Baptist Distinctives

What We Believe

Major Expressions of Church Polity

1. Episcopal – ultimate authority for decision

making rests in the office of the bishop

2. Presbyterianism – decision making power

resides in a group of elders

3. Congregationalism – emphasizes the

autonomy, independence, and authority of the

local church

J.B.Gambrell

“The New Testament

ecclesiastical unit is a local

church. The churches are

wholly dependent on their Head

and subject to His law, but

independent of each other and

of all other bodies whatsoever.”

B.H.Carroll

“The church is a pure

democracy.”

As a democracy, each local

congregation is responsible to

manage its own affairs under the

lordship of Christ.

The Priesthood of All Believers

Every believer has direct access to God

through Jesus Christ, and the church is a

fellowship of priests serving together under

the lordship of Christ.

Timothy George

“The priesthood of all believers

means in the community of saints,

God has so tempered the body that

we are all priests to each other. We

stand before God and intercede for

another, we proclaim God’s Word to

one another and celebrate His

presence among us in worship,

praise, and fellowship.

Timothy George

Moreover, our priestly ministry does

not terminate upon ourselves. It

propels us into the world in service

and witness. It constrains us to

‘shew forth the praises of him who

has called [us] out of darkness into

his marvelous light’” (1 Peter 2:9).

Congregational Polity’s Sanctifying Value

1. It requires each church to seek

intentionally as a corporate body the will

of God on matters related to the church.

2. It promotes spiritual growth.

What about Pastoral Leadership?

1. Congregational polity does not preclude

strong, biblical pastoral leadership.

2. The challenge is to keep both

congregational polity and pastoral

leadership in proper balance.

Autonomy

1. Autonomy means that each local church

is self-governing.

2. A church may practice “independent

congregational polity.”

3. A church may practice “cooperative

congregational polity.”

We practice “cooperative congregational polity.”

1. Northshore Baptist Association

2. Louisiana Baptist Convention

3. Southern Baptist Convention

The Goal of Congregational Polity

For each church to discern and follow the

will of the Lord of the church.