Category Archives: Leadership

Deacons: Closing Argument

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Jay F Guin

I’m an elder, but I was a deacon before that, and for quite a long time — although I really can’t remember when I became a deacon. It was that long ago. I don’t disrespect deacons as such. I mean, … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Deacons: Why I Disagree with the Traditional Views, Part 5 (An Honorific Title? Deacons Without Jobs?)

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Jay F Guin

Continuing to consider our traditions with regard to deacons — 7. “Deacon” is an honorific title. By “honorific,” I mean a title that causes one to write home to mom. Or let me put it this way. Imagine an elders … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Deacons: Why I Disagree with the Traditional Views, Part 4 (Should We Have a Board of Deacons?)

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Jay F Guin

Continuing to consider our traditional understanding of the role of deacons … Tradition 6. The deacons should meet as a body. Well, if the deacons as a group oversee a specific ministry of the church, as in Acts 6, of … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Deacons: Why I Disagree with the Traditional Views, Part 3 (What Do Deacons Do?)

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Jay F Guin

We need to dig a little deeper into the text regarding the work of a deacon. Obviously, the work of the seven men in Jerusalem was very important. But it’s a peculiarly Western bias to imagine that important = management. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons, Uncategorized | 11 Comments

Deacons: Why I Disagree with the Traditional Views, Part 2 (No Deacons Without Elders? Ignoring the Acts 6 Qualifications?)

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Jay F Guin

I’m continuing to explain why I disagree with the traditional views regarding deacons. Traditional view 2: Scripturally organized churches have deacons, but only if they also have elders. It’s argued that if there are no elders, then the deacons become de … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons | 10 Comments

Deacons: The Traditional View; Must a Church Have Deacons?

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Jay F Guin

[I’ll be returning both to “The Story” and “Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes.” But this has been on mind lately.] It’s long been taught in Churches of Christ that — 1. A church is not a true church unless it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons | 31 Comments

Further on Elders (“The People Demand a King”)

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Jay F Guin

There is this theory that elders with positional authority are the equivalent of a king — and God is opposed to our having a king. (1Sa 8:6a NET)  But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, “Give us a king to … Continue reading →

Posted in Elders, Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Further on Elders (The Authority of Preachers)

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Jay F Guin

The argument is being made more and more frequently that the preacher has authority to ordain elders because Timothy and Titus had the authority to ordain elders. Maybe. But we really have to approach these questions with the greatest of humility … Continue reading →

Posted in Elders, Uncategorized | 25 Comments

Further on Elders (On Moralistic Therapeutic Deism)

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Jay F Guin

Some time ago, I posted a series on Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD), a term coined by Christian Smith, who wrote Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, with Melinda Lundquist. Smith and Lundquist found that most Christian American … Continue reading →

Posted in Elders, Uncategorized | 22 Comments

Further on Elders (Getting Rid of Bad Elders: Cure, Part 2)

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Jay F Guin

A church has a good eldership, except one elder really doesn’t belong. He should never have been ordained. Experience shows that he really doesn’t have the qualities of a shepherd/overseer/elder and the giftedness from the Spirit for the task. Most … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Elders, Elders, Uncategorized | 4 Comments