Appointed? Or elected?
 

Inspired by comments on another thread, I thought I'd ask: Should church officers be appointed, or elected?

What are they, their duties, and how are they to enter their office?

Please provide a scriptural and rational presentation of your position.

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

By church officers, do you mean teachers, youth pastors, musicians, etc...? In my opinion they are appointed. If you are referring to deacons and trustee's then I would say they should be nominated and elected. I am for a strong church board. because of the authority placed upon a deacon board they should be favored by the pastor and the church alike. Men who are full of wisdom and the Holy Ghost that meet the biblical criteria for deacons.

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

By church officers I am referring to whatever offices the Bible describes. Any office that is not Biblical is irrelevent, IMO.

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

I also believe that God appoints before we may see the fruition of the appointment in the natural. Many young pastors soon realize that the title means little until we begin to prove God's ministry in our lives. Positions are sometimes a distraction to the work of God. Many people seek a position without a calling to that area of ministry. Sometimes people also have a call, but are overanxious and venture out too early. Either way though, I feel like God works mercifully in our lives in spite of us. We also must be careful of judging other peoples situations. Sorry if I am getting off point.

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

The only offices I see specified in scripture is Deacons and Bishops. In scripture I think these positions were appointed by the apostles. Do you think there are still apostles? What do you think is the criteria to be an apostle?

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

I do not see apostle as an office except perhaps the original 12. Bishop (overseer/elder) and Deacon (servant/minister) are the ones I see in scripture.

An apostle (not the 12) is one sent by Christ to establish churches where there are none, and to help bring them to maturity. Qualifications for five/four fold ministry is they do what the name suggests ie they demonstrate the gifting in their life and work.

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

Do you think signs and wonders are connected to an apostle?

I personally feel like a home missionary is not the Biblical role of an apostle. It probably isn't that important that we be able to definitively identify these ministries. I do trust that they are at work though. For a large part of my life I thought and evangelist was a preacher who lived in a travel trailer preaching from place to place. I think that culture has affected how we define the different ministries, but I trust that God still has the five/four fold ministries in operation.

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

There are no votes in Scripture. Prayer, consensus, brotherhood, unity, reliance on God, fostered wise decisions and appointments in the church. Democracy in the church fosters politics and politics ruins the local church and denominations. The Church is not a democracy, it's a theocracy. Strong Church Boards, district boards, national boards are usually a stumbling block to progress in the kingdom. Personal experience and observation have been educational concerning the value of democracy in the church.

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

I think the ministry after prayer seeking God's will to appoint and the congregation after prayer and seeking God's will ratify.

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

I believe our lack of following Biblical teachings on leadership is one of the main reasons the Church struggles, today.
We, typically, follow the RCC example of leadership.
And most church boards are full of "yes" men.

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

So... a Biblical explication of true Biblical church government? Anyone?

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

They were ordained.

These were how the first men were set over the food pantry. These seven men
are regarded as the first deacons, although, I don't think the Bible actually calls them deacons.

Firstly God appoints
second elder leaders ordain
thirdly the ministries are proven or ratified through labor in the church

Re: Appointed? Or elected?
 

Acts 6:1-6

The helps to wait upon the tables: which many now refer
to as deacons. These were chosen by the congregation.
I believe the same requisites would apply to those whom
the Lord Jesus would place in the Ministry, after having
first proved themselves mature and faithful as helps.

It is the Lord that calls men into the Ministry: "... some
apostles; and some, prophets...". etc. However, it is the
presbytery (Ministry) that should be sensitive to the voice
of the Lord, and lay hands (confirm, not appoint) the calling
before the congregation.

It is when men deviate from the Lord's original "organization"
that we get pastors as "heads" of the church, and we begin
to fall further away into the 501(c)3 scheme!

"For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and
many sleep."