Church Government

The Congregational form of government empowers the church to “execute its own rules of conduct and appoints or elects its own leaders, who act for or in behalf of the church.”[1]  In this form of government, Welch argues, “the church…will rebel at any attempt by a denomination- or leader-imposed hierarchy…administrators must become change agents rather than directors of change”[2] He goes on to discuss a pastor becomes a change agent using a small, family-led church as an example.  He instructs the change agent to “find the matriarch or patriarch of the family and change them if you want to effect change.  When the church is called to vote, then you want Grandma Hunter to raise her hand if you want all the other Hunters in church to vote.”[3]  This example is an example of why the congregational model is ineffective in administration.  This example emphasizes the congregation and places the authority of the church in the matriarch or patriarch rather than the pastor God has called to lead the flock.  To be an effective change agent, the pastor must be a visionary leader who casts vision to the membership and leads the church leadership team with authority being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance following the will of God.  The church, in turn, should follow his direction and vision.  However, the pastor cannot be allowed a free reign. [4]  This is where a modified Presbyter model is most effective.  In this model, the senior pastor can cast vision to the congregation and lead the church team.  “This approach commends a plurality of leaders among which the pastor serves as an elder and is the ‘first among equals.’”[5] The elder board has both the training and shares the vision for the church with the pastor.  This model of elder rule is part of the changing face of Southern Baptists.  “Among Southern Baptist churches today there is evidence of major erosion or overt rejection of Congregational polity in actual practice.”[6]  However, the congregation can still maintain authority in a modified Presbyter model by controlling the approval of the yearly budget and the hiring of the senior pastor. 

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[1] Robert H. Welch, Church Administration, (Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 2005), 67

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid., 68.

[4] In the congregational model, I have witnessed too many pastors fearful of losing their jobs based on the whims of the congregation.  Grandma Hunter and her family dictate the vision and direction of the church often using the pastor as the change agent for their agenda.  On the other extreme, the monarchial model of government gives too much power to one person without accountability. 

[5] Ed Stetzer, Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age, (Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 2003), 85.

[6]James Leo Garrett, Jr., Perspectives on Church Government Edited by Chad Owen Brand and R. Stanton Norman, (Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 2004), 190.