gifts. The
following are brief descriptions of the apostle, prophet, evangelist,
pastor, and teacher:

Apostles: Literally "sent ones." There are three levels of apostles:

1. The "Sent One" from the Father: Jesus, the One and Only
Apostle of the Father (see John 17:18a; Heb. 3:1).
2. The "sent ones" from the son: The Twelve. The twelve are
in a class to themselves. There will never be another
foundational (Eph. 2:20) apostle (See Rev. 21:14; John
17:18b).
3. The "sent ones" from the Holy Spirit: Paul and the other
apostles called after Christ’s ascension. This would include
modern day apostles. These are termed "Body-building"
apostles, rather than foundational. Paul was the
exception, being a foundational, Scripture-writing apostle.
According to Scriptural exactness, the twelve do not
qualify as an Ephesian 4:11 apostle; these are post-
ascension apostles; the twelve were pre-ascension
apostles (See Acts 13:2-4; Eph. 4:8, 11).

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Study Notes
Apostles are primarily involved in the pioneering and establishing of
local churches. Paul said in Romans 15:20: "And so I have made it my
aim to preach the gospel not where Christ was named lest I should
build on another man's foundation."

Apostles are spiritual fathers to other ministries. There is such a need

for spiritual fathers and mentors in the Body of Christ. Every Timothy
reeds a Paul to take him under his wing and develop him. Paul wrote
to the Corinthians: "For though you might have ten thousand
instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ
Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel" (I Cor. 4:15).

Signs and wonders will accompany the apostle. Paul said in 2

Corinthians 12:12: "Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished
among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty
deeds." Heaven's validation of the apostolic gift is the miraculous in
operation. Not that miracles occur only through apostles. But any
claim to apostleship must be accompanied by a regular occurrence of
signs and wonders.

An apostle’s ministry will include discipline and correction. Apostles

are especially concerned with areas of doctrine. When a pastor or
church gets into error, the apostolic gift is greatly needed.

Apostles are involved in the training and ordination of ministries. This

can be seen in Paul's continual references to imparting to those under
him such as Timothy and Titus. The training of ministries is the
heartbeat of an apostle's ministry.

Prophets: There are three major realms of prophecy:

1. Prophecy of Scripture (I1 Pet. 1:20-21). This level of

prophecy is complete. All other prophecy must be
judged by the Prophecy of Scripture.
2. The Office of the Prophet (I Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11).
This is someone who operates in the ministry gift of
the prophet.
3. The Gift of Prophecy (I Cor. 12:10; 14:1, 3, 6). All
believers are open to this manifestation of the Spirit.
The gift must be operated within the guidelines of
Scripture (see I Cor. 14).

A prophet is used to give direction to the church. This is not a

controlling directive, but a confirming one. At times, prophets will give
direction to individuals, especially those in authority. The prophet
Agabus is recorded as prophesying to both the corporate church and

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Study Notes individuals:

• The church, Acts 11:27-29

• An individual (Paul), Acts 21:10-11.

A prophet's ministry involves revelation, confirmation and warning.

The prophet's ministry is especially valuable in identifying and
confirming ministry gifts within a presbytery setting (see Acts 13:1-3; I
Tim. 4:14).

A prophet will operate in the gift of prophecy, as well as the word of

knowledge, word of wisdom, and discerning of spirits. Simply
operating in the gift of prophecy does not make one a prophet.
A genuine prophet's words will come to pass. There are many self-
proclaimed prophets in the land who do not wish their words to be
judged for accuracy. However, the Bible mandate is: "Let two or three
prophets speak and let the others judge" (I Cor. 14:29). A prophet who
will not submit to authority and be accountable for his words is not to
be heeded (see Deuteronomy 18:22).

Evangelists: Gather in the lost. Theirs is an emphasis of preaching the

gospel to sinners.

There will be a certain "fire" to an evangelist's preaching. It could be

termed as "revival-type preaching." The word “gospel" means "Good
News!" Therefore, an evangelist will carry a message that is narrower
in scope than the other five-fold ministries. An evangelist is not called
to expound doctrine and theology. Many have been side-tracked by
getting out of their anointing.

Evangelists are an equipping ministry, like all of the five-fold gifts. They
are given to train believers how to win souls. Too much responsibility is
given to the evangelist to win the world by themselves. Their job is to
train us all to fulfill the great commission (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-
20).

Philip is the only one who is named an evangelist in the entire New
Testament (Acts 21:8). Philip began as a deacon and God promoted
him. He went to Samaria and held public meetings in which multitudes
were saved. God worked miracles through Philip that got the people's
attention:

Acts 8:6
The multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by
Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

A true evangelist will have the operation of miracles in his ministry.

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 Signs still point men to Jesus!
Study Notes
In the middle of this revival, Philip obeyed the Lord and went to the
desert to win one man to the Lord (Acts 8:26-39). True evangelists
have a passion to win souls, both publicly and one at a time.

This ministry is instrumental to the growth of local churches. An

evangelist should work in coordination with the local churches in any
designated field. Christ's command is not only to convert sinners, but
to disciple them. An evangelist should also have a home local church
that he is submitted to and from which he works.

Pastors: Literally "shepherds." Pastors tend the flock of God, taking

direct oversight.

I Peter 5:2-3 exhorts pastors: Shepherd the flock of God

which is among you, serving as overseers, not by constraint
but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being
lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the
flock.

Pastoring is a ministry of feeding, leading and guarding the sheep. The

authority to lead is predicated by the ability to feed. Having a good
heart does not qualify one to be a pastor, nor does an educated mind.
The ability to feed the sheep comes from the calling and anointing of
God. While the other four gifts may itinerate, the pastor's primary
responsibility is the local church. Thus we have the heavy emphasis
that is placed on this office in respect to the local church. Pastors are
the primary care givers to the local congregation.

Though pastors are in the primary leadership position in the local

church, they cannot do their job without the other four ministries. A
congregation needs to be influenced by all five of the ministry gifts to
be brought to maturity (see Ephesians. 4:11-13).

Teachers: Ground God's people in the Word of God.

These are not Sunday school teachers, but anointed ministers that
bring clarity and understanding to the Word of God. They are avid
students of the Word themselves, studying to show themselves
approved unto God (2 Tim. 2:15). Someone who has no desire to study
is definitely not called to be a teacher.

A teacher must guard against becoming just another "echo." The

teachers in Christ's day were just echoes of the rabbis. God wants a

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 teacher to be a voice not an echo! When Christ the Pattern Teacher
Study Notes
taught, people were astonished at His anointing: “And so it was, when
Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His
teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the
scribes" (Matt. 7:28-29).

Teachers desire to see others come up to their level of understanding

and even surpass them. A teacher is not a lecturer that impresses
everyone with his knowledge. If no one is learning then no one is
teaching! To preach is to proclaim; to teach is to explain.

A teacher should be a sound theologian, well-rounded, not just

teaching one subject or doctrine: A teacher should also be a sound
hermeneutician, that is, be able to "rightly divide the Word of Truth" (2
Tim 2:15b). Some who call themselves teachers have never developed
these skills. The Body should not have to suffer in doctrine just to have
the Spirit! Qualified teachers know how to expound the whole truth in
a rightly divided manner in the power of the Spirit

Multiple Offices
These five offices serve the Body of Chris as equipping ministries.
Ephesians 4:11 says that only “some” are called to these equipping
ministries. It is also stated that only God can do the calling: "And He
gave…” In the original Greek this is in the intensive form, literally
saying, "He, Himself, and no other gave."

It is possible for a person to be called to more than one office at a

time, in 1 Timothy 2:7 Paul refers to himself as an apostle and a
teacher. It is also possible to "graduate" to a higher office than
previously used in. This is usually the case with the office of apostle.
Paul was also called a prophet and a teacher before his apostolic
setting apart:

Acts 13:1-4a
1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain
prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was
called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had
been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost
said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto
I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands
on them, they sent them away.
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost

Notice that Paul had been standing in the office of prophet and
teacher. At this point Paul had been saved for approximately ten

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Study Notes years. When the Holy Ghost spoke, He spoke in terms of separation to
a calling that Barnabas and Paul (Saul) had not previously stood in.
From that point forth it was "Paul the apostle."

The Work of the Ministry

As previously stated, all of the five-fold offices are equipping
ministries. Let us be reminded of the goals of the five-fold ministry, as
listed in Ephesians 4:12-16:

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the

ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and
fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by
what every joint supplies, according to the effective working
by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body
for the edifying of itself in love.

The Body of Christ is to do the work of the ministry. The ministry of

the believer and the priesthood of the believer is never minimized or
diminished by the five-fold ministry. The five-fold ministries serve to
maximize the ministry and priesthood of every believer. If any of the
five-fold ministries is neglected then the Body becomes less effective
in essential areas listed in Ephesians 4:12-16, such as:

• The work of the ministry

• Edification
• Unity
• Knowledge
• Maturity
• Doctrine
• Truth
• Love
• The working of every part.

Governing Offices
Out of these five offices, three of them are primarily involved in
governing, on the basis of their function and place of operation. They

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Study Notes are the apostle, the prophet, and the pastor.

• Apostle: The apostle oversees many churches, being a

spiritual father, giving correction when needed.

• Prophet: The prophet gives insight and confirmation into

the operation of local churches. If the leadership is off
course, he brings rebuke and/or adjustment.

o Note: the apostle and prophet's ministry is wider

in scope than one local church. They are not
involved in the everyday affairs of local church life.

• Pastor: The role of the pastor is involved in the everyday

affairs of the local church. Therefore, the office of the
pastor is the primary governing ministry of the local
church. He does not operate independently of the apostle
and prophet, or for that matter the evangelist and teacher.
The pastor works in cooperation with the other ministry
gifts. Ideally, each pastor should be submitted to an
apostle.

In fact, may who are called “pastor” are standing in the office of
multiple gifts such as apostle, prophet, teacher. However, due to
failure to understand the purpose and nature of these gifts, the title of
pastor is used to encompass everything. For that matter, none of the
five gifts are titles but rather job descriptions – functions. Respect
cannot be demanded on the basis of a title. Title power will not set
anyone free, only the power of the Holy Spirit.

At The River, we will have the entire five-fold ministry in function.

Some gifts may be local – within the church body, while others may be
itinerant. The itinerant ministries, though not full-time within the
church body, will have a voice into our church, as designated by God.

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Study Notes

Pastoral Church Government

The above description has become commonly known as "Pastoral
Church Government." When operated with proper checks and
balances, this is proper order. Some may disagree and say that the
church should be governed by a group of ministers/elders who are
equal in authority. While there should be a ministry team and a group
of elders in every church, there has to be one head for proper order. In
other words, there should be plurality of leadership, but there cannot
be plurality of headship.

In the New Testament there are three analogies given to the local
church:

1. The Universal Church

2. The human body
3. The marriage relationship

All three of these have only one head! It is clear that the local church
should have one head. There should be government over the head
(e.g., church fellowship, ordaining organization, apostolic authority),
and government under the head (e.g., associate pastors, elders,
deacons). However, the ones over him and the ones under him cannot
be the same people.

When God was selecting Moses' successor, listen to what Moses said
to God:

Numbers 27:16-17
Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man over
the congregation, who may go out before them and go in
before them who may lead them out and bring them in, that
the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which
have no shepherd [pastor].

There must be a "Set Man" over the congregation. Headship is not

dictatorship. Headship is for the establishment of order. There is even
order in the Godhead, 1 Corinthians 11:3 says, "The Head of Christ is
God." Christ is equal in terms of deity, but He is submitted to the

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Study Notes Father in terms of order. The set man, or the lead pastor, is not better
than the other ministries in the church, but in terms of order, God has
placed him at the head.

God sets the members in the Body, every one of them, as it pleases
Him (1 Cor. 12:18). It is not man's choice who should be in charge.
Man-appointed leadership has bankrupted the church of the power of
God for too long.

Jesus addressed the seven churches of the Roman province of Asia in

the book of Revelation through the letters of the Apostle John. Each
letter to the seven churches was addressed to "the angel" of each
respective church. We know that heavenly angels weren't governing
those churches. The word "angel" (angelos) literally means
"messenger." Jesus was speaking to the messenger of each church. He
said the messenger, singular not plural. So while there is plurality of
leadership, there is not plurality of headship. As one preacher said,
"Anything with more than one head is a monster."

There was plurality of leadership at the church in Jerusalem, but James

was the head. This is clear from Acts chapter 15. We will discuss the
role of James further, later in the module.

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Study Notes

Two Levels of Elders

In understanding the role of elders, it is important to know that there
are two levels of elders:

1. Five-fold Elders
2. Supportive Elders

All five-fold ministers are elders themselves. Consider the following

Scriptures:

• 1 Peter 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I

[Peter] who am a fellow elder
• Both the 2nd and 3rd epistles of the Apostle John begin
with "The Elder to…”

All of the five-fold ministry offices are elders. These are the ruling
elders. They are called to govern the church of the living God. It should
be noted that all that give themselves the title of "pastor" are not
called by God. But those that are, are hand-picked and groomed by the
Holy Spirit for the task.

God said in Jeremiah 3:15: I will give you pastors

according to My heart.

God's pastors are not perfect. However, if God looked beyond their
faults to give them the gift and the office, then God's people must look
beyond their faults and submit to them.

This distinction and separation in elders can be clearly seen in 1

Timothy 5:17:

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of

double honor, especially those who labor in the Word
and doctrine.

The elders who rule are the ones who labor in the ministry of the
Word. Not all do this, as is indicated by the word "especially"
concerning those who do. The term "double honor" is referring to

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Study Notes financial provision. Five-fold elders should be supported by the church.
The government of the church should be in the hands of those who are
directing its affairs on a full-time basis, not in the hands of
businessmen who are not called into the five-fold ministry. They have
their businesses to run; God has not chosen to qualify them to run the
church also. They have their expertise to offer in a supportive role, but
those outside of the five-fold calling do not govern the church, except
in the supportive role.

When Paul begins to list the qualifications of an elder in 1 Timothy

chapter three, he starts off by saying: "This is a faithful saying: If a man
desires the position of a bishop [elder], he desires a good work" (3:1).
This again shows the distinction and separation of elders, for one
cannot enter a five-fold ministry because he desires to, he must be
called by God. However, a person can desire to become a supportive
elder and enter into that role. It should also be noted that God may
use a person in a supportive role before He separates him to a five-fold
one. Philip was a deacon before he was an evangelist. The process is
good hands-on training.

The first mention of appointing elders in the New Testament is found

in Acts 14:23: "They [Paul and Barnabas] appointed elders in every
church" Please note two things from this first mention:

1. These elders were man-appointed; their call did not come

directly through God, as with five-fold ministries.
2. The ones who appoint you are over you in authority. God
Himself appoints five-fold ministries, and He is over them.

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Study Notes

Traditional Forms of Church Government

A Three-Fold Cord
There are three traditional forms of church government. There are
positives and negatives found in each. Imposing one of them without
regard to the others will result in imbalance and injury to God's
purposes and His people.

The three types of church government are:

1. Episcopal (derived from Greek word for "bishop" or

"overseer"): A presiding elder, having been appointed by an
overseeing bishop, rules the church. Basically it is a one-man
form of government on a local level.

2. Presbyterial (derived from the Greek word for "elder"): A

plurality of elders rule the church with equal power. The
appointment of which comes from the congregation.

3. Congregational: A democratic form of government that gives

the people the right to hire and fire the pastor, and direct the
affairs of the church by voting. It is a committee oriented
government.

These forms of government obviously entail much more detail, but this
is the basic premise of each. As stated, there are positives and
negatives in each of the three traditional forms of church government.
Below, I have listed what I see as the major strengths and weaknesses
of each system:

Episcopal
• Strengths: Biblical in its one head (lead pastor) form of
government; limits authority to those who are genuinely
called of God.
• Weaknesses: Potential danger if the one head is of a
domineering, Diotrephes-type spirit (see III John 9-10); No
checks and balances.

Presbyterial

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Study Notes • Strengths: Multiple elders provide checks and balances
against dictatorship; spreads out the spiritual load instead
of it being on one man.
• Weaknesses: Gives no one the mantle of leadership as
head, under Christ. Often leaves a church without a God-
given vision, as vision primarily comes to individuals (see
Acts 26:19).

Congregational
• Strengths: Actively involves the congregation in church
matters; gives people a feel of ownership, thus are willing
to sacrifice.
• Weaknesses: The Biblical pattern is a Theocracy (God-
ruled), not Democracy (people-ruled); strips God-
appointed leaders of their authority; “Laodicea” literally
means "people-ruled" (see Rev. 3:14-17).

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says: "A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” The
early church operated a government that was comprised of the
strengths of each of the three traditional forms of church government.
The history of the Church shows repeatedly that man takes a portion
of divine truth and tries to make it a whole. That is why there are so
many denominations with different points of emphasis. Restoration
involves taking the good out of the present and eliminating the bad.
Even an old cow is smart enough to eat the hay and spit out the sticks.

In the book of Acts we can see the early church operating in the
strengths of all three systems. One place that they can all be found
together is at the first Church council in Acts chapter 15. The apostles
and elders were meeting to discuss the problems that arose with the
great influx of Gentile believers. Should circumcision be done away
with and so forth? The student should read verses 1-22 for a complete
understanding. For the purpose of the subject at hand I only quote
that which pertains to each of the three forms of government.

• Presbyterial: "So the apostles and elders came to consider

this matter" (v. 6).
• Episcopal: “Therefore I [James] judge that we should not
trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to
God" (v. 19).
• Congregational: "Then it pleased the apostles and elders
with the whole church" (v. 22).

The decision by James, as the Lead pastor at the Church of Jerusalem,

was made only after listening to the counsel of the apostles and elders.
As the head of the local church at Jerusalem, James was responsible
for making the final decision. However, he exercised much wisdom by

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Study Notes consulting with those of spiritual maturity and experience. The
congregation had complete confidence in their God-appointed leaders.
The decision from James pleased not only the apostles and elders, but
the entire congregation.

James, as the Lead pastor, was making himself accountable for his
decisions. He was not a dictator that ruled independently of the
counsel of elders or the well-being of the congregation.

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Study Notes

Who is Over the Pastors?

Like James, today's pastors need a system of checks and balances to
make them accountable. God needs men and women of integrity.
Those who are God-appointed welcome the oversight and counsel of
spiritual fathers. We should learn from the mistakes of recent
ministries that have fallen. Let us not forget to "consider ourselves lest
we also be tempted" (Gal. 6:1).

Five-fold ministers should govern themselves through a presbytery, a

group of five-fold elders in covenant agreement. Fellow ministers that
have covenanted together to build up the Body of Christ, and help one
another fulfill their callings is a divine pattern of ministry and covering.
Everyone needs a covering, especially those on the front lines. May the
Lord give us more spiritual fathers and men and women with the loyal
hearts of a Jonathan (see 1 Samuel 18).

The ordaining organization of a pastor should serve as an overseeing

body. Denominations have built-in oversight in their government, but
independent works often lack a true covering. Sadly many ordaining
organizations have little or nothing to do with their ministers. Just an
annual renewal fee keeps them current as an affiliated minister.
God has divine connections for His servants. Without such, a spirit of
isolation will try to creep in to the pastor's heart. Independence should
not mean isolation! The ordaining organization should serve as a point
of oversight, and, if need be, correction. But if that isn't the case, a
minister should seek out some type of minister's fellowship in which to
affiliate.

Submission to an apostolic authority is also recommended. Only those

submitted authority can in authority. Pastors must be willing to submit
to people over them in the Lord, and to one another (1 Pet. 5:5).

I was ordained by Lester Sumrall in 1990 and have maintained a close

relationship with that ministry. It has been a source of direction for me
and God has used that ministry countless times to speak into my life.
Dr. Sumrall was a true apostle according to Scripture and his sons
continue to carry that mantle.

The purpose in accountability is not to bring people into

denominational bondage (it's possible to be in a denomination without

19
Study Notes being in bondage). The purpose is to love one another, network our
ministries, give prayerful counsel, and protect the flock. The objective
is not to control! The spirit of competition must be avoided, because
where there is competition, control follows close behind. This is what
has happened in many denominations.

One final note about apostolic covering over pastors and churches: the
apostolic covering does not dictate over the pastor or the church. A
review of the small epistle of Philemon reveals how an apostle
provides guidance. Paul was sending back Onesimus to Philemon and
the church in his house. Instead of telling Philemon what he was going
to do, he instead sought his consent and cooperation.

Philemon 1:14
But without your consent I wanted to do nothing,
that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as
it were, but voluntary.

The members of the congregation should have full knowledge of the

relationships of their pastors with the overseeing fellowship. In doing
so, an example of submission is set for them to follow towards their
pastors. As well, there should be some policy in place where the
people under a leader can have him removed if he gets into error.
Supportive elders are in place to provide this type of protection. I have
drawn up a pastoral covenant agreement that monitors the office of
the pastor in regards to three areas of concern:

1. Doctrinal Error
2. Moral Failure
3. Financial Mishandling.

Procedures are given in that covenant agreement for dealing with a

pastor who has fallen prey to the above problems. The days have come
where the truly called and anointed of God want accountability in their
ministries. If we do not judge ourselves, we will be judged by the Lord
(1 Cor. 11:31-32).

Pastors, elders, deacons, and the entire congregation, along with the
apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers must work together, each
finding their place in the house of God. When that divine pattern is
reached, we should expect the glory to fill the house!

As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 3:15:

I write so that you may know how you ought to

conduct yourself in the house of God which is the
church of the living God, the pillar and ground of
truth.

20
Study Notes

When Leaders Fall Into Sin

What happens when a leader falls into sin? Should there be immediate
restoration? Should there be complete removal? Does the Bible tell us
how the church should respond? Much debate has centered on these
and other questions. The solution of some has been to just ignore the
problem and hope it goes away on its own. It doesn't.

The Bible specifically tells us how to respond to a leader that falls into
sin. The passage is found in 1Timothy 5:19-22. After reading it we will
dissect the different steps of the process.

1Timothy 5:19-22
19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder
except from two or three witnesses.
20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of
all, that the rest also may fear.
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ
and the elect angels that you observe these things
without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.
22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in
other people's sins.

Step #1: (v. 19) Due to the honor of the position, a leaders must not be
accused without two or three reliable witnesses. The church is told to
not receive any accusations which are unconfirmed. This is difficult for
some, as many want to believe the worst about a leader on the basis
of hearsay.

Upon the evidence of two or three reliable witnesses, a leader is to be

confronted about his sin. He should be given the facts of the witnesses
and given an opportunity to either confirm or deny them. When it
becomes established that the elder has fallen into sin, the church
leadership should proceed with step #2.

Step #2: (v. 20) The sinning leader should be publicly rebuked. There
are certain situations where this would not apply. However, we must
not change the instructions of the Holy Word of God! The purpose of
this rebuke is not to humiliate the offender but to cause the

21
Study Notes congregation to fear God. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
When sin is tolerated among the leadership, it will run rampant in the
congregation.

What type of sin would require this extreme measure? The list in 1
Corinthians 5:11 and 6:9-10 serves well:

a. Fornicator
b. Covetous man
c. Idolater
d. Reviler
e. Drunkard
f. Extortioner
g. Adulterer
h. Homosexual
i. Sodomite
j. Thief

These types of offenders have no place in the Kingdom of God (I Cor.

6:9-10). The Church is forbidden to fellowship with them (I Cor. 5:11).
Certainly they have no place in leadership.

Step #3: (v. 21) These instructions are to be followed without prejudice
and partiality. Regardless of how well-liked an individual is, there can
be no partiality in administering divine correction.

Step #4: Verse 22 says: "Do not lay hands on anyone hastily.” This is
making reference to the appointment of leaders. Keeping with the
context of the passage, it refers to the reinstatement of leaders. The
counterpoint of this admonition is: "Nor share in other people's sins"
(v. 22b). By laying hands on an offending leader too hastily to reinstate
him, the leadership team is sharing in the sin of the former leader.

If reinstatement is not to be done hastily, the conclusion is that it is to

be done patiently and progressively. Some believe that it should not be
done at all, but this isn't what Paul is saying. There are certain
instances of failure where restoration to leadership is not capable.
However, this does not preclude one from restoration to God and the
family of God.

In most cases the patient and progressive route is available. This would
be considered a probationary period. How long should this be? It is
dependent on the individual progress of the person, as well as the level
of failure from which one is overcoming. The family of the leader being
restored is also of primary consideration. Rushing back into ministry
can result in further damage.

Obviously, there can be other types of personal failures that do not

22
Study Notes require such a lengthy process. Further, the above mentioned
timeframe should not be approached in a legalistic way; there will
always be exceptions. On the flip side, there are some who will not
respond to correction whether it’s two years or twenty years. The
bottom line is that Biblical restoration can be successfully completed.
The process may seem slow, but it is well worth the effort and time
spent.

23
 Study Questions, Part 1

1. What caused judgment to fall when David first tried to bring the Ark to Zion?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. Define the term "Divine Order."

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. How is each believer's "place" confirmed within a local body?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. Should the Church be governed by elders and deacons, or the five-fold ministry? Why?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. What is the first foundational stone of divine order? What Scripture shows this?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

6. Give a brief definition of each of the five ministry gifts.

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________

4. ___________________________________________________________________________________

5. ___________________________________________________________________________________

7. What are the three levels of apostles?

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________

24
2. ___________________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________

8. What are the three major realms of prophecy?

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________

9. Who is the only evangelist named in the New Testament?

___________________________________________________________________________________

10. Which ministry gift is the primary caregiver to the local church?

___________________________________________________________________________________

11. What is the difference between preaching and teaching?

Preaching:
___________________________________________________________________________________

Teaching:
___________________________________________________________________________________

12. Why is the office of pastor the primary governing ministry of the local church?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

13. There should be plurality of ____________________ , but there cannot be plurality of

___________________.

14. In the New Testament there are three analogies given to the local church; what are they?

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________

15. What were the "Angels" of the seven churches of Asia Minor?

___________________________________________________________________________________

25
16. What are the two levels of elders in the New Testament? What scripture shows this distinction?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

17. Which of the two levels of elders are ruling elders?

___________________________________________________________________________________

18. Why shouldn't businessmen be the ones running the church?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

19. What are the three traditional forms of church government? What is one strength and weakness of
each?

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________

20. Where in the New Testament can all three forms of government be seen at work simultaneously?

___________________________________________________________________________________

21. Who was the Senior Pastor at Jerusalem? How did he show much wisdom?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

22. What is a presbytery and how does it function?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

23. Only those __________________ to authority can be in __________________.

24. Name some of the purposes of accountability.

___________________________________________________________________________________

26
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

25. What three areas of concern are covered in the "Pastoral Contract"?

1. _________________________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________________________________

27
Study Notes

Delegated Authority and Submission

Romans 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject to the
governing authorities. For there is no authority
except from God, and the authorities that exist are
appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the
authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who
resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Heaven is God's throne and the earth is His footstool, everything God
does is ruled in order. Authorities exist because God instituted them;
they are the "ordinance of God." Authorities exist in spiritual, domestic
and civil realms, and every other facet of society. To rebel against
authority is to rebel against God!

God's Church is established upon the authority of its Head – the Lord
Jesus Christ. However, God has ordained delegated authority under
Christ to carry out His purposes in the Church. These authorities are
primarily the five-fold ministries He has set in the Church (1 Cor.
12:18). Beyond that, on a local level, we see that there is a chain of
command instituted by God Himself.

Scripture teaches us that each local church is to be autonomous, that

is, self-governing. Within that self-government there are several
authorities which are delegated by God. The order of delegated
authority within a given local church would be as follows:

1. Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church; both universal and local.
Unless Christ is the Head, all those after Him are laboring in
vain (Ps. 127:1). The human body cannot function properly and
in coordination without the direct signals of the head. Even so,
the Body of Christ cannot properly function without the direct
involvement and guidance of its Head, Jesus Christ.

2. The Lead Pastor is essentially the "set man" over the

congregation (Num. 27:16). The lead pastor is the primary
under-shepherd, under Christ. The lead pastor is responsible
for the vision and the implementation of that vision, which
entails the facilitation of key roles to those under him. He is an

28
Study Notes overseer of the overseers. The final decisions are his
responsibility (Acts 15:19).

3. The Pastoral Staff: As a church grows this necessitates the

need for more pastoral care. A pastoral staff would consist of
associates and assistants. Youth pastors and music ministers
may also fall into this category, if so designated by the lead
pastor. The pastoral staff is directly submitted to the lead
pastor.

The primary role of the pastoral staff is not preaching from the
pulpit, though it does not exclude it, but pastoral care to the
flock – personal ministry. The congregation and elders should
show respect and submission to the pastoral staff for they are
the representatives of the lead pastor.

4. The Elders: Supportive elders are not five-fold in function or

authority, but a ministry of helps. They undergird and support
the pastors. They are burden-bearers. Supportive elders
provide pastoral care to the flock by way of prayer, counseling
and personal ministry.

The authority of a supportive elder is conditional upon the job

description of each elder. If an elder is in charge of the follow-
up ministry, then that elder is in authority over the follow-up.
However, that same elder is not in authority over the Sunday
school ministry. By no means is this an unconditional
authority. Elders must be submitted to the entire pastoral staff
and ultimately to the lead pastor. Major decisions are not to
be made without consulting those in authority.

5. The Deacons: Although not a governmental ministry by

definition, a deacon is still in a leadership role. A deacon
should be a role model servant. Deacons oversee the physical
aspects of church life, and are often called upon to meet
spiritual needs by the congregation (e.g., Philip, Stephen).
Deacons are under the direct supervision of the elders and are
ultimately accountable to the lead pastor.

Submission to those over you in the Lord is a key factor in

one's ultimate success or failure in the things of God. One
cannot be in authority who has not submitted to authority.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be

submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as
those who must give account. Let them do so with joy
and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for
you.

29
Study Notes
I have the following written in the back of my study Bible:

Four types of people present opposition to your assignment, vision

and ministry:

1. Those who don’t receive it

2. Those who don’t respect it
3. Those who don’t protect it
4. Those who don’t believe that you can achieve it

When the lead pastor selects those who will help serve the flock in
official roles, careful consideration should be given to not select
someone who meets any of the above descriptions.

When Jesus selected the 12, He spent all night with the Father in
prayer:

Luke 6
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went
out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night
in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called
His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose
twelve whom He also named apostles

There were many disciples following Jesus at that point. Jesus didn’t
just pick 12 random men. Some track records had been established.
Jesus spent all night with God in prayer and carefully selected the 12
based on the Father’s will. A pastor cannot just pick men based on the
outward appearance or someone’s success in the business arena.
Those appointed to leadership in the church must be prayerfully and
carefully chosen.

30
Study Notes

Board of Directors
Most autonomous churches are non-profit corporations. The
government recognizes this as 501(c)3 status. The board of directors of
a corporation governs the business affairs of that organization. There
are several privileges attained by incorporating including:

a. Tax-exempt status.
b. Protection for individual members against lawsuits (though
the corporation itself may be sued).
c. Individual members are also shielded from personal
liability for the debts of the corporation.

Certain requirements must be met before a church can incorporate.

The government is imposing itself more and more upon the affairs of
the Church. The 501(c)3 status is not given out as readily as in the past.
The financial mishandlings of some big ministries have largely
contributed to this. A non-profit corporation cannot be established for
the business of making a profit. This is not to say that its officers
cannot have a salary, but it must be considered reasonable and not
excessive.

Requirements for non-profit incorporation include:

• Preparing articles of incorporation: pertinent information

about the organization.
• Having a Constitution and Bylaws: the rules of internal
government.
• Having a minimum of three board members and a maximum of
nine. President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer are
mandatory. The same person may hold two or more offices
(other than president and secretary).
• Maintaining records: financial records and minutes of board
meetings.
• Conducting an annual business meeting.

The president should be the lead pastor. The other positions should be
filled by people of integrity and spiritual maturity, chosen from among
the pastoral staff and elders. Additional board members may be

31
Study Notes termed advisors. An advisor may be selected from outside the
immediate body. If the pastor has a spiritual father or an apostle that
he is submitted to, this person would serve well as an advisor.

Although an elder may be selected to be on the board of directors, the

board is separate from the elder's ministry. The two functions are not
to be confused. Being an elder does not entitle one to make business
decisions for the church. This is the function of the board of directors.

The River is currently entering the process for incorporation.

32
Study Notes

The Jerusalem Model

Acts chapter 15 records the first general council of the New Testament
Church. As previously mentioned, dissention had entered the Church
over the influx of Gentile believers. Paul was the apostle to the
Gentiles and he had been having a mighty move of God. Gentiles were
receiving the gospel far more readily than the Jews. The dispute was
over the law of Moses, especially circumcision. Should the Gentile
believers be circumcised and obey the Mosaic law?

The following is an excerpt from that meeting:

Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small

dissension and dispute with them, they
determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain
others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the
apostles and elders, about this question ... So the
apostles and elders, came together to consider this
matter. And when there had been much dispute,
Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren,
you know that a good while ago God chose among us,
that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word
of the gospel and believe"... Then all the multitude
kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul
declaring how many miracles and wonders God had
worked through them among the Gentiles. And after
they had become silent James answered saying,
“Men and brethren, listen to me ... Therefore I judge
that we should not trouble those from among the
Gentiles who are turning to God"... Then it pleased
the apostles and elders, with the whole church
(Acts 15:2, 6-7, 12-13, 19, 22)

There was a coming together of the apostles and elders over this
matter. No one person was in a position to hand down a decision
without such a meeting. Paul and Barnabas represented the interests
of the Gentiles. Peter also spoke up for the Gentile believers.
Remember it was Peter that first brought the gospel to a Gentile
household (Acts 10).

33
Study Notes
There was a chain of command or authority at the Church of
Jerusalem. It was not a dictatorship but James, the half-brother of the
Lord, was the head, or the lead pastor at Jerusalem. After much
discussion and prayer James arose and gave his decision (v. 19). Wait a
minute, didn't they take a vote? No! Remember, the House of the
Lord is not governed by a democracy (people-ruled), but a theocracy
(God-ruled). God rules through delegated authority. James was the
man that God hand-picked to be in charge of the Jerusalem church.
The final decision was his.

The rest of the apostles and elders, along with the congregation,
submitted to the judgment of James (v. 22). A wise leader will listen to
those God has placed around him. He will also listen to the Holy Spirit,
and be bold enough to make a decision. A lead pastor cannot be
double-minded, back and forth. And, if so required by the Holy Spirit,
he must be able to rise up against the tide of popular opinion and take
a stand. At that point the elders should stand with their leadership
(unless morally, doctrinally, or ethically in error) and give their full
support. A divided spirit cannot be allowed!

34
Study Notes

Moses’ System of Delegation

Exodus 18:21 Moreover you shall select from all the people
able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating
covetousness: and place such over them to be rulers of
thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of
tens.

The delegation of authority by Moses was based upon each individual

elder's ability. Some were given more responsibility than others. Yet
each had their own segment of the congregation that they were
responsible for. They were to deal with and resolve the small matters
and bring the great matters to Moses.

Some church government experts think that a local church needs a

supportive elder per every ten families. The average family equals out
to 2.5 people; this means that for every 25 people in the congregation
an elder is needed. A church of 100 would need four elders.

Number of Members Elders Needed

100 4
200 8
300 12
500 20
1000 40

Of course it doesn't always work out this way, for many reasons. But it
is a good guideline to grow by. It has also been said that a pastor can
only truly pastor about 200 people. At that point, major changes have
to be made to accommodate further growth. Delegation of authority
and facilitation of ministry have to be accepted by the congregation to
move beyond that barrier. If it has not been a practice up to this point,
rough sailing lies ahead. Jesus put the principle of delegation and
facilitation into practice with twelve. Start when you're small!

If an elder is assigned to ten families, what does this entail? The

following is a list of some of the responsibilities involved:

35
Study Notes • Making sure each family is in attendance at the worship
services, and if not, finding out why.
• Being available for personal ministry through the week and
before and after services.
• Helping to resolve any conflicts or division that occurs with
those families and someone else in the church. Enforcing
Matthew 18:15-17.
• Representing the pastors in a positive light at all times.
• Regularly calling and/or visiting the ten families of one's
responsibility.
• The members of the congregation are to call their assigned
elder if personal ministry or prayer is needed (James 5:14).

The pastors should give great prayer and attention to the selection of
members under a particular elder's care. If problems arise within the
relationship, the pastors should step in and resolve it. At times it is
best to reassign the member to another elder (after strife has been
resolved).

Under this system of delegation an elder has authority within the

boundaries of his assignment. At all times, an elder is an extension of
the pastoral office. The authority of the elder goes only as far as his
submission to the pastor extends it. To avoid a sectarian spirit from
developing it may be necessary to occasionally reassign the elders to
different families. Without proper oversight from the pastors, a split
may occur when an elder takes too much upon himself (see the story
of Korah: Numbers 16).

An Elder’s Honor
The position of elder within the local church is one of honor. Because
of the responsibilities and the hard work of these faithful few, there
should be a respect for them in the eyes of the congregation. Elders
are part of the authority that God ordained. To show disrespect for an
elder is to disrespect God.

1Timothy 5:1 says "Do not rebuke an elder." This is primarily speaking
of chronological age, but the principle of respect applies to spiritual
elders as well.

Just like pastors, elders are not perfect. If one looks for faults, then
faults will be found. If God needed someone perfect to work through
then He would have no one besides Jesus. The treasure of the
anointing is within earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7). God does not say to
submit to personalities but to the office. When one's heart is
submitted to God, it is possible to submit to someone of personal
dislike.

36
Study Notes The elder's ministry is part of the pastoral ministry that oversees a
church. As such, respect and submission should be shown them by the
congregation. They should be recognized as spiritual leaders within
the flock.

I Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we urge you brethren, to

recognize those who labor among you, and are over
you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem
them very highly in love for their work's sake.

37
Study Notes

Appointment and Terms of Elders

It is important to understand how one enters the office of a supportive
elder, as well as how one leaves that same office, if the situation
arises. Supportive elders are God-gifted but man-called. Let me clarify
that: the gifts that make one suitable to be an elder are given by God,
but the appointment is not divine, on the level of a five-fold calling.
Concerning the five-fold ministry, the Word says, “And He Himself gave
some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some
pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11). This type of appointment by God
Himself is never connected with supportive elders in the local church.
How then are supportive elders appointed? Acts 14:23 and Titus 1:5
answer this question.

Acts 14:23
So when they [Paul and Barnabas] had appointed
elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they
commended them to the Lord in whom they had
believed.

Titus 1:5
For this reason I [Paul] left you [Titus] in Crete, that
you should set in order the things that are lacking,
and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.

It is clear from these two verses that elders are chosen and appointed
by the office of the pastor and/or apostle.

The term of an elder is indefinite unless certain circumstances develop.

These conditions include:

• Sin in the elder’s life

• Unfaithfulness to church
• Insubordination to the pastor and/or staff
• An elder’s lack of desire and commitment to continue in
the office

38
Study Notes Other situations may also occur which necessitates the removal of an
elder, such as physically moving from the area.

It is within the pastor’s responsibilities to appoint or dismiss an elder

for legitimate reasons. As we will see in the module on elders, removal
is not to be done based on the elder not being a “yes man.” God is not
looking for yes men, nor are godly pastors. But when legitimate
reasons develop, removal should be done by the pastor. He that
appoints you is over you in the Lord. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey those
who rule over you, and be submissive” An important spiritual principle
remains: he who has the authority to appoint you has the authority to
remove you.

Additional modules in this series include:

• The Biblical Qualifications and Functions of an Elder

• The Biblical Qualifications and Functions of a Deacon

39
 Study Questions, Part 2

1. To rebel against _______________ is to rebel against God.

2. To whom has Jesus delegated authority to carry out His purposes in the church?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. What does autonomous mean and how does it relate to church government?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the proper order in a local churches’ chain of authority?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. Why does there need to be a chain of authority in a local church?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

6. What is the lead pastor responsible for in the chain or order?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

7. What is the role of the pastoral staff within a church?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

8. What is the authority of a supportive elder conditional upon? Explain.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

9. Are deacons a governmental ministry?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

40
10. Explain what 501(c)3 represents.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

11. Who governs the affairs of a non-profit corporation?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

12. What are the requirements for a non-profit corporation?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

13. What is the difference between the board of directors and the elder's ministry?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

14. What was the outcome of the Church council at Jerusalem? What procedure was employed to arrive
at this outcome?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

15. How many people can one pastor personally minister to and genuinely pastor? What changes have
to be made to accommodate further growth?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

16. What are some of the responsibilities of an elder towards his assigned families?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

17. What should be done if conflict arises between an elder and one of his assigned members?

41
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

18. What may be done to avoid church splits from occurring in this system of delegation?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

19. What are the four steps involved in dealing with a sinning elder?

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________

20. Explain how one enters the office of an elder, and how one is to leave that same office, if the
situation arises. Name the important spiritual principle given.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

42