Church Governance in the Message: Difference between revisions

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    ''...And anything wrong in the church, God will make you answer for it. That’s right. That’s the way He runs His church. That’s the way it is in the Bible. That’s the order of the Bible. That’s the sovereignty of the local church. The pastor is the head. That’s right. Amen.<ref>William Branham, 57-0922E - Hebrews, Chapter Seven #2, para. 292</ref>
    ''...And anything wrong in the church, God will make you answer for it. That’s right. That’s the way He runs His church. That’s the way it is in the Bible. That’s the order of the Bible. That’s the sovereignty of the local church. The pastor is the head. That’s right. Amen.<ref>William Branham, 57-0922E - Hebrews, Chapter Seven #2, para. 292</ref>


    ''...the pastor is the highest order in the Church. The elder is the highest thing in the apostolic Church, outside of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings His Message straight to the elder, and the elder gives It to the people.<ref>58-1007 - Church Order, para. 60</ref>
    ''...the pastor is the highest order in the Church. The elder is the highest thing in the apostolic Church, outside of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings His Message straight to the elder, and the elder gives It to the people.<ref>William Branham, 58-1007 - Church Order, para. 60</ref>
     
    ''It’s official, as long as the church. In our church, it’s the sovereignty of the church. The church moves, or puts in the trustee, the church moves the pastor, or puts in the pastor. Whatever it is, it is the church in all. That’s apostolic. That’s the way it was did in the Bible time. Therefore, we feel that no one person, then, is a dictator or something in the church. We don’t want that. Every man, every person, myself, in voting in anyone, and just got one vote, just like any other person of the church here, just one vote. Isn’t what I say; it’s what the church says, see, what the church says in the body. You like that? [Congregation says, “Amen.”—Ed.] Oh, I think that’s just Scriptural. That’s the way it should be.<ref>William Branham, 59-1227E - A Super Sense, para. 6</ref>


    ''You all voted a hundred percent on it, so we’ve held right to that, see. The church is sovereign. What the church says, that’s what. Trustees or nobody else…The trustees is just, each one, a vote. The pastor is just one vote. It’s the church, that it’s—it’s the democracy of the church, the sovereignty of the church. The church, in whole, speaks. That’s all. And we like that, because we have no bishops or hierarchies or overseers or so forth to tell us this, that, or the other. It’s the Holy Spirit in the church, does the speaking. I like that rule, and it’s very fine.<ref>William Branham, 62-1007 - The Key To The Door, para. 8</ref>
    ''You all voted a hundred percent on it, so we’ve held right to that, see. The church is sovereign. What the church says, that’s what. Trustees or nobody else…The trustees is just, each one, a vote. The pastor is just one vote. It’s the church, that it’s—it’s the democracy of the church, the sovereignty of the church. The church, in whole, speaks. That’s all. And we like that, because we have no bishops or hierarchies or overseers or so forth to tell us this, that, or the other. It’s the Holy Spirit in the church, does the speaking. I like that rule, and it’s very fine.<ref>William Branham, 62-1007 - The Key To The Door, para. 8</ref>

    Revision as of 01:57, 22 February 2022

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    William Branham had unique views and teaching on proper church structure and governance. This article will examine whether his views were scriptural.

    What did William Branham teach about church governance?

    William Branham believed and taught that:

    1. The local church was sovereign
    2. The elder was the highest office in the church
    3. When the New Testament refers to elders it is really referring to pastors
    4. The people should vote for the pastor


    Financial Accountability

    But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord.  With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.  And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will.  We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.  And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you.  As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.[1]

    Quotes of William Branham

    ...And anything wrong in the church, God will make you answer for it. That’s right. That’s the way He runs His church. That’s the way it is in the Bible. That’s the order of the Bible. That’s the sovereignty of the local church. The pastor is the head. That’s right. Amen.[2]

    ...the pastor is the highest order in the Church. The elder is the highest thing in the apostolic Church, outside of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings His Message straight to the elder, and the elder gives It to the people.[3]

    It’s official, as long as the church. In our church, it’s the sovereignty of the church. The church moves, or puts in the trustee, the church moves the pastor, or puts in the pastor. Whatever it is, it is the church in all. That’s apostolic. That’s the way it was did in the Bible time. Therefore, we feel that no one person, then, is a dictator or something in the church. We don’t want that. Every man, every person, myself, in voting in anyone, and just got one vote, just like any other person of the church here, just one vote. Isn’t what I say; it’s what the church says, see, what the church says in the body. You like that? [Congregation says, “Amen.”—Ed.] Oh, I think that’s just Scriptural. That’s the way it should be.[4]

    You all voted a hundred percent on it, so we’ve held right to that, see. The church is sovereign. What the church says, that’s what. Trustees or nobody else…The trustees is just, each one, a vote. The pastor is just one vote. It’s the church, that it’s—it’s the democracy of the church, the sovereignty of the church. The church, in whole, speaks. That’s all. And we like that, because we have no bishops or hierarchies or overseers or so forth to tell us this, that, or the other. It’s the Holy Spirit in the church, does the speaking. I like that rule, and it’s very fine.[5]


    Footnotes

    1. ↑ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 8:16–23.
    2. ↑ William Branham, 57-0922E - Hebrews, Chapter Seven #2, para. 292
    3. ↑ William Branham, 58-1007 - Church Order, para. 60
    4. ↑ William Branham, 59-1227E - A Super Sense, para. 6
    5. ↑ William Branham, 62-1007 - The Key To The Door, para. 8


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