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Originally Posted by Ohio
IIRC, the "model" church was Taipei. There were dozens of "halls" with thousands of saints, but only one eldership over the church, and thus only one proper eldership in the whole city. I suppose the "over" part was not alarming to most of us since it is part of "overseer."
I also have had this ongoing dispute about the appointments of legitimate elders. The LC model designates "only the apostle" can appoint them. This thought has created a host of conflicts, because what this really means is that a regional or national leader (apostle? bishop? cardinal?) appoints only those loyal to him, who also turn out to be FT'ers who love to travel, and display loyalties to his appointer (understandably the one who signs the "paycheck") rather than to the local church.
Care to comment on this, Hope?
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I would love to comment brother Ohio.
I recently was referred to a line from a LSM book on the management of the elders or some title like that. It is said that the second sentence in the introduction is that the elders are the center of the church. There is no verse that refers to the church as the church of the elders or the church of the apostles or the church of the overseers. In Acts 20 we find the unique elders meeting called by Paul. He referred to the elders as having been made overseers by the Holy Spirit not by an apostle. Also the job of an overseer is to shepherd the church of God not to be "over" anyone.
Making the eldership model of Taipae the model to practice local oneness is a sham. They never had a single eldership in Taipae. The leading co-worker in each hall did his own thing and the elders in that hall were his middle management team. They did get together occasionally for a ministerial alliance type gathering and all submitted to the apostle, WL.
I have a lot more to say but must continue on another post due to needing to take care of business. I am at work.
Hope, Don Rutledge