Who Runs the Church? : 4 Views on Church Government

by Paul E. Engle, Series Editor; Steven B. Cowan, General Editor

• ISBN13: 9780310246077
• ISBN10: 0310246075
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-09-01
• Publisher: Zondervan

Summary

Churches have split and denominations have formed over the issue of church government. Yet while many Christians can explain their particular church's form of rule and may staunchly uphold it, few have a truly biblical understanding of it. What model for governing the church does the Bible provide? Is there room for different methods? Or is just one way the right way? In Who Runs the Church? Four predominant approaches to church government are presented by respected proponents: - Episcopalianism (Peter Toon) - Presbyterianism (L. Roy Taylor) - Single-Elder Congregationalism (Paige Patterson) - Plural-Elder Congregationalism (Samuel E. Waldron). As in other Counterpoints books, each view is followed by critiques from the other contributors, and its advocate then responds. The interactive and fair-minded nature of the Counterpoints format allows the reader to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each view and draw informed, personal conclusions.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Steven B. Cowan	7	(12)
1. EPISCOPALIANISM	19	(52)
PETER TOON
A Presbyterian's Response	42	(7)
A Single-Elder Congregationalist's Response	49	(7)
A Plural-Elder Congregationalist's Response	56	(15)
2. PRESBYTERIANISM	71	(60)
L. ROY TAYLOR
An Episcopalian's Response	99	(6)
A Single-Elder Congregationalist's Response	105	(7)
A Plural-Elder Congregationalist's Response	112	(19)
3. SINGLE-ELDER CONGREGATIONALISM	131	(54)
PAIGE PATTERSON
An Episcopalian's Response	153	(7)
A Presbyterian's Response	160	(8)
A Plural-Elder Congregationalist's Response	168	(17)
4. PLURAL-ELDER CONGREGATIONALISM	185	(68)
SAMUEL E. WALDRON
An Episcopalian's Response	222	(7)
A Presbyterian's Response	229	(8)
A Single-Elder Congregationalist's Response	237	(16)
5. CLOSING REMARKS	253	(52)
An Episcopalian's Closing Remarks	255	(8)
A Presbyterian's Closing Remarks	263	(12)
A Single-Elder Congregationalist's Closing Remarks	275	(12)
A Plural-Elder Congregationalist's Closing Remarks	287	(18)
Conclusion
Steven B. Cowan	305	(3)
Discussion and Reflection Questions	308	(3)
About the Contributors	311	(2)
Scripture Index	313	(3)
Subject Index	316