"Deacons or Elders? What is the Biblical Model?"

The good thing about the current discussion/ debate in Baptist Church life over "deacons and elders" is that this issue does not affect our salvation! :) :)
First Baptist is now in the process of prayerfully selecting the new slate of deacons to serve on our deacon body for 2007. We need every member to participate and to submit a deacon ballot. The Kingdom of God prospers when godly men lead in this Biblical office . Godly deacons handle the tough issues that come up in church. They serve willingly, thus fulfilling the call inherent in the name deacon, which is to be a servant. Acts 6 and I Timothy 3 clearly mandate the office of deacon for the well being of the local New Testament church. When deacons function well, the Word of God increases in the community. Deacons are Biblical.Deacons are important. Every church member should care about the deacon body and support the church by participating in the selection process. The clear implication in Acts 6 is that the first church voted on the seven men who first served in this vital office. We should all vote in the process.

But what about the issue of replacing deacons with elders or superimposing another level of governance in the church over the deacons with a body call an "Elder Board"? This can be a thorny issue. A mega-Church in the Memphis went through a long debate on this issue this past year when the pastor brought the issue to a vote. The pastor wished to create a new church governance system with a small group of elders with himself on the elder board. The church voted down the elder board proposal by approximately 2,400 votes to 1,500 votes. The church split. The pastor resigned and now pastors a non-Baptist church in Mississippi. This is simply an illustration of the difficult issue this deacon/elder matter can become.
Most Baptist churches minister under a congregational form of government. Ideally , the deacon body is a "screening body" for business and governance matters , but the congregation has the final word under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The idea of replacing deacon governance and congregational leadership with an Elder Board is not one I support. There are various forms of elder board leadership, but all of them are ultimately an "oligarchy" , that is , the rule of a few.

The Baptist Faith and Message says that the final rule of faith and practice for the Christian and local church is the Bible. The BFM states that Baptists have historically interpreted Holy Scripture to declare there are two Biblical offices for the New Testament church. Those two offices are pastors and deacons. The historical Baptist, Biblical position is that the "elders, overseers, or bishops " mentioned in I Timothy 3:1 are the preachers, pastors and pastoral staff of a local fellowship. A system of three levels of offices in the local church of "preachers/pastors , elders, and deacons" does not seem to be supported by Scripture.
Pastors and deacons are a team to work together to handle church ministry, business, and pastoral care issues , thus freeing the pastors to focus on prayer, preaching, and teaching the Word of God.
Some object and say, " Often deacon bodies try to run the church and thus need to be replaced by an elder board." My response is that sometimes pastors try to "run" the church, but we do not need to do away with the office of pastor. You have never seen "running " the church until you see an Elder Board functioning without congregational leadership. Adding an Elder Board is unneeded in my opinion and is not Biblical.

So, what's the point? The point is that the Lord of the Church is Jesus Christ. Our church needs good and godly deacons . I urge you to pray for our deacon body and to vote in the selection process .
All of us should care about reaching people for Jesus Christ and getting out the Word of God. The main purpose and work of deacons is to handle potential problems and serve in the church in a godly and wise way. When this happens, the Holy Spirit is released in the Body of Christ, and pastors are freed to preach the Word with power and love. God is glorified, the Gospel goes out, and the world is changed when pastors and deacons function Biblically together under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
BLOG comments to roger@fbct.org

In His Marvelous Grace,
Pastor Roger P.Freeman
First Baptist Church , Clarksville