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Archiver > BRETHREN > 1999-03 > 0921953267


From: Bob Harter <>
Subject: RE: Eldership
Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 13:07:47 -0500


>Other than the German Baptist which denominations have Elders
>
>Thank You Charles Hart

Many denominations have the position of Elder which, bibilically, carries
the responsibility of overseeing the spiritual wellbeing of a group of
believers. Practically, however, the position may carry different
responsibilities in different denominations. In the German Baptist/Church
of the Brethren tradition the responsibilities of Elder approach those of
the position some denominations would call "Bishop". Each local body
elects a single elder who is responsible for overseeing the spiritual well
being of the body. The individual is often, but not necessarily, a pastor
in a nearby local body.
Baptist churches, in general, usually have a board of Elders selected from
among local body members. I am, for example, an elder in a local CBA
(Conservative Baptist of America) body. The duties of the Elder board
includes many of the duties of the Deacon Board in a Church of the
Brethren, but the primary duty is supervision of the spiritual well being
of the body. A major difference, however, is that while the Church of the
Brethren ordains both Elders and Deacons for life, Baptist churches usually
elect them for a given period of time. Differences among denominations are
related to the difference in opinion regarding proper church structure -
Authority vested in a single individual (pope, bishop of Canterbury, etc)
and conveyed through a fixed structure, authority vested in the "priesthood
all believers" who select persons from among them to oversee the body work,
or some permutation between the two endpoints. In the first case, members
of the congregation are to obey authority, in the second authority is to
obey members of the congregation.
As you can imagine, there are problems and advantages with both end
points in the spectrum - which has led to the in-between permutations. For
example, when I was younger I served one two year term as Elder in a UCC
(United Church of Christ) body. In that body the Elder Board had
absolutely no authority at all, and I don't think anyone listened to their
spiritual advice (that attitude toward authority is the major reason we
left that church - the attitude extended to the authority of Christ!!).
I hope this helps a bit.

Bob Harter

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