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Church Organization
The
Church is referred to in the Scriptures as
the body of Christ. Being thus a body, it
must then necessarily have a head. God has
declared that Jesus Christ is Head over all
things in the church and all things are
accountable unto Him. Realizing the fact
that Jesus is the Head, there are two
additional offices authorized by the
Scripture: Elders, or Bishops, and Deacons.
Elders are men, called of God, to
preach His Word. They must come under the
hands of a Presbytery and be ordained into
the ministry only after displaying a gift of
the Holy Spirit. On some occasions, men will
be granted a license to preach prior to
being ordained to prove himself. After a
reasonable time, he will either give it up
or be called for ordination. Only Elders and
these licensed brethren are qualified to
fill the roll of Pastor.
Deacons, unlike Elders, are called by
a church body rather than God. They must
also be ordained into service of the church,
not to preach, but to serve the Lord’s
tables. These tables include the communion
table, the Pastor’s table, and the table of
the poor and needy.
Each church body usually will have a
Clerk, elected by the congregation, to keep
the minutes and carry on the correspondence
of the church. A Treasurer (one of the
deacons) is also elected, in most churches.
The treasurer works along with the other
deacons to look after the finances of the
church.
In the Primitive Baptist Church, no
one is higher than the other, with lay
members just as important as any officer.
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