At last, a book has been published that deals with one of the most crucial areas affecting the church. That leadership has been lacking in the churches of Christ is all too painfully obvious; a book on this subject like the one produced for the 1997 Bellview lectures is long overdue. The 431 pages it contains are well worth the $14 pricetag. [It may be ordered from Bellview, Valid Publications, or other brotherhood dealers.]
There are 33 chapters beginning with one entitled “The Spirit of Obedience,” which is foundational to followship. “Qualities of a Leader” comes next and then a treatment of the “Authority of Elders,” which among other things treats the erroneous idea that the only authority elders have is to lead by example. Many of the studies in this book are very fundamental; the writers were not reluctant to check the definitions with Greek lexicons and other authorities.
1 Peter 5:1-4 has an entire chapter devoted to it with related material also presented, such as the fact that no authority was ever established for the church to rule from Rome (or for Peter’s being the first pope). Peter merely calls himself a fellow-elder, not ruler over all the church. Twenty abuses of the eldership are listed (36-37).
In preparation for his 30-page chapter on “Qualifications of Elders and Deacons” Wayne Coats studied several years’ worth of Gospel Advocates in addition to using the usual sources. What he presents is an interesting synthesis of information, which somehow possesses a sense of freshness.
The chapter on “Selection of Elders and Deacons” contains charts to help members of a congregation evaluate those being considered for these roles (80-81). It is followed by thoroughly documented material which critiques the idea of “reevaluation” or “reaffirmation” of elders, a rather recent concept usually used in liberal congregations but not entirely unknown in conservative ones. This practice gives authority (manmade, not Scriptural) to the congregation for determining who will and who will not remain as elders.
The next two chapters describe the “Elders’ Duty to the Members” and the “Members’ Duty to Elders.” The first of these devotes space to the general subject of “ascertaining Bible authority”; the application is then made concerning elders. Rounding out this theme is a consideration of an elder’s relationship with other elders, deacons, and preachers (with some practical suggestions). The next three topics are: “Eldership and Old Testament Concepts,” “Elders as Watchmen,” and “Elders and the Stewardship of Souls.”
Garland Elkins (perhaps by virtue of his defense of it on the Donahue program), was assigned “Elders and Church Discipline.” [In the Open Forum related to this subject there was further discussion of how to go about withdrawing fellowship from wayward members. Churches can still obey the command God has given to them regarding discipline, but there are ways to do so which will protect them legally.] Never one to shy away from controversial issues, brother Elkins also deals briefly with the question, “Can a church withdraw fellowship from another church?” (189).
Would elders cut a preacher’s salary when some wealthy members threatened to withhold their contributions? [Do snakes slither?] This and other questions are dealt with in “Elders and Money.” In addition to stressing the fiscal responsibilities (and proper handling of contributions) that elders have, emphasis is also placed upon “unscriptural fund-raising” schemes.
Himself an elder of the Bellview congregation, brother Fred Stancliff writes on “Elders and the Hiring of Preachers.” Included are sections covering the Biblical authority that elders have to hire a preacher, the qualities such a man should have, where an appropriate man may be found, ideas concerning the process of preacher selection, as well as how much he should be paid, and informing him of what he will be expected to do.
An excellent chapter devoted to Titus 1:9-16 is entitled “Stopping Their Mouths.” Two helpful charts are included (220 and 223) as is an example of the types of mouths that should be stopped. Analyzed is an article by Mike Cope, “Is It an Identity Crisis?” (which appeared in the March/April edition of Wineskins, a publication devoted to trampling the sacred truths of the Scriptures).
“Tending the Flock” and “Inspiring Brethren to Good Works” follow next. Then the reader is treated to an outstanding scholarly and practical treatment of “Decision Making in the Church” by Curtis Cates. This chapter alone would be worth the price of the book; all elders and preachers should study and apply the principles contained herein. “Goal Setting in Leadership” makes a good companion chapter. Some brethren have wondered how the writer could so accurately describe their business meetings (273-74).
“Conflict Resolution” contains much-needed wisdom unless one is a member of a congregation without any problems (in which case someone should check for a pulse). And who better to write on the subject of “How to Handle Criticism” than Ira Y. Rice, Jr.? He looks especially at Jesus, Peter, and Paul as he demonstrates that every righteous person must deal with critics. He concludes with a summary of twenty suggestions for handling criticism (305-306).
One chapter is devoted to “Congregations Without Elders,” of which there are several. Included is a call to imitate the Biblical pattern of starting and growing churches, which we have not followed perfectly.
What book on leadership would be complete without a treatment of the “Work of Deacons”? Not only is there a thorough consideration of the qualifications and duties, but there is also a serious look at some of the deviations from the Biblical concepts that brethren have invented over the years (328-29).
The next five chapters look at Jesus, Moses, Joshua, David, and Nehemiah as great leaders. These are men who accomplished great things. How did they do so? What were their methods? The lives of these men not only inspire us; they show the way to success. [These chapters also make excellent sermons.]
Next is a “History of Departure in Leadership,” a historical survey of the ways in which leadership went awry just a few decades after the last New Testament letter was written. Completing this book are “Lording It Over the Flock” and “Women as Elders and Deacons?” Of course, the role of women in the church has become an item of great controversy in the past ten years; brother Flavil Nichols presents solid, sound, Scriptural material on this now-controversial subject.
Because of the thorough treatment of so many aspects of leadership, it is the editor’s conviction that each congregation of the Lord’s church ought to have a copy of this book, as well as individual men who may aspire to be (or already are) leaders.
*Send comments or questions concerning this article to Gary Summers. Please refer to this article as: “RECOMMENDED READIN: LEADERSHIP (6/29/97).”