What is Congregationalism?

We believe the New Testament creates a church polity, or government, in which the elders serve the church by leading, the deacons lead the church by serving, and the congregation has the final authority and responsibility in church matters and doctrine. We also see the pattern in the New Testament of church autonomy, or self-rule.Therefore, there is no governing body above the local church in matters of doctrine, selection of leadership, and practice except the Lord, who is the head of the church, and Scripture.

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APPOINTING ELDERS AND DEACONS

We believe that Scripture teaches that it is the local church that selects its leadership. In 1 Timothy 5:17-24, Paul lays out the relationship between the church and its elders. In Acts 20, Paul alludes to the fact that the elders come from within the church. Elders should be men the church knows and has been able to observe as to their qualifications. The church is to have tested these men. Likewise, we see in Acts 6 that it is the church who chooses those men who serve as the first deacons or who assume the role as what would become the office of deacon. Similar to elders, the church must observe the men to ensure they meet the qualifications of a deacon.

MATTERS OF DOCTRINE

Scripture also teaches that the local church has the final say in matters of doctrine. This is the responsibility of the local church. Acts 15:22, Galatians 1:8-9, 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, and Jude 3 all address the church as having final authority in matters of doctrine, settling disputes over doctrine, defending right doctrine, and rejecting false doctrine. This places a great responsibility on the church to know and understand Scripture in order to carry out these matters.

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MATTERS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Believers are to be accountable to one another. We are to instruct, admonish, correct, and rebuke one another according to Scripture. Furthermore, we are to prayerfully and lovingly discipline members who stray in the hope they will repent and reconcile themselves to God and the. church. The goal is always repentance and reconciliation. In Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus makes the church the final court in matters of church discipline. Likewise, Paul instructs the church in the matters of those among them who engage in unrepentant sin, 1 Corinthians 5:1-5. It is the church who has the responsibility to hold one another accountable for the good of the believer and the good of the church.

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