The church of Christ has no earthly headquarters and no universal organization.
We believe that the organizational pattern of the church is divine in origin.
Jesus Christ is recognized as the supreme ruler over the church. Colossians 1:18 – “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” No fallible man serves as earthly head over the church.
The sole unit of organization in the church of Christ is the local congregation. Each congregation is separate and independent in its government.
Christ has delegated authority in the management of the local congregation to the elders, also known as pastors or bishops . . . three different terms referring to the same office. (Acts 20:17-28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:5).
- There is a plurality of elders in every congregation.
- Acts 11:30 – “This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
- Acts 14:23 – “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
- The church of Christ also has a special group of men called deacons
- They serve under the direction of the elders.
- Their qualifications are given in 1 Timothy 3:8-13
The church of Christ also has men known as preachers (1 Timothy 2:7), ministers (1 Timothy 4:6), or evangelists (2 Timothy 4:5).
They likewise serve under the direction of the elders of the local congregation.
We do not refer to our preachers with the term “Pastor,” believing that this term, as used in the New Testament, refers to those men who have the oversight of the congregation.
Neither do our preachers assume religious titles such as “Reverend,” inasmuch as this term is used only one time in the Bible (Psalm 111:9), and in this instance it refers to God.
We believe the New Testament makes no distinction between so-called “clergy” and “laity,” and that preachers are no more worthy of titles than other members of the church.