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Question
do deacons have any authority over the pastor at any time?
Thank you so much for your question. Anthony, this varies from church to church. Baptist churches are independent and write their own bylaws specific for each church, so there will be differences.
Usually, the deacon body has authority over the pastor, and the pastor answers to the deacon board. The pastor needs to have a good working relationship with the deacon body and TOGETHER they do the ministry of the church. The deacon board can provide corrective direction if the pastor gets out line. The deacon board can not fire the pastor without a vote of approval of the congregation. The congregation has the final say on everything, which is traditional in congregational polity.
Anthony, this the is usual, but there are some unusual also. I know of small Baptist churches that are very spiritual abusive and the Deacon board fires every preacher they do not like. The deacon board hires the pastor also. These are "pastor-eatin" churches. In these type of churches, the congregation is made for the most part by kinfolks. There will be one senior member who runs everything and everyone just says "okay." And uusually this senior member is the one who has the most money or tithes the most money. The entire church has a abnormal belief system and they are very legalistic and pharisitical. This is not the biblical model.
I have seen a few baptist churches that are the other way. The Pastor runs everything and the deacon board does not hold the accountable for his actions and rubber stamp eveything he wants to do. This is based on abnormal belief systems also. These type of preachers the bible calls false prophets. The Westboro Baptist Church (is not a SBC CHURCH) in Topeka, KS and Fred Phelps is the false prophet.
All churches sometime or other exhibit an abuse of authority because we are sinful humans.
Anthony, I hope this helps. I know I gave you more info then your question warranted, but I wanted show you how the healthy pastor-deacon authority relationship works. And how it can be abnormal also.
Blessings to you today.
Dr. Don Howe, RN, PhD, ThD.
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Answers by Expert:
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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