I wish preachers would....

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by The Lemon

I have read many times on this forum about elders, and obviously I have read in the NT about this as well....I suppose I am sitting here wondering if anyone has any experience being in a Church that operates with various ministries, like having active elders etc.?

I have been in the UPC for about 20yrs and have sat under three pastors, and of course have known many more...to my knowledge I know of none that operate with the level of accountability as is mentioned here in reference to elders and deacons etc. Every church I have encountered personally always has a pastor and he is the authority, all other ministries are subject to him...they don't enquire of one another or have meetings about thus and thus...what happens is that the pastor has the vision, he projects, and he gives the direction, everyone else, including the other ministers in the church are subject to him....they aske permission to do certain things etc., etc.

I would not even know how the multiple minister, level playing field works, I personally have never seen it...and I can't believe I am the only one on this forum. Generally speaking, regardless of denomination or doctrine...this is how it works, from what I have seen and experienced. If you want to preach....not only do you ask permission, the pastor must approve, and in some cases he may even give a time limit. All in all, the pastor is the head human authority, and of course, Jesus is to be the absolute authority in the Church. This is the only way I have ever seen it.

I have done my own studies about various doctrines that we are taught in the UPC and some I agree with, some I don't. Ultimately, however, the system is set up the way it is, and is bigger then any one person. Conflict of ideas usually end up just being disagreements with no real resolve...after all...the leadership and the pastor are going to do what they feel to do...regardless. I have never seen an "Open Forum", where things can be discussed in a safe and respectfull setting....never. In my opinion, that is why people come to forums like this, to discuss what in many cases would be taboo in an open setting, no matter how professional the presentation.

Some issues are horses that have been beaten...killed, and then dug up and beaten again with no resolve whatsoever. things like hair length, tithing, and pants are just a few examples of things discusses ad nauseum with no one budging from either side of the argument or issue.

We used to be Baptist. The church we attended had five deacons/elders. They met with the pastor to discuss any serious plans for the church body. Also the church met regularly and voted on anything that involved an investment of finances or required change. It was a good democratic system and while you can't make everyone happy all the time it worked really well most of the time.

I've never seen anything like that in the UPC/Apostolic church which has always been the single pastor/complete authority model you describe.