POLITY

How We Govern Ourselves

There are three basic ways in which churches govern themselves. A search of scripture shows there was no single governing principle that applied to all churches in New Testament times. Through the years these varied kinds of church government have synthesized into three basic groups. The three groups find their comparable parallels in secular government.

An old and well-known form of secular government is that found in England’s monarchy: a form of government where there is a king or queen who, at least traditionally, is responsible for all basic decisions regarding the nation. This form of government in church circles is that of the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran and Methodist Churches. It is a form of government where basic power resides in the hands of the Bishop who, as an individual (though often following deliberation with a council), makes decisions for the entire church.

A second form of secular government is representative. This type of government, basically seen in the United States, is that where elected representatives make decisions on behalf of all the people. While the people do not have power directly within their hands, they do have the power to remove from office those whom they feel are making poor decisions and to place in office those they feel will make decisions more to their liking. Within church circles this form of government is found within the Presbyterian and Reformed traditions. In these churches elected individuals (called Elders), following prayer, study, and discussion, make decisions they hope represent the will of God.