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Originally Posted by Ohio
This matter of appointing elders only by apostles has no prescription in scripture. Once you use Titus 1.5, then I ask how is Titus an apostle? Who are today's apostles? I have concluded that much of this practice has the underlying motive of Chinese culture top-down management style. Often times these appointments of elders have no concern for the feelings of the saints, no concern for who are the real shepherds, no concern for genuine spiritual maturity. Instead they appoint elders from afar who are loyal and subservient to the appointer, who in turn maintain their special status amidst the church as the sole apostle.
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Hi Ohio. I would like to touch the matter of appointment of elders. It is difficult to generalize when relating to the elders. I believe many do care for the saints, there are real shepherds, and there is care for genuine spiritual maturity. However it is not at the cost of loyalty to the appointer or to their peers. It is through the teaching of deputy authority, does the feelings of the saints, the shepherds, and concern for genuine spiritual maturity become secondary.
What is primary? It is loyalty to the appointer whatever the cost may be.
Terry