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A brother writes:
 In
the absence of elders, does the business meeting take the
oversight of the congregation? Has the local preacher a limited
voice, or no voice at all, in business meeting affairs?
Concerning
the oversight of a congregation, it is well to begin with an
examination of the function of the elders — for many consider
them almost as a “sacred order” — a sort of priesthood,
set above the “ordinary” members — having an “official”
position. Jesus makes it clear that there is only one Master,
Christ, “and all ye are brethren” (Matt. 23:8). The idea of
“official” (in our current sense) is completely missing from
1 Tim. 3:1. Marshall’s literal translation is, “If anyone
aspires to oversight, he desires a good work.” The K.J. uses
“office” in the sense of function, not of hierarchy. (See
Vine Expository Dictionary, on “bishop.”)
Nor
is the evangelist an “officer of the church at large” as
some have claimed. Careful reflection will show that all such
“official” positions are a hang-over from the hierarchal
system of the Catholic church. They seek their “authority”
in a succession of bishops — divine (?) authority handed down
by imposition of hands, etc., and supposedly dating back to
Christ’s appointment of the apostles (which they also
misunderstand and misuse). The whole idea is erroneous, making a
special group of “priests” among God’s people; when we are
taught (1 Pet. 2:5,9) that all the saints are priests in the
priesthood of Christ (Heb. 7:). Elders are never referred to as
arbitrary rulers
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or lords (as in Matt. 20:25-26);
and this sort of “rule” is specifically forbidden in 1 Pet.
5:3.
But
the team-work of saints necessitates some form of harness, some
one to direct and guide the “team” (congregation) and to “watch
for” or inspect, oversee them. The word “rule” in Heb.
13:17 points to “leaders”; in 1 Thes. 5:12 “over you”
refers to those who “stand before”; and in 1 Pet. 5:2 “feed”
indicates those who “tend” or “shepherd.” The Holy
Spirit gives us the qualifications needed by such men (1 Tim. 3:
Titus 1:), but in the very nature of the case it is up to the
saints (members of the team) to judge who have such
qualifications, and to recognize them and function under their
guidance. The “authority” (right to rule and expect such
submission as is essential to that rule) comes from the members
of the congregation — i.e., it is a position based upon the
judgment of the congregation. If the congregation believes the
appointed bishops no longer have the qualifications required by
the Holy Spirit-- they can, by the same process, remove them
from that position with its functions.
Please
note, I did not say congregational agreement respecting a man
“made” him a scripturally qualified overseer. The brethren
could make a mistake in judgment, appointing poorly qualified
men, and ignoring well qualified men. But the right to appoint
is resident in the saints, and the congregation will do well or
badly on the basis of how they meet this and other
responsibilities to God.
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