Session 6

Church Government of Polity

Intro Church Government:
 We share practices across the globe but nonetheless we still have specific tradition whereby we do
come together (worship, learn essentials of Christian faith, and practices of Christians)
 We should appreciate diversity among unity – diversity that has develop within the Christian
community

Church Government:
 Refers to the structure of authority and means by which congregational life is overseen and ordered
o Life of people that belong to that church is seen and ordered
o Management is needed when people gather together
o Wisdom of managing people
3 Primary Forms: descriptions of church government
 Episcopal
o Simon Peter is ordained by Jesus – Apostolic succession
o Pope and bishop is to serve
 Buried in Christ, rooted in Christ to help the rest of the body flourish
o God chooses certain member of His body and calls them of particular role of leadership of
service.
 They serve us to keep us rooted in Christ
o We all live our role to build up the Body of Christ
 Some as bishops, missionaries, married couple, ets
o NG – monarchy or dictatorship
o One final decision maker
 There is a head over all the thing
o Roman catholic – Pope
o Anglican Church – Queen of England
o Methodist Church – Head over a region (many churches)
o Episcopalian: nomination
 Reports to a single authority
 Presbyterian
o NG – representative democracy
o Elected representatives within the church
 Elected by the congregations
 They help govern
 They are given some authority by the congregation
o Elected – Elders
  They seek together God’s Will for the congregations
 They are partners in implementation of what God wants us to do.
 Far greater wisdom and Holy spirit – Synergy
 Elders do their best not as individuals but when they are together
o Presbyterian, Brethren Church
 Congregational
o NG – direct democracy
o Every citizen gets a vote
 The congregation itself decide with a vote.
 Together, everybody is equal
o Church: political mandate created by Jesus
 People gather (Body of Christ)
 God design the church to be based on certain relationship (such as marriage)
o Churches are bound together through a covenantal relationship
 Bound to one another and to God through a covenant
 Bound together to help other in church to live faithfully
o Baptist, Congregationalist, Lutheran Church

Church Polity: Church Governing

Government is needed:
 Need financial management and people management
 Each church punya governmentnya sendiri
 It is needed for order
 It is practical, wise, and wisdom
 Manage programs, ministry, ets
o Have different authority structures within each church.
 It is man-made (Bible ga clearly prescribed which one is preferable)
 How church is organized and strive to achieve peace and unity of Christ
o Peace and unity transcend individual denomination and tradition – Body of Christ
o Christ being the head of the global church