Phil Newton and Matt Schmucker's Elders in the Life of the Church – Part 3

 

In Part 3 of the book, Phil Newton and Matt Schmucker address the practical question of how to move from biblical texts to implementing plural elder leadership. They emphasize that transitioning to a plurality of elders should be done slowly, deliberately, and gently. This process requires careful teaching, training, and guiding the congregation toward a healthier model of church leadership. Additionally, the authors discuss common pitfalls and objections that may arise during the transition to this church polity, offering insights to navigate these challenges effectively.

In discussing the implementation of Plurality of Elders, Phil Newton and Matt Schmucker highlight a critical step that resonates with my experience: diagnosing who truly governs the church. Is it the congregation, the deacons, or a single pastor? On pages 167–169, the authors accurately identify a key issue my hometown churches face, which I also encountered while pastoring. They note that one of the greatest obstacles to adopting plural eldership is "governing deacons"—deacons who control the church’s business. As stated on page 165, “In a congregational setting, power often resides in a board of deacons.” This precisely describes the problem in my hometown churches: a congregational system where power is concentrated in a board of deacons. Frequently, this leads to a power struggle between the deacons and the pastor. Pastors are often subject to strict term limits and intense scrutiny by the deacons, while deacons themselves may serve for 15–20 years or more. I know of one church where the pastor changed three times in a decade due to the influence of these "governing deacons."

I deeply value the three phases Phil Newton outlines for transitioning to an elder-led church polity: the evaluation phase, the presentation phase, and the implementation phase. Newton suggests this process may take approximately eighteen months to three years to complete. Upon reflecting on these phases, I believe prayer should be a central element in all three, although Newton does not explicitly highlight it in the first two phases. This is simply my personal conviction, and I have no intention of questioning his wisdom. Given his godly character, it is reasonable to assume that Newton considers regular prayer an integral part of the process. In fact, on page 185, he explicitly states, “the pastor constantly needs to seek the Lord throughout the transition process, but especially during the initial stages when he lays groundwork for elders.” This reinforces the importance of prayer, particularly in the early stages.

I greatly appreciate Mark Dever's utilization of quadrant to help evaluate elder candidates. The quadrant is: Central Christian Concerns, Distinctive Theological Concerns, Distinctive Cultural Concerns, and Love for the Congregation. I am not entirely sure about the third one—Distinctive Cultural Concerns. I may have failed to grasp its complete meaning. I am reflecting based on my understanding here. My question is: Do Distinctive Theological Concerns and Distinctive Cultural Concerns not overlap with each other? I feel that Distinctive Theological Concerns cover Distinctive Cultural Concerns too. However, I would like to read thoroughly about this quadrant because it is very systematic and biblically rooted.

I am deeply reassured by Phil Newton’s profound statement on page 203, where he writes, “The church needs leaders with authority in order to give the church direction, to exhort where needed, to correct and restore those who have gone astray, and to model the servant-leadership of Christ among the flock.” This resonates strongly with me, as many churches today have pastors who act like doormats. Some choose this approach to secure their pastoral positions for a longer period, while others have no choice because influential individuals in the church control everything. However, through Scripture, Phil Newton reminds me that shepherds are to lead with authority (1 Peter 5:1-5; Hebrews 13:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:12). He aptly adds, “Shepherds do not normally offer suggestions to sheep,” emphasizing the need for decisive, Christ-like leadership.

As I reviewed the roles of the senior pastor outlined by the author on pages 205–206, the emphasis on these roles sounds like the church operates with three distinct offices: Senior Pastor, Elders, and Deacons. However, the author immediately clarifies that no such three-office structure exists, addressing this as a common objection to elder plurality. This creates some ambiguity that I find challenging to resolve. Personally, I prefer using a single title, such as Elder or Pastor, for those within the same office to avoid confusion between the roles of pastor and elders. A unified title would promote clarity and reinforce the biblical model of shared leadership among elders. Moreover, I believe that distinguishing one elder with a title like "Senior," which elevates them significantly above fellow elders, risks implying a separate office, potentially undermining the collaborative nature of elder plurality that the author advocates. However, I acknowledge that my perspective may be limited, as the cultural context in the Western world might differ significantly. My understanding of the title "Senior" within the same office of elders may be shaped by my worldview, which could differ from how others generally perceive such distinctions.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book, particularly Part 3, and indeed the entire work, to the pastors in my hometown churches. Many of our churches operate under unmitigated congregationalism, with most being governed by deacon boards. There is a pressing need to transition to a plurality of elders in these churches. This book provides clear guidance on how to navigate this shift and demonstrates that elder plurality is a thoroughly Baptist church polity. It also addresses the common misconception that this model is exclusively Presbyterian, offering clarity and biblical grounding to inspire and equip them for this transition.