Where In The Bible Will I Find:

Church Organization?

The church of Christ was established on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem in the year 33 A.D. On that day some three thousand souls were obedient to the preaching of the apostles and were added to it (Acts 2). Luke, the beloved physician and writer of the book of Acts, tells us that the church elected its first set of officials. The Grecians made complaint against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in their daily needs. That complaint was brought to the attention of the apostles, who recognized this need and said, “…It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables" (Acts 6:2).

The Grecians were told to look out among themselves "seven men whom we may appoint." They were to be men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom. These seven men were recognized as deacons, which simply means a "servant" or "minister." From the account given, it is evident that they were to attend to the secular wants and interests of the church.

After the church started to spread and was planted in different parts of the country, we find that another class of officials were selected and these were called elders, bishops, overseers, pastors, or shepherds and teachers. These various names all designate the same class of officers. The word elder refers to age, not necessarily in time lived upon the earth but rather his age in the church. The terms overseer and bishop have reference to one's being a guardian or a superintendent. Pastor means a feeder, and is the same as the word shepherd. They differ only in origin. Teacher, of course, implies an instructor.

The qualifications of this class are plainly given to Titus and Timothy. Except their being married and not novices, their qualifications should apply to all Christians. In the Bible every congregation had a plurality of elders. In Titus 1: 5, we read that "elders" were to be ordained. On the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, "elders" were ordained in every church (Acts 14:23).

In Acts 20:17 the "elders" of the church were called to meet Paul at Miletus. Elders of each congregation are to oversee the flock. No greater responsibility was ever committed to man. Paul said to the Ephesian elders, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).

As feeders of the flock, elders must be "apt to teach," teachers of God's Word, and to be examples to those within as well as to those outside the church. Preachers are ministers or servants and have not authority over the congregation unless he also serves as one of the elders. No congregation can be spiritual with ONE elder, or a so‑called "presiding elder," who exercises authority over other elders, and no congregation can be spiritual that allows the preacher to dominate that congregation.