The Importance of Biblical Church Leadership 

Our church government: we are an elder-led independent church

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The missionary pastor shall serve as the senior pastor until he departs from the work or the church becomes established under local leadership.  Any man whom the missionary pastor believes is qualified and who fulfills the requirements of the eldership application may be selected and appointed as an elder by the missionary pastor.

 

We see this pattern in several New Testament examples. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church they established (Acts 14:23).  Paul later called for the elders of the church in Ephesus (Acts 20:17). James instructed believers to call for the elders of the church when prayer was needed (James 5:14).  Paul also instructed Titus to appoint elders in every town (Titus 1:5).  These passages demonstrate the biblical pattern of appointing multiple qualified elders to oversee and shepherd a local congregation.

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If the senior pastor or missionary pastor dies, resigns, becomes disqualified, or is otherwise unable to serve, the remaining elders shall oversee the process of selecting and appointing a qualified replacement according to the requirements set forth in this constitution.

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If there is not a clear replacement from among the elder board, the elders shall seek the Lord's guidance through prayer and shall make the need known in order to identify the man whom God has called and qualified to serve in this position.

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If an elder/pastor dies, resigns, becomes disqualified, or is otherwise unable to serve, the remaining elders shall oversee the process of selecting and appointing a qualified replacement according to the requirements set forth in this Constitution.

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If there is not a clear replacement from among the existing elders, the elders shall seek the Lord's guidance through prayer and shall make the need known in order to identify the man whom God has called and qualified to serve in this position.

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Please Note: The size and needs of a church are not constant and should be carefully considered when determining the number of elders required to effectively shepherd the congregation.

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