My dear readers,

THE BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH GOVERNMENT EXPLAINED

All Bible-Presbyterians believe that the Presbyterian system of church government is the biblical model for all churches to follow. The Presbyterian system of church government is rulership by plurality of elders. This is opposed to the congregational system whereby the majority rules and is sort of like an ecclesiastical democracy in which every member is given one vote to decide on the spiritual direction of the church. The congregational system might be preferred for ruling nations but not for God's people. This is not God's way. Another alternative to congregational rule is Episcopalian rule where the church is ruled by one man like the archbishop or the Pope. This is good if the "man" is holy, righteous and spiritual, for he is endowed with absolute power by the people. Sadly, absolute power corrupts absolutely and we have seen this happen over and over again because we are still talking about sinful human beings. This is definitely not God's way to care for His people in His church. 

The Presbyterian Church government (of which the B-P church subscribes to) is supposed to be made up of the most spiritual men in the congregation. They are like the spiritual fathers in looking after God’s children. That is why they must be chosen based upon God's revealed spiritual criteria and not man’s. These criteria are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. 

They form the Board of Elders. They are the highest office bearers in the church. The Board of Elders (BOE) shall always act by consensus (Constitution Article 17.5). All the elders and pastors have one vote each. The entire spiritual welfare of the church is under the charge and care of the BOE (stated clearly in the church’s Constitution). If an elder or a pastor commits a sin, he shall be subject to the discipline of the BOE. In other words, no one in the church is above the law of God. Every Christian is accountable to one another in the Lord, including the pastors and elders who rule within the BOE which is the highest body in the church. This is patterned after Acts 15 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7. The following are the practical implications of what it means to be a pastor and an elder in a Presbyterian Church government: 

I. Conduct and behaviour of pastor and elder – The conduct of the pastor and elder is not one of lordship but servanthood. The LORD Jesus Christ made that abundantly clear in Luke 22:24-30. The disciples were striving who was the greatest among them. The Lord Jesus Christ had to teach them that the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over their subjects, but His disciples are not to do so. The one who is chief must be the one who serves. Jesus set the example when He washed the disciples’ feet. The concept of lording over the flock of Jesus Christ is an unbiblical concept. The pastor and elder are to serve the members as servants rather than lords! 

It is a sin for any pastor or elder to lord over the flock rather than serve humbly. He has to repent! The reason is that Christ Himself came to serve. He is the example par excellence for every pastor and elder who call themselves servants of Christ. They must follow in the footsteps of their Master and Lord. 

Pastors and elders are of equal position but they have slightly different functions. The pastor being in the fulltime ministry should have the welfare of the congregation in his heart and mind all the time and must not be involved in any secular work and businesses including buying stocks and shares. To do so would be a distraction to his ministry. The pastor’s main responsibility is to teach and preach the Word of God. He is also responsible for the entire spiritual well being of the church. He must be involved in all pastoral activities pertaining to the good of the church. 

The lay elders who have to make a living are unable to give full attention to the welfare of the congregation even if they want to. In light of this, by default the elders will support the pastor. The pastor is the moderator (not the lord) of the Board of Elders, as well the Session (made up of elders and deacons and deaconesses). The pastor moderates the meetings in that he sets the agenda and ensures that all discussions are done decently and in order. He must be fair and just in all his decisions, according to Holy Scriptures. He gives spiritual directions that honour and glorify God in accordance with Holy Scriptures. He does this patiently, humbly and with love. 

Elders are not to turn their pastors into "gophers", i.e. to go for this and go for that. It is very sad that in some B-P churches, pastors have been told that they are to only preach and teach God's Word and are to leave the running of the church to the elders! This redefinition of the role of the pastor is unbiblical and will hurt and ruin the church. The pastor, who is supposed to be the most theologically trained and spiritual, must be involved in all the decisions pertaining to the ministries in the church. To relegate him to only the preaching and teaching of God's Word is a sin. For pastors to allow the elders to limit their role is abdication of their duty to the LORD and the flock. They will be judged by the LORD for their abdication. It is likened to a father who abdicates his role as head of the house to his wife. The LORD has put him in charge and thus he must lead and not allow the wife to lead. Pastors must lead by example as servants and not as lords. What happens when the pastor is in the wrong and has sinned? Can he be disciplined and be made accountable for his actions? The answer is yes. 

II. Discipline of pastor and elder – No man is above the law of God, not even the pastor and elder. Different functions do not mean different rankings within the BOE. The pastor answers to the elders, just as the elders answer to the pastor and fellow elders. This mutual accountability is the spiritual strength of the Presbyterian system given to us by God. The pastor is NOT the pope or the archbishop. The BOE must always work by consensus, i.e. unanimous decision. 

If the pastor or elder has sinned, he will be disciplined by the BOE since we do not have a presbytery or synod. This mutual accountability will prevent popish behaviour. For example, if just one elder disagrees within the BOE, a proposal cannot pass. But if the BOE sends a unanimously decided directive to the congregation, then it becomes a directive to be obeyed because it now becomes the official doctrinal position of the church. Anyone who wilfully disobeys this directive may be disciplined. For example, if the BOE unanimously accepts the doctrine of VPP (verbal plenary preservation) of the Bible as the doctrine of the church, this doctrine becomes an official doctrine for all members to accept. [Of course it will be accompanied with much patient teaching and preaching from God's Word on the subject.) 

At the end of the day if anyone who does not accept the doctrine and deliberately teaches that the Bible has mistakes in the church, he may be disciplined. In the event that the pastor or elder changes his doctrinal position after the fact, and is not for the doctrine of VPP, he too can be disciplined by the BOE. 

CONCLUSION – The Presbyterian system of church government is the most biblical model to nurture and care for the flock of Christ. The most spiritual men are placed in positions of leadership to lead by example as servants and not as lords. They do not "force" their members to become spiritual but are to pray for them and encourage them with patient love. Pastors and elders have different functions but have equality in rank. They look after each other's spiritual welfare even as they look after the spiritual welfare of the flock of Christ together. They guard each other's spiritual well being and if one were to fall into sin, the other BOE members have to discipline to restore such a one back to the fold and to fellowship with God and God's people. All believers are the keepers of their brothers and sisters in Christ to protect one another’s holy witness for Christ. 

When the B-P church of Singapore was founded, the founders decided to adopt a system whereby the pastors and elders are not in leadership for life but every three years (in some churches two years) and an election is convened so that the congregation can elect their “shepherds” once more. This is to ensure mutual accountability. Just as the members are accountable to the BOE for their spiritual well being, the BOE is accountable to the members for whether they truly care for them as they are supposed to, according to Holy Scriptures. In this way God is glorified and His children are blessed. Amen. 

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service

Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew, Pastor