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Expert: - 8/22/2008


Question
Acts 15:1-21 "The Jerusalem Council."  It would appear to me that there is in these verses of scriptures a New Testament church structure not found in our Baptist churches today.  I am not suggesting a structure but asking if there is such a structure within the SBC that I am unaware of and if not should there be?

I am seeking God Will from His Word.

Answer
  Bruce, thank you for your question. You will notice in Acts 15:2 states “should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.” Note Paul and Barnabas and certain other men went to Jerusalem to speak to the APOSTLES and ELDERS.
   Acts 15:4 states “And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and [of] the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.” They wee received by the APOSTLES AND ELDERS in the Jerusalem.
   Acts 5:6 states “And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.” Notice the APOSTLES AND ELDERS came together.
   Bruce notice in all three verses it names Apostles and Elders. In the New Testament Church there are only two positions of authority which are ELDERS AND DEACONS given in the Word of God. The elders are responsible for the spiritual leadership of the Church and the Deacons are a body of men who are to serve the widows and orphans. Some of the Protestant denominations today have these two positions of church leadership in the structure of their church. The Baptist Church IS NOT ONE OF THEM USUALLY. In the Baptist Church today, the Deacon Board is  responsible for the Church leadership, so the Baptist church is not of the same structure of the Jerusalem Council. But I have known of a few Baptist Church who are structured by the ELDERSHIP type structure in their  Church polity. Bible Churches are big on a board of elders and deacons and the Senior Elder is the what would be called the Senior Pastor in the Baptist Church. But there is nothing in the
Word of God that states that THERE HAS TO BE  EXACTLY ELERS AND DEACONS AND NOTHING ELSE WILL WORK.  
   So to answer your question. The Baptist Church and the SBC do not have the same structure as The Jerusalem Council.

Blessings to you today.

Dr. Don Howe, RN, PhD, ThD.  

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Dr Don Howe

Expertise

I welcome questions that deal with theological issues, relationship issues, church history, world religions, current events from a Christian worldview, "gray areas" that are present today, church growth movements, false prophets, spiritual abuse issues, end time events, prophecy, medical ethical issues, hermeneutical questions, and how Israel fits into God's economy today. I will answer all questions in a grammatical/historical normative interpretation of God's Word. If I can not answer a question, I will do the research and find the answer if available. If you are looking for a liberal theological answer or agrument, do not ask. I am not an expert on church planting or evangelism.

Experience

I have over 27 years of experience doing ministry as a bivocational minster/professional nurse. I do ministry as a volunteer with ministries that are nonprofit and not able to pay for ministers. I have experience working with youth, children, elderly in different placement settings, mentally ill and mentally challenged in different settings, felons in state prison and county jails, hospital chaplancy, choir ministry, and deacon ministry. I am an ordained SBC minister. I am a Professional Chaplain. I am currently doing hospital minstry, ministry to shut-ins, and a chaplain with Victim Relief Ministry working with victims of diasters and domestic violence. I work as psychiatric nurse in large county jail system.

Organizations
American Association of Christian Counselors, Baptist Nursing Fellowship, Nurses Christian Fellowship, Therpon Institute, Victim Chaplain & Counselor Association of America, International Board of Christian Counselors, American Society of Christian Therapists.

Publications
N/A

Education/Credentials
PhD, Therapon University, USVI, 12/07 in Biblical Counseling, DCC, Southwest Bible College & Seminary, Jenning, LA 04/05 in Christian Psychology and Counseling. ThD, Slidell Baptist Seminary, Slidell, LA 02/04 D.D., Slidell Baptist Seminary, Slidell, LA 07/03 Tyndale Seminary, Fort Worth, TX 2001-2003 BSN, Univ. of Texas in Arlington, Tx 05/93 ADN, Midwestern State Univ., Wichitia Falls, TX 5/77 Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Externship 08/04-12/05, 4 units of CPE earned.

Awards and Honors
Board Certified Christian Counselor by International Board of Christian Counselors. Issued 01/24/06.

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