Divine Lexicon

Term

local elders

A form of church government where elders selected from the local congregation, including the senior pastor, govern the church.

Filed underEcclesiology

Definition

A type of church government in which elders are selected from the local congregation to govern the church, and in which the senior pastor is ordinarily one of these elders.

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Sources

  1. 1.Wayne A. Grudem Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed.. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020). 47C.3.bOriginal citation: Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020, 47C.3.b.

Last revised August 14, 2026