Benjamin L. Merkle, The Elder and Overseer: One Office in the Early Church. Studies in Biblical Literature 57. Peter Lang, 2003. Sequels: Merkle, 40 Questions About Elders and Deacons (2007) Merkle, Why Elders (2009) Referenced in: Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is the result of the author’s doctoral dissertation under the direction of Dr.
R. Alastair Campbell, The Elders: Seniority Within Earliest Christianity. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 2005. Referenced in: Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary Campbell’s essential position is stated below in the publisher’s description. It provides an interesting counterpoint to the view of Benjamin Merkle, The Elder and Overseer, which sees within the New Testament an early
Alexander Strauch, Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership, Revised and Expanded Edition. Lewis and Roth Publishers, 1995. Referenced in: Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary With sales of over 150,000, this is arguably the most widely used text on plural-elder congregational leadership. Strauch is always listed at or near the top of
Mark Driscoll, On Church Leadership (A Book You’ll Actually Read). Crossway Books, 2008. Referenced in: Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary Although his ministry has been legitimately criticized, Mark Driscoll, in his earlier years, articulated many principles of church leadership in a way that still has value. This book examines six important areas of church leadership.
Gene A. Getz, Elders and Leaders, God’s Plan for Leading the Church, A Biblical, Historical, and Cultural Perspective. Moody Publishers, 2003. Referenced in: Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a readable and thorough biblical presentation on how plural-elder governance works in congregations. Getz is part of a non-denominational Fellowship Bible Church faith tradition that
Phil A. Newton, Elders in Congregational Life: Rediscovering the Biblical Model for Church Leadership. Kregel, 2005. Referenced in: Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This volume appears on most suggested reading lists on the subject of plural-elder church leadership. It has its merits, but these are couched in Newton’s primary emphasis on demonstrating the importance of
Mark Dever and Paul Alexander, The Deliberate Church: Building Your Church on the Gospel. Crossway Books, 2005. Referenced in: Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is part of the popular Nine Marks Series on church development. The essential purpose is to provide a practical guide for activating each of the nine marks of a healthy
Chad Brand and R. Stanton Norman, Editors, Perspectives on Church Government: Five Views of Church Polity. Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2004. Referenced in: Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is an excellent comparative look at five different types of church government, written in counterpoint style where a representative of each viewpoint makes a case, followed
Andrew D. Clarke, Serve the Community of the Church: Christians as Leaders and Ministers (First-Century Christians in the Graeco-Roman World). Eerdmans, 2000. Referenced in: Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership Pastoral Theology LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a very thorough investigation of the leadership roles of the early churches set in the social context of Graeco-Roman society. From the
Stanley N. Gundry, Paul E. Engle, Steven B. Cowan, Editors, Who Runs the Church: 4 Views of Church Government (Counterpoints: Church Life). Zondervan, 2004. Referenced in: Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is an excellent comparative look at four different types of church government, written in counterpoint style where a representative of each viewpoint makes
