the scriptural officers of a church are bishops and deacons. bishops are in the new testament also called “presbyters,” “elders,” and “overseers.” their duties and services have mainly reference to the spiritual interests of the body, though they properly have the oversight of all its concerns. the deacons have principal charge of the temporalities of the church, so as to relieve the pastor in that department of labor. they are, however, to be counselors and helpers of the pastor in all departments of his work. the qualifications for both offices are set forth in the epistles to timothy and titus.

note 1.—pastors and deacons, as teachers and leaders of the flock, cannot be selected for and imposed upon the churches by any external authority whatever, either civic or religious; but are elected [p. 15] and chosen by the free suffrages of the members, without compulsion or restraint, from among themselves, or those who are to become identified with them in fellowship.

note 2.—in the election of either a pastor or deacon, notice of such election should be given from the pulpit for at least two sundays preceding the time for the same. the election should be by ballot, and at least three-quarters of the votes cast should be necessary for the election of a pastor, and two-thirds for the election of a deacon. such election should be preceded by prayer for divine direction, and conducted without partisan devices or personal strife.

note 3.—both pastors and deacons are properly elected for unlimited terms of service, the relation to continue so long as there shall be mutual satisfaction. such a course tends less to depreciate and make servile the officers and their duties in the estimation of the people, and of those who bear them, than a limited and specified time, though deacons are sometimes, and perhaps properly, chosen for a limited term of service, subject to reelection, at the option of the church.

note 4.—the church is to fix on the amount of salary necessary to a generous support of the pastor, and hold itself obligated by every consideration of christian honor for the prompt and regular payment of the same. to fail in this is as dishonorable to the church as it is unjust and vexatious to the pastor.

note 5.—the call to a pastor issues from the church as a body, which also designates the amount of salary to be paid. it is in some sections usual, though not essential, to have subsequently a meeting of the entire congregation or society to approve or confirm the call. in some states it is necessary for the trustees, as the legal representatives of the corporation, to confirm the action officially, so far as the salary is concerned, before it can become legal.

[p. 16]note 6.—the number of deacons is optional with the church. it is usually from three to seven. let it be so many as the church needs and can find suitable as candidates for the office. but they should never be elected simply to fill the office, and never unless they be persons whose fitness for the office is generally conceded.

note 7.—the relations between pastor and the church may be dissolved at the option of either, by giving three months’ notice; or otherwise, by mutual consent. between the deacons and the church, the relations may be dissolved at the option of either without previous notice.

note 8.—a church clerk is elected annually, at a business meeting, by a majority vote. it is an office of convenience, for keeping the minutes and preserving the records of the body. also trustees are elected by the church, or if the law so requires, by a society. their duties are the care of the property and the management of finances. but these are not considered scriptural church officers; deacons might properly discharge all the functions of these offices.[2]

note 9.—the offices of trust and service in a church should be as widely distributed among the [p. 17] members as possible, consistently with the welfare of the body. this rule should seldom be disregarded. no one man should hold more than one office at the same time, unless the interests of the body absolutely demand it. if offices are honors, they should be widely dispensed; if they are burdens, they certainly should be. for the same man to hold two or three offices is as unjust to him as it is to his brethren.

note 10.—a church cannot unite in any corporate capacity with other organizations for religious, benevolent, moral reform, or other purposes; but it may cooperate with these for any good object, and give to such societies its moral support, sympathy, and pecuniary aid.

note 11.—but members of churches can, as individuals, unite with outside organizations, for any purpose, not inconsistent with their profession as christians, and not injurious to their church relations and duties.

note 12.—churches cannot alienate their responsibilities, nor delegate their authority to any man, or to any body of men, to act officially for them. but they can appoint persons to bear messages, and to perform services for them, under instruction, and to report their action to the body.

footnotes:

[1] this and several of the following sections are consistent with the “star book on baptist church polity,“ on the same topics.

[2] in some states the laws do not recognize the church, that being a spiritual body, but incorporate a society, as it is called, consisting of all persons of full age who attend and support the worship. this society has charge of the financial affairs of the church, holds and keeps in repair its property, and conducts its secular concerns. it elects a specified number of trustees, as provided for by law, who are the legal representatives of the corporation. the members of the society, and the trustees elected, may or may not be members of the church. this whole society arrangement is a relic of the old new england parish system of the standing order, and is inconsistent with the freedom of church action, and antagonistic to baptist church independence. it is anti-baptistic and anti-scriptural. a church should be allowed to manage its own affairs, both temporal and spiritual: and should be protected by law in doing so. the society system has been abrogated in most of the states.