Pastoral Team

PASTORAL TEAM (Multiple, Equal Pastors)

Biblical Evidence for multiple, equal elders (pastors):
Acts 11:30, Acts 14:23, Acts 15, Acts 20:17, Acts 21:17-28- individual churches established by Paul. These passages speak of elders (multiple) in the church (singular).

Biblical evidence for only 2 church offices:
Many have attempted to see the terms pastor, overseer and elder as different offices. The New Testament speaks of these as different functions of the same office.
Acts 20:17-28- "elders", "overseers", and "shepherds" are used interchangeably.
Philippians 1:1- speaks of 2 church offices only: 1) deacons 2) overseers (or elders or pastors)
I Peter 5:1-2- Peter, the apostle, uses the words "elders", "shepherds", and "overseers"
interchangeably to describe the same people in a specific office.
*There is no justification for a senior pastor who has a "board of elders". There is ample justification for a team of elders (pastors) who oversee and shepherd the church of Jesus Christ.

Biblical Qualifications for pastors:
I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9- These speak of character issues. One is not an elder based on preaching ability. An elder (pastor) is in the position based on "desire" (I Timothy 3:1 and Titus 1:5). The other qualifications are based on character and the ability to teach (differing from preaching). Ultimately, the Bible teaches that the elders work together as a team to provide servant leadership to the church.

Biblical requirements for pastors:
Pastors are those who have a like-minded spirit, a desire to see God's work done in a specific church, and who meet the character qualifications in Timothy and Titus. Thus, some pastors may be paid while others may work in the marketplace (I Timothy 5:17).

Responsibilities of the pastors:
The pastors are a group of men and women who have fulfilled the requirements of I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. They are to be the wisest, most mature men and women of the church. They are to lead the church in a way that is God-honoring (Acts 20:17-28). They are all equal. The church is to adhere to their servant leadership and work together with them to accomplish God's purposes through the church (I Thessalonians 5:12-13, Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13:17).

Source: Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch