Introduction

  • The Lord’s church does not continue by succession. (A local church does not trace it’s history back to other local churches in the past.)
  • The church in the universal sense is a direct relationship between God and Christians. There is no other structure involved.
  • In a local church, saints depend on each other to work and worship together.

Three basic forms of church government

Universal concept

  • Universal church is made up of local churches, each made up of Christians.

  • The prime example of this concept is the Roman Catholic church, where the pope acts as the universal overseer.

  • Structure:

    • Universal oversight

    • Universal treasury

    • Universal work

Brotherhood concept

  • Local churches operate under the oversight of a conference. The conference only has oversight over churches in that conference.

  • A good example of this concept is the Southern Methodist Conference.

  • Structure:

    • Brotherhood oversight

    • Brotherhood treasury

    • Brotherhood work

  • The conference has power to move and replace preachers, as well as pass teaching material down to local churches.

Local concept

  • Members belong to local churches, with no organization above. Local churches have full autonomy.

  • Structure:

    • Local oversight – Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5

    • Local treasury – I Corinthians 16:1

    • Local work – Philippians 4:15-16; II Corinthians 11:8; I Corinthians 9:14

  • Churches of Christ are an example of this concept, where Jesus is the head.

  • This is the only organization approved in the Bible.

Brotherhood + local concept

  • Local churches join a convention. The convention maintains a very loose control over member churches.

  • A good example would be the Southern Baptist Convention.

    • They claim:

      • Local oversight

      • Local treasury

      • Local work

    • They also have:

      • Brotherhood oversight

      • Brotherhood treasury

      • Brotherhood work

        • Buckner Children’s Home

        • Baptist Hour radio program

  • Another example would be “Churches of Christ” (those that subscribe to institutionalism)

    • They claim:

      • Local oversight

      • Local treasury

      • Local work

    • They also have:

      • Brotherhood oversight

      • Brotherhood treasury

      • Brotherhood work

        • Herald of Truth

        • Bole’s Children’s Home