Local Church Discussions - View Single Post - Should Members Obey or Submit to Church Leaders?

Cal · 09-11-2012, 01:32 PM

Let me try to make this practical. A church desires to allocate funds. There are three opinions about how these funds should be allocated.

1) Build a new children's center.
2) Fund overseas missions.
3) Plant a new church across town.

The church has prayed and asked older brothers and sisters what to do and there is still no consensus.

How does the church decide what to do? Who makes the final decision?

In the model of informal church leadership, the debate is potentially endless because there is no final authority for a decision outside of a complete consensus.

So let me call you on your claim, Peter. Everyone is indwelt by the Spirit, but they still don't agree. What to do now? Reasonable people can disagree. The point is not to find out who's right and who's wrong. The point is there has to be some clear way to make a final decision. In most churches this comes down to either some kind of majority, or the decision of one person.

Are you saying you have a better way of handling this type of situation?

09-11-2012, 01:32 PM	#63
Cal Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: USA Posts: 4,333	Re: Should Members Obey or Submit to Church Leaders? Let me try to make this practical. A church desires to allocate funds. There are three opinions about how these funds should be allocated. 1) Build a new children's center. 2) Fund overseas missions. 3) Plant a new church across town. The church has prayed and asked older brothers and sisters what to do and there is still no consensus. How does the church decide what to do? Who makes the final decision? In the model of informal church leadership, the debate is potentially endless because there is no final authority for a decision outside of a complete consensus. So let me call you on your claim, Peter. Everyone is indwelt by the Spirit, but they still don't agree. What to do now? Reasonable people can disagree. The point is not to find out who's right and who's wrong. The point is there has to be some clear way to make a final decision. In most churches this comes down to either some kind of majority, or the decision of one person. Are you saying you have a better way of handling this type of situation?