Single-pastor congregationalism
A view held among orthodox Christians
A form of congregational government in which one pastor is the church's only elder, usually alongside deacons and a voting congregation.
Also called: single-pastor congregational, single-pastor
What it means
Many congregational churches, especially smaller ones, have one pastor, a board of deacons, and a congregation that votes on major decisions. The pastor is the only man who holds the office of elder. Some hold this as a principle, reading the "angel" of each church in Revelation 2-3 as its single pastor; many more have simply inherited it.
The New Testament pattern, however, is consistently plural: elders in every church, elders of the church at Ephesus, overseers at Philippi. A single pastor carries the full weight of shepherding alone, with no fellow elders to share the work, sharpen his teaching, or hold him accountable. When charges arise against him, there may be no one with the standing to hear them as 1 Timothy 5:19-21 requires, and the deacons can drift into a governing role the Bible does not give them.
The site displays this as a form of government held by faithful churches, but it scores plural eldership more highly, and many single-pastor churches are working toward it.
In Scripture
The letter to Ephesus is addressed to 'the angel of the church', which some read as its single pastor.
Elders, plural, were appointed in every church.
Titus was to appoint elders in every town.
The one church at Philippi had overseers, plural, with deacons.
Charges against an elder require witnesses and a body able to hear them.
Where it comes up
On this site: Church government
Related terms
Elder-led congregationalismA view held among orthodox Christians
A form of church government in which a plurality of elders leads each self-governing congregation, while the members together decide matters such as membership, discipline, and the choice of officers.
ElderHistoric orthodoxy
A qualified man called by the church to shepherd, teach, and govern a congregation; the New Testament also calls the office overseer, bishop, or pastor.
Church disciplineHistoric orthodoxy
The church's loving correction of members and officers who persist in serious sin or false teaching, aimed at their repentance, the purity of the church, and the honour of Christ.