Single Elder-led Congregationalism
The last governmental structure worthy of consideration is single elder-led congregationalism. This view denies the bishop hierarchal structure espoused in Episcopalianism. It likewise denies the interdependent connectional structure espoused in Presbyterianism. Like plural elder-led congregationalism, single elder-led congregationalism affirms the autonomy of each local/visible church. The distinguishing mark between these two governmental structures is how they view eldership in the church. Single elder-led congregationalism doesn’t deny that a church can have multiple elders. Paige Patterson, an advocate of this view, writes the following about eldership: “a case for a single elder or the case for mandatory multiple elders, in my estimation, cannot be established on the basis of Scripture.”[1]
In the previously referenced section “The Plurality of Eldership”, we observed the abundance of scriptural evidence that affirms multiple elders serving in each local/visible congregation. In addition to the abundance of Scripture that supports this view, we find no New Testament Church that had one elder leading a congregation. The proof for single elder-led congregationalism simply doesn’t have the scriptural backing that plural elder-led congregationalism has.
Conclusion
This blog series has focused on presenting a scriptural examination of eldership in the local church. By examining the origin, responsibilities, titles, qualifications, and plural nature of eldership, we understand what the Bible teaches about this Spiritual office. By examining plural elder-led congregationalism and opposing views to plural elder-led congregationalism, we have examined how this Spiritual office should operate in the local church. As consideration has been given to this topic, my hope is that others would examine biblical ecclesiology instead of assuming a governmental structure that has been handed down through tradition. Above all, may the Chief Shepherd receive praise as we study the structure of His churches.
[1] Paige Patterson, “Single-Elder Congregationalism,” in Who Runs the Church? ed. Paul E. Engle and Steven B. Cowan, Zondervan Counterpoints Collection (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004), 150.
Austin has been one of the pastors of Covenant Baptist Church (Clarksville, TN) since February of 2024. He holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Spurgeon College, a M.A. in Pastoral Studies and a M.Div from Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary.
By God’s free and sovereign grace, Austin was saved early in his adulthood. He is married to Rachel, and together they have three children: Geneva, Benjamin, and Bristol.
