Leadership – Pastor/Elder
The church is led by Pastor/Elders who follow the instructions of Ephesians 4:12. The Pastor/Elder is responsible for equipping the saints (believers), these saints do the work of the ministry and the result is that the body of Christ is built up. The final goal is maturity, truth and love. All Pastor/Elders meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. All Pastor/Elders are male.
Ephesians 4:11-16:
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
- Apostles – envoy’s and ambassadors. This refers to those who saw Christ resurrected, who performed miracles and provided an eyewitness account of the acts of Jesus. There are no apostles today.
- Prophets – delivered direct revelations from God before the New Testament was written.
- Evangelists – are gospel preachers who help bring people into the body of Christ. They do this by presenting Christ’s offer of free salvation by grace through faith.
- Pastors – they do all for the church as a shepherd does for his sheep. The shepherd, feeds, nurtures, cares for, and protects them from enemies. A shepherd doesn’t just acquire sheep, but does what is necessary to ensure the sheep are healthy and growing.
- Teachers – teaching biblical truths.
1 Peter 5:1 – “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s suffering who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”