{"id":64470,"date":"2025-09-01T17:00:26","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T17:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/?p=64470"},"modified":"2026-01-28T01:24:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T01:24:03","slug":"leeman-elder-led-congregationalism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/leeman-elder-led-congregationalism\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Holds the Keys to the Kingdom?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Before asking pragmatic questions like \u201cHow can pastors cultivate health through their leadership structures?\u201d and \u201cWhat\u2019s the best structure for preventing abuse?\u201d we must consider three other questions first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first is \u201cWhat does Scripture say about church structure?\u201d We can be confident that the best way to prevent abuse and promote church health is to obey God\u2019s Word. Scripture doesn\u2019t address every matter that arises. For example, should there be biweekly elder meetings? Task-specific deacons? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I maintain that the Bible does establish the basic offices of elder\/pastor, deacon, and member, as well as their jurisdictions. Does any of us interpret the Word of God perfectly? Of course not. Yet God is no fool. He knows how to give us a Bible we can understand. It\u2019s not only uniquely authoritative and sufficient but also perspicuous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second question we must ask is \u201cWhat exactly does the Bible say about church structure?\u201d The highest authority in a church belongs to whoever has authority over its membership and doctrine\u2014that is, the ones who determine who does and doesn\u2019t belong and what the church believes. Those who adhere to episcopalian, presbyterian, or elder-led congregational structures can agree on this: In Matthew 16 and 18, Jesus authorized the church with the keys of the kingdom to render heaven\u2019s judgments on the what and the who of the gospel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can agree that churches exercise the keys through preaching and the ordinances. Where we disagree concerns who holds the keys. Episcopalians (referring not to a denomination but to a church structure) believe the bishop holds the keys. Presbyterians, the elders and the presbytery<\/a>. Elder-led congregationalists (like me), the gathered congregation as led by the elders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Matthew 16:13\u201320 and 18:15\u201320 provide the blueprints for church structure, let\u2019s jump to an application of those blueprints in 1 Corinthians 5. Paul has rendered a \u201cjudgment\u201d on a man for unrepentantsexual sin, saying he must be removed (vv. 2\u20133).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, Paul is exercising pastor-like leadership. But is the deed done? Is the man effectually excluded by the apostle\u2019s pronouncement? In fact, no. Paul tells the church that they must follow his instruction
by exercising their own judgment (v. 12). How should they do this? They should assemble in Christ\u2019s name and remove the man (vv. 4\u20135). Paul doesn\u2019t tell the elders to remove the man in Thursday night\u2019s elders meeting. He tells the church to do it. After all, that assembly actually possesses\u2014pay attention to the words\u2014\u201cThe power of the Lord Jesus\u201d (v. 4). There it is: elder leadership plus congregational rule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third question is \u201cHow does elder-led congregationalism strengthen a church?\u201d It requires pastors to equip their congregations to make good judgments over the what and who of the gospel. When instead pastors or elders say to a congregation, \u201cWe\u2019re the experts. We went to seminary. We\u2019re ordained. You can have a seat,\u201d they weaken the church. It tempts members to complacency. However, if it\u2019s our job as members to guard the gospel, then we need to undergo training. And we need faithful elders to train us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elder-led congregationalism provides both a downward accountability from the congregation and a sideways accountability from one\u2019s fellow elders or pastors. No doubt, any structure can be abused or misused. Still, I think human history demonstrates that power is best checked when accountability is pushed downward, not upward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are five other recommendations for encouraging church health that apply to congregations of all denominations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Character counts more than charisma or competence. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why Paul spills far more ink on an elder\u2019s character than on the job description. Pay attention especially to how he manages \u201chis own family\u201d (1 Tim. 3:4). Are his wife and children flourishing? Are they excited to see him lead because his leadership has made them stronger and wiser? A man should prove he can manage his little house before he manages God\u2019s big house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Cultivate a culture of discipling and giving away authority. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best pastors I know are always creating opportunities for others to teach and to lead. They don\u2019t jealously hoard authority. They give it away because they know giving away authority creates a deep bench of teachers and a rising generation of leaders. As the elders lead by creating opportunities to lead, members do the same by discipling one another into deeper holiness and disciple-making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Practice giving and receiving godly encouragement and correction. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of cultivating a culture of discipling involves lots of encouragement. Yet healthy correction is also essential to growth. Crucially, the elders\u2014the lead pastor especially\u2014must model how to embrace corrective feedback. If lead pastors cannot receive correction, they cultivate their congregations\u2019 intransigence or lack of teachability. They learn to keep up appearances, to put on a good face. However, when lead pastors show that they can receive correction, they demonstrate to the church what it means to be justified by faith. The ability to be corrected and a gospel culture go hand in hand, and they almost always start with the person at the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Practice church discipline. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Church discipline is the God-given mechanism for responding to abdicated or abusive leadership, whether among members or leaders. It is how a church says to an abandoned or abused party, \u201cGod opposes what happened to you. So do we.\u201d Do churches sometimes get discipline wrong? Yes. But the solution to bad authority is seldom no authority at all but rather is good authority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Trust Scripture and its mechanisms for due process. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This brings us back to where we began. Does the Bible speak to church structure or not? Insofar as it does, trust it. The Holy Spirit is wiser than you or me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonathan Leeman<\/strong> is president of 9Marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

In This Symposium<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n\n\n\t\n\t\n
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Portraits\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Article<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tWho Holds the Keys to the Kingdom?\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t

\n\t\t\t\tJonathan Leeman\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A case for elder-led congregationalism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\t\n\t\n

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Portraits\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Article<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tProudly Independent. Humbly Collaborative.\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t

\n\t\t\t\tHershael W. York\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Individual cooperation makes the Southern Baptist Convention a reckoning force.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\t\n\t\n

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Portraits\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Article<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tI\u2019m Grateful for My Bishop\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t

\n\t\t\t\tHannah Miller King\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Episcopal governance structure provides both discipline and care for its ministers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\t\n\t\n

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Portraits\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Article<\/a><\/span><\/div>\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tA Marriage of Independence and Authority\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t

\n\t\t\t\tGabriel Salguero\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A hybrid model of governance helps Assemblies of God churches succeed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Before asking pragmatic questions like \u201cHow can pastors cultivate health through their leadership structures?\u201d and \u201cWhat\u2019s the best structure for preventing abuse?\u201d we must consider three other questions first.  The first is \u201cWhat does Scripture say about church structure?\u201d We can be confident that the best way to prevent abuse and promote church health is Read more…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":64471,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"tax_ctp_authors":[2078],"tax_ctp_books":[],"tax_ctp_categories":[154],"tax_ctp_field_guide_subcategory":[],"tax_ctp_field_guides":[],"tax_ctp_format":[131],"tax_ctp_multimedia":[],"tax_ctp_point_editor":[438],"tax_publications":[181,183,156],"tax_ctp_tags":[3601,3613,3852,4604],"tax_ctp_topics":[],"class_list":["post-64470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tax_ctp_authors-jonathan-leeman","tax_publications-2025-leadership-journal","tax_publications-fall_2025-leadership-journal","tax_publications-leadership-journal","tax_ctp_tags-church","tax_ctp_tags-church-leadership","tax_ctp_tags-elders","tax_ctp_tags-pastor"],"acf":{"scripture_references":null},"yoast_head":"\nWho Holds the Keys to the Kingdom? 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