1 Our Church Government & Procedures
2 The Governing AuthoritiesFederal, State and Local Rom. 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
3 The Governing AuthoritiesFederal, State and Local Rom. 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
4 The Governing AuthoritiesFederal, State and Local Rom. 13:5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
5 The Governing AuthoritiesFederal, State and Local Rom. 13:7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
6 The Family Eph. 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Eph. 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
7 The Church Matthew 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
8 The Church Heb. 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
9 Limits of JurisdictionJurisdiction for the state is its citizens Jurisdiction for the Husband is his family Jurisdiction for the local church is limited to the church members In all spheres jurisdiction is also limited to the governing rules or laws.
10 Government of Tucson Reformed Baptist ChurchMost Important: all power and authority has been appointed by Christ by the Father. Since Christ is Head of the Church, Christ is the source of all her authority. There are different aspects in which Christ can be understood as Head of the Church
11 Christ As Our Federal HeadOur Legal Representative Rom. 5:18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
12 Christ As Our Federal HeadOur Legal Representative 1Cor. 15:45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.
13 Christ As Our Organic HeadThe relationship between the church as a spiritual, organic body and Christ as her head. John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Eph. 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
14 Christ As Our Organic HeadThe relationship between the church as a spiritual, organic body and Christ as her head. Col. 2:17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
15 Christ As Our Organic HeadThe relationship between the church as a spiritual, organic body and Christ as her head. Col. 2:19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. Look up 1 Cor. 12:12-31
16 Christ As Our Ruling HeadThis is headship in a administrative aspect, and is part of His kingly office Eph. 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
17 Christ As Our Ruling HeadThis is headship in a administrative aspect, and is part of His kingly office Christ is the Head of the Church as King by instituting it and having authority over it and creating the rule book. Christ also instituted the Means of Grace which the church is administer. He is always present in the Church whenever it meets for worship.
18 Christ As Our Ruling HeadThis headship is manifested through the officers that Christ has given, with authority to speak and act in His Name. Heb. 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
19 Christ As Head of the ChurchRules the Church Objectively by His Word Subjectively by His Spirit Visibly by His Officers Christ alone has the right to prescribe the form of worship, government and discipline for His Church. Christ uses the officers of the Church as his instruments whose sole task is to declare and apply His Word.
20 Elders and Deacons Our Lord Jesus Christ has ordained, according to His infallible Word, that his local churches should be blessed with the spiritual rule and ministry of special office bearers. These office bearers are Elders and Deacons.
21 The Office of Elder Christ calls the elder to this office to have power and authority derived from God’s Word to bear spiritual rule and guidance over His Church.
22 The Office of Elder The elders are called –Inwardly by the Holy Spirit - 1Tim. 3:1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Outwardly through conformation by other Elders and the Church - Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-7
23 The Office of Elder The authority given to the elder is for the service to God’s people. The elder performs this task as a labor of love and sacrifice of other pursuits to be an under shepherd of Christ. His work involves many responsibilities and therefore brings many pressures.
24 The Office of Elder A Plurality of Elders,They are equal in authority, and function as one unit under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this equality there is a diversity of duties. Every elder has general oversight over the flock, bears spiritual rule and must be apt to teach.
25 The Office of Elder A Plurality of Elders,Some will be more engaged in ruling rather than teaching. The teaching/ruling elder is usually known as a pastor. Qualifications for elder and deacon are found in 1Tim 3 and Titus 1.
26 Responsibilities of the Teaching/Ruling ElderPRAYER: To bring the congregation and their needs before God. Prayer is one way he watches over the souls of the congregation. THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD: To give himself to careful studying and searching of the Scriptures in order to properly preach and teach God’s Word to the people for their conversion and edification.
27 Responsibilities of the Ruling ElderAll Elders are responsible for the following; Oversight: Every aspect of the church is under their rule and supervision. It is illustrated by husband/father and his family or shepherd and his sheep. They will need to work closely with the deacons.
28 Responsibilities of the Ruling ElderAll Elders are responsible for the following; Teaching and Preaching: All Bible studies, pulpit ministries, Sunday School classes must be performed by one of the elders or one they appoint, such as gifted men. Counseling: Such as pre-marital, marital, family, financial and occupational problems.
29 Responsibilities of the Ruling ElderAll Elders are responsible for the following; Visitation: Such as visiting member’s homes routinely, sick visits and hospital visits. Evangelism: Teaching, leading, equipping and organizing the members to reach out to the lost with the gospel.
30 Responsibilities of the Ruling ElderAll Elders are responsible for the following; Discipleship: This involves encouraging fellow believers to grow in the faith, establish standards of accountability, and challenging them to disciple someone else. Elders will also need to train men for positions of leadership.
31 The Office of Deacon This office of service and trust has been instituted by Christ and appointed by the Church for serving and ministering to those in need. The deacons are under the oversight and authority of the elders and have no authority over the church. The deacon’s office is not training ground to be an elder.
32 The Office of Deacon The deacons should not be expected to perform all the necessary tasks in the maintenance of the church, but should help to provide the necessary leadership and organization so that all the members of the church may exercise their gifts.
33 Responsibilities of the DeaconsFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: This involves maintaining a good name for Christ and His Church by- Working with the treasurer and elders to, Establish a budget for the church Handle much of the regular financial needs and payments Close communication with the congregation concerning regular or special needs.
34 Responsibilities of the DeaconsRESPONSIBILITIES TO THE NEEDY: This involves exercising diligence in order to make sure that- Those who come to the church either from inside or outside the congregation may receive spiritual, physical or financial help. They provide counsel on how to apply oneself to employment, and proper stewardship of one’s resources.
35 Responsibilities of the DeaconsRESPONSIBILITIES TO THE CORPORATE BODY: This requires diligence in order to make sure that – All stated meetings are conducted in an orderly and proper fashion. Proper provision is made for the smooth functioning of the church ordinances. Proper visitation will be made to the sick, the widow, the orphan, and the church visitor.
36 Responsibilities of the DeaconsRESPONSIBILITIES TO THE PASTOR: This involves relieving the pastor of any temporal pressures, which would distract him from the ministry and to maintain adequate time for relaxation and refreshment.