Perspectives on Church Government: Five Views of Church Polity

Description

“Perspectives on Church Government: Five Views of Church Polity” is a book that presents five different models of church governance, each argued by a prominent scholar in the field. Published in 2004 by Broadman & Holman Publishers, the book is edited by Chad Owen Brand and R. Stanton Norman.

The book addresses the central question of how God intends His people to be governed and guided. It presents the following five models of church government:

Single Elder-led Congregational model (Daniel Akin)

Democratic Congregational model (James Leo Garrett Jr.)

Presbyterian model (Robert L. Reymond)

Plural Elder-led Congregational model (James R. White)

Episcopal model (Paul F. M. Zahl)

Each chapter is written by a representative of the respective tradition, dealing with biblical, historical, and theological issues within each governance model. The authors also provide brief responses to the other traditions, creating a counterpoint format.

The book aims to examine these models that have developed over church history to determine which is most faithful to Scripture. It acknowledges that church organization can be both a strength and a weakness, recognizing that while organization and leadership are crucial, polity often comes with politics.

The editors suggest that while no single view of church government should be considered an essential tenet of Christian orthodoxy, developing a biblical perspective on church governance is important for effective ministry. The book provides a helpful overview of different forms of church polity, allowing readers to evaluate the arguments set forth by the differing positions.