On Church Governance: Elders, Overseers, and Pastors
At Bridgeway, we believe the Bible teaches that each local church should be governed by a plurality of male Elders. Numerous texts support this conclusion, such as Acts 11:29-30; 14:23; 17:17, 28; Phil. 1:1; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 5:17-20; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17; James 5:13-14; and 1 Peter 5:1-5.
There is no indication in Scripture that a local church was to be governed by a single elder or pastor. The consistent New Testament witness is that each church was under the oversight of a plurality of elders/bishops.
One Office, Three Terms
The New Testament uses three distinct terms to describe a single office of church leadership. The English word "elder" translates the Greek presbuteros, and focuses on the dignity and spiritual maturity of the one who serves. "Bishop" or "overseer" translates episkopos, and focuses on the practical function of exercising oversight. "Pastor" translates poimēn(shepherd), and focuses on the nurturing, feeding, and protecting of God's flock. We believe these are not three different offices or roles, but three facets of one office.
Several passages demonstrate that these terms are interchangeable:
- In Acts 20:17, Paul summons the elders of the Ephesian church. In verse 28, referring to these same men, he calls them overseers and charges them to shepherd the church. All three word-groups appear in a single chapter referring to a single group.
- In Titus 1:5-7, Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders and then immediately describes the qualifications for an overseer, making plain the two terms refer to the same office.
- In 1 Timothy 3 and 5, Paul describes the overseer in chapter 3 and then ascribes the same functions — teaching and governing — to elders in chapter 5:17, confirming they are one and the same.
- In 1 Peter 5:1-2, Peter exhorts the elders to shepherd the flock by exercising oversight, drawing together all three word-groups in two verses.
- In 1 Peter 2:25, Peter applies both shepherd and overseer to Jesus himself, reflecting a pattern consistent throughout the New Testament.
As John Calvin observed, Scripture "interchanges these terms" when speaking of those who govern the church.
Why This Office Is Restricted to Men
First, the two primary functions of the elder — governing the church and teaching the body of Christ — are the very activities Paul restricts to men in 1 Timothy 2:11-15. Since the office of elder is defined by these functions, it follows that the office is restricted to men.
Second, the qualifications for the office in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 presuppose a male officeholder. The elder must be "the husband of one wife" (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6) and must manage his own household well (1 Tim. 3:4-5).
Third, there is no reference anywhere in the New Testament to a female elder, overseer, or pastor serving in an authoritative capacity over a local congregation. This silence, taken in conjunction with the above, is decisive.
The local church is to be governed by a plurality of individuals whom the New Testament describes variously as elders, overseers, and pastors — one office, seen from different angles. That office is limited to qualified men. This is not a diminishment of women but a boundary that, rightly understood, clarifies the wide and significant field of ministry available to all believers.
We believe that women can serve as deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Romans 16:1-2), that they can evangelize, lead worship, teach other women and children, and exercise virtually every spiritual gift in biblically appropriate ways. The goal is not to restrict women from meaningful ministry, but to honor the pattern of leadership God has revealed in his Word.
We believe the primary officers of the church are elders and deacons. We believe that both men and women play an essential and vital role in the life of the local church; when we walk together in our respective roles as laid out in Scripture, we complement one another and reflect God’s glory more fully. Grounded in the biblical principle of male headship, we believe that the primary governing and teaching role of elder is reserved for men who are biblically called and qualified. At the same time, we joyfully affirm that both men and women who are biblically called and qualified may, and should, serve the church in the office of deacon.
Contact An Elder
If you have a question for the elders or would like an elder to contact you, please email elders@bridgewaychurch.com.
Bridgeway Church By-Laws
Covenant Members may request a copy of the church by-laws here.