No group of people, regardless of their makeup or purpose, can function or survive without organization. God knows this. It is His will that all things in the church be done decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:40). God has not left it up to man to decide how the local church is to be organized. His plan is best, and His plan for church organization is set forth in the New Testament. 

In a pervious article, we noted that the word church is used in two ways. When speaking of all the saved, the word church is used in a universal sense. The universal church is organized with Jesus as the head (Eph. 5:23) and all Christians are equal members of His body.

When speaking of the saved in a given location, the word church is used in a local sense. Each local church is independent and self-governing, being overseen by its own elders. The Lord’s church has no earthly headquarters. There are no regional, national, or global gatherings of its leaders. Rules are not imposed on churches by any governing body. It is up to each local church to govern itself.

It is God’s will that a plurality of elders be appointed to shepherd and oversee every local church. Paul and Barnabas appointed such as they returned from their first evangelistic journey. “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” (Acts 14:23). Paul reminded Titus, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1:5).

Elders (also called overseers or shepherds) have an important role in the local church. These men are not figureheads. They have a crucial work to perform. As shepherds or pastors, they must lead, guard, protect, and feed the flock (Acts 20:28-31; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). They are responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of every member (Heb. 13:17). As overseers or superintendents, these men must rule the local church (1 Thess. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 5:17). Jesus set forth the rules for the local church in His word. Elders don’t make the rules, but they see that these rules are followed. They make sure things are done in the proper manner. Members must submit to the leadership of the elders as these men submit to the leadership of Christ - the Chief Shepherd.

Local churches must have a plurality of elders. The Bible never speaks of a church having just one elder, overseer, or bishop. Neither does it speak of a presiding or ruling elder. All the men serving as elders are equals.

The New Testament also speaks of deacons. A deacon is a helper, minister, or servant. The responsibility of deacons is to serve the congregation under the leadership of the elders. Following the pattern set forth in Acts 6:1-4, the service rendered by deacons frees the elders to focus on their spiritual responsibilities. Such service involves administering benevolence to needy saints, taking care of the building, purchasing teaching materials and supplies, taking attendance, managing the treasury, and other such responsibilities.

Not everyone can serve as an elder or deacon. There are specific qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-11.

An elder must be a married man who desires to serve. He must rule his own house well and have faithful children. Regarding his character, he must be blameless, sober-minded, self-controlled, gentle, just, holy, a lover of what is good, and have a good reputation outside of the church. He can’t be violent, quick tempered, quarrelsome, greedy, given to wine, self-willed, or a new convert. He must be able to teach God’s word and silence the mouths of those who teach error.

A deacon must be a married man who is reverent, blameless, upholding the truth of the gospel in his life with a clear conscience, and ruling his children and house well. He can’t be double-tongued, given to much wine, or greedy. He can’t be a new convert but must have established a track record of faithfulness, wisdom, and good character among the members of the church.

The wives of elders and deacons must also meet qualifications. They must be reverent, temperate, and faithful in all things. They can’t be talebearers.

It is in meeting these qualifications that the Holy Spirit makes men overseers in the local church (Acts. 20:28).

A local church without elders and deacons isn’t necessarily unscriptural, but it is “lacking” (Titus 1:5). If there aren’t a plurality of men qualified to serve, a church can’t have elders and deacons. Many such churches exist today. They worship and function as a local church, but should be working towards qualifying men to be appointed to serve as elders and deacons.