'An Independent Baptist Church'

Church Leadership

At Gospel Center we believe that the local church is to be independent and autonomous, and that the Bible gives no hint to any denominational or ecclesiastical hierarchy the local church must answer to, other than to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!

We believe the God ordained leaders of the local church are the Pastors according to the Bible. The terms Pastor, Elder, and Bishop describe the same office in the local church, but refer to three different aspects of the church leaders work. PASTOR refers to the church leader as SHERPHERD of the flock, speaking of his work of teaching, nurturing and protecting the assembly. The term ELDER refers to the church leaders MATURITY and responsibility and the fact that he is to be an EXAMPLE to the church. The term BISHOP refers to the church leaders AUTHORITY, to the fact that he is to rule and take OVERSIGHT of the church. That these three terms refer to the same office is seen in their usage. In Titus 1:5,7 the terms 'Elders' and 'Bishops' are used interchangeably, and in Acts 20, all three terms are applied to the same office. In v17 the church leaders are called Elders and in v28 the Greek words for Bishop and Pastor are used. 1Peter 5 also uses these three terms to refer to the same office.

We believe the Pastor must be a MALE. (1Timothy 3:2) and must have a character and behavior of reputable honor. (1Timothy 3:1-7) The Pastor must have God's calling, and not necessarily a theological degree from a formal seminary, for the Bible says nothing of such a requirement. (The Apostles had no such formal seminary training). We would rather follow a God called Pastor who had no formal training than one who was not called by God, but who had so many degrees he looked like a thermometer!

The Pastors main responsibilities besides being the spiritual leader of the flock are to preach the Word (2Timothy 4:2); spend time in prayer (Acts 6:2-4); feed and warn the flock (Acts 20:28); exhort and rebuke (Titus 2:15); and set the example in visiting and winning souls to Christ. The Pastor has an awesome responsibility because he must answer to God for how he leads the flock! (Hebrews 13:17) He must be an example to all in behavior and moral character. He must truly care for his people.

In Acts 20:17, 28 we see the Pastors God given authority as overseer of the local church. Notice that the oversight of the church is not in the hands of a deacon board or to trustees, nor a denominational headquarters or hierarchy. When it comes to oversight of the local church, God has not even placed that in the majority vote of the membership in a church business meeting! Here we see the oversight and spiritual leadership of the local church is to the through God called Pastors.

Many churches err by having the church led by a deacon board of influential men who have been in the church for years, who may be good men, but the fact is they have not been called to lead the church in spiritual matters nor are they qualified to do so from the Lord! In many churches across America the Pastor answers to a deacon board or group of influential church members and he is no more than a hired man.

We believe one of the reasons Gospel Center has been so blessed and effective down through the years is because we have tried to follow the Bible pattern of leadership in the church by allowing the Pastors to be the leaders of the church and lead as God directs them. As overseer the Pastor is not to... nor can he... do ALL of the work; but like a supervisor at the plant, he is to see that all of the work is done, and done correctly and Biblically. Every believer is to do the work of the ministry in the local church.

In Hebrews 13:7, 17 we see that the Pastors are to rule over the local church in all spiritual matters as they are led by God and the congregation is to obey that leadership and be in submission to the Pastors as they lead the church. (1Peter 5:1-3) God gives Pastors the authority to oversee all aspects of the ministry of that local church, including what is taught and preached, and by whom. He has the God given authority to appoint people to positions of leadership, and to remove them if necessary.

1Peter 5:2,3 declares that the Pastors are to lead by example, in a kind and humble way, not in a hateful, dictatorial or mean way. This passage says the Pastors will answer to God for how they lead their flock, especially if they mistreat or 'Lord it over' the flock. If the people of the church know that the Pastor truly cares for and loves them, and if he is faithfully doing the work of the Lord, preaching and teaching the Word, and living a proper life to back it up, they should follow the leadership of that Pastor. There is much rebellion today against Biblical pastoral leadership, and this is a sign of the last days!

Limitations to the Pastors authority:

Christians are never told to blindly submit to a church leader. If a Pastor strays from the Bible, his listeners should not follow him. (Acts 17:10-11) If the Pastors lifestyle and ministry does not match up to the guidelines given in 1Timothy 3:1-7 in character, behavior, and morality, believers are not under scriptural obligation to follow that leadership.

It is an awesome responsibility to be a Pastor and often a lonely life, for the devil will try to discourage the Pastor who is doing God's work. People the Pastor trusted will turn on him, and people he thought were his friends will foresake him. It takes a man with a calling from God to be a Pastor. If one can be happy doing anything else, he should do it, because it is doubtful that man was called of God to be a Pastor. However, if that man would as soon die as not be able to preach God's Word, then chances are he has God's calling. Jeremiah 3:15 says that Pastors are Gods gift to a church and if you have good Pastors who truly love and care about you and preach the Word of God faithfully and try to get folks saved, you should thank God for them and let the Pastors know you appreciate them, for chances are they could use the encouragement!