Q. 42. To whom has Christ entrusted the government of the local Church?

The Church is governed by faithful Elders, also called Pastors and Overseers, who are duly called and qualified to teach the word and administer the sacraments. Deacons assist the Elders and labor as servants to those in need.

In some churches, the title of Bishop is reserved for chief pastors or regional overseers.

Numbers 11:16–17; Jeremiah 3:15; Ezekiel 34:2–4; Acts 6:1–7; 14:23; 20:17, 28; Philippians 1:1; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13; 1 Timothy 3:1–13; 5:17; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4; James 5:14.

  • Belgic Confession 30–31
  • London Baptist Confession 26.8

Elders. In the Old Testament, elders were chosen and empowered by the Holy Spirit to help Moses govern Israel (Numbers 11:16–17). In the time of Christ, “the elders of the people” (Matthew 21:23) still had a key role. When the apostles of Christ planted churches, they “appointed elders for them in every church” (Acts 14:23).

Elders … Pastors … Overseers. Elders or presbyters (from presbuteros, the Greek word translated as “elder”) are so named for their duty to be spiritually mature and dignified members of the congregation. Elders are also called pastors or shepherds for their duty to care for the flock of God (1 Peter 5:1–2; Acts 20:17, 28), and overseers or bishops (as episkopos is translated in the King James Version) for their duty to watch over and govern the church (Titus 1:5, 7; Acts 20:17, 28). John Wesley taught, “Bishops and Presbyters are the same order, and consequently have the same right to ordain” (Sunday Service of the Methodists in North America). Some Protestant traditions have a separate office of bishop with authority and oversight of the elders, as was common in church history (Ignatius, Letter to the Trallians 2.1–3; 3.1–2).

Teaching. Elders must be “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2) and “able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9).

Deacons … servants. Deacons (from diakonos, the Greek word for “servant”) are so named for being ordained servants of the church. The Didache instructs, “Appoint for yourselves overseers and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are gentle and not lovers of money and truthful and well-proven, for to you they themselves also minister the ministry of the prophets and teachers. Therefore you must not disregard them, for they are your honorable ones” (15.1–2)

Assist the Elders. Deacons assist the elders so that they can focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1–7).

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