We understand that for a group of people to endure and be productive there must be defined leadership and an organizational structure. This is true of civil government, the business world, our schools and our homes. It is also true of churches. What does the Bible say about the leadership and organization of the local church?

The apostle Paul says that Jesus is the head of the church: "And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Eph. 1:22-23; see also Col. 1:18). Being the head, Jesus is clearly the leader of the church. Christians are members of that body - the church: "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually" (1 Cor. 12:27). We are made members of the body of Christ through baptism: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body..." (1 Cor. 12:13). Members of the church must respond to the leadership of Christ and work together just like the different parts of the human body respond to the brain.

Jesus Christ is the only head over the church. The Bible does not speak of another. Christ did not select an apostle to take His place upon His ascension into Heaven. Nor did He establish a succession to any such office. Any such tradition or practice has come from the mind of man, and will be uprooted on the "Last Day" (Matt. 15:13).

The Bible tells us that certain members have different functions within the local church. The apostle Paul addressed one of his letters "To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons" (Phil. 1:1, emphasis mine, HR). According to the Bible, a "saint" is a Christian, one who has been sanctified, or set apart to God through Christ (1 Cor. 1:2). All members of the church are saints.

Among these members of the church in Philippi, Paul addresses some of them as "bishops." The word "bishop" is used, along with five other terms, to refer to a single office in the church. The words "bishop" and "overseer" come from the Greek word EPISKOPOS which means "a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent." These terms refer to the nature of the work to be done. The terms "elder" and "presbyter" come from the Greek word PRESBUTEROS which simply denotes one who is older. The last two terms, "pastor" and "shepherd", come from the Greek word POIMEN, denoting a herdsman or shepherd.

Those who would serve as bishops, elders, or pastors must meet the qualifications set forth in First Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. Their work consists of watching, ruling, tending, admonishing, and taking care of the local church (Acts 20:28, 31; 1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 3:5; Heb. 13:17).

Paul also identifies some of the saints at Philippi as "deacons". The term "deacon" comes from the Greek word DIAKONOS meaning "minister or servant". Deacons must also meet certain qualifications before they can serve (1 Tim. 3:8-13).

The churches of men are organized and ruled by their own standards. Whatever arrangement satisfies their desires or follows their traditions will be used. However, the church in the Bible consisted of saints, among whom some served as bishops (those who oversaw the church) and deacons (those who served the church). Is the church where you attend organized like this?