Why is Plurality a Central Feature for Local-Church Government Within Sovereign Grace Ministries?
1) Because it is strongly supported in Scripture (see Addendum 1). 2) Because it embodies the New Testament principle of the interdependence and diversity of gifts among members of Christ’s body (Romans 12:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12) 3) Because it disseminates the authority and responsibility for the church to more than one person, thereby protecting both the church and the elder. It is important to note that the entire eldership is entrusted with the responsibility to govern and lead the church, not simply the senior pastor.11 In other words, the responsibility inheres in the group, not the man.12 That God assigns the responsibility to a group is not a new approach to church polity, for it has long been the practice and approach of our Reformed brethren. In describing this approach, Wayne Grudem reminds his readers that the session (the body of elders in a Reformed church) holds the actual governing authority for the local church: “In this system, each local church elects elders to a sessi
