Our Leadership
Jesus Is The Head Of The Church
We recognize Jesus Christ as the head of the church. As our Savior, he has redeemed us for himself. As our Lord, he directs us in all things according to the revealed Word. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 ESV) We endeavor to structure our church, exercise our gifts and implement ministries that will demonstrate our submission to Christ’s Lordship, while looking to him to build the church as he wills.
Christ Gives Leadership Gifts
We acknowledge that, “…he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood.” (Ephesians 4:11 ESV) We recognize that those who lead are to be commissioned by Christ to do so, as affirmed by the body of Christ (Acts 1:23-26; 6:1-6; 15:22).
Leaders Shepherd The Flock
The leadership of the church is to be shared among a plurality of elders, with none exercising greater authority over the others; and assisted by a plurality of deacons. We recognize that no one man sits in authority over the church, but that elders together are “under-shepherds” to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. The leaders are to take seriously the charge the Apostle Paul gave to the Ephesian elders, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
