CHURCH OFFICERS (CHAPTERS 7-9)

Question 1

What permanent officers has Christ given to his church?

Answer 1

• Ruling Elders, Teaching Elders and Deacons (BCO 7-2)

Question 2

What are the qualifications for an elder?

Answer 2

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Character and Knowledge:
*Competency of human learning
*Blameless life
*Sound in faith
*Apt to teach
*Sobriety and holiness of life becoming of the gospel
*Rules his own house well
*Have a good report of those outside the church (BCO 8-2)

Question 3

What are his duties?

Answer 3

• Watch over the flock committed to their charge in doctrine and morality
• Exercise government and discipline
• Oversight of both the local church and the “general” church
• Visitation (especially of sick), instruction, comforting, nourishing, and guarding the children of the church.
• Set worthy examples for the rest of the church
• Love, pray with and for people (BCO 8-3)

Question 4

How are ruling and teaching elders alike?

Answer 4

Duties of office:

• Watch over the flock committed to their charge in doctrine and morality
• Exercise government and discipline
• Oversight of both the local church and the “general” church
• Visitation (especially of sick), instruction, comforting, nourishing, and guarding the children of the church.
• Set worthy examples for the rest of the church
• Love, pray with and for people (BCO 8-3)

Question 5

How are they different?

Answer 5

*Only those elders who are specially gifted, called and trained by God to preach may serve as teaching elders (BCO
8-4)
*TE feeds flock by reading, expounding, and preaching the word of God
*Administers the sacraments (BCO 8-5)
*Christ furnishes Ruling Elders with gifts and commission to govern (BCO 8-8)

Question 6

What is meant by the “parity” of ruling and teaching elders?

Answer 6

The class of elder is one class only. Ruling elders and teaching elders possess the same authority and eligibility to
office in the courts of the church. Both, (but especially the Teaching Elders) are called to teach the Bible (BCO 8-
9).

Question 7

What are the duties of deacons?

Answer 7

• Not an office of rule, but rather of service both to the physical and spiritual needs of the people
• Ministers to those in need, the sick, the friendless, and any in distress
• Devise methods to collect the gifts of the congregation
• Keep church in proper (physical) repair (BCO 9-2).

Question 8

What are the qualifications for deacons?

Answer 8

• Men of spiritual character
• Honest repute
• Exemplary lives
• Brotherly Spirit
• Warm sympathies
• Sound judgement (BCO 9-3)