Congregational churches believe that Jesus Christ governs his church through the members of a local church.  These church members select their own church leaders.  And these churches are subject to no other ecclesiastical body.

But there is more than one kind of congregational church.  There are two kinds of congregational churches.  They are generally referred to as single elder congregational churches and multiple elder congregational churches.  Single elder congregational churches are led by one elder.  Multiple elder congregational churches are led by multiple elders.

But let’s remember. Congregational churches do not make hard distinctions between bishop/elder/pastor.  So we could say…There are single or multiple bishop congregational churches.  There are single or multiple pastor congregational churches.  Or more commonly, there are single or multiple elder congregational churches.

Proponents of single elder congregationalism assert that God leads his churches through individuals.  This is the testimony of Scripture.  Through Moses, through Joshua, through David, through Jesus, through Peter (apostle to the Jews), through Paul (apostle to the Gentiles), through these individuals, God leads his people.  This position doesn’t exclude multiple elders.  For example Moses led with Miriam and Aaron.  But this position says that multiple elders are not a necessity.  Moreover, even when multiple elders are present, one elder leads the group of elders.

Proponents of multiple elder congregationalism assert that God leads his churches through groups of elders. This is the testimony of Scripture. Whenever elders are mentioned in the NT they are mentioned as a group. In the NT there is not one example of a church with a single elder. 

So which version of congregationalism is right?  And more to the point, which version of congregationalism does St. Paul’s Church embrace?  That is the subject of the next post.