Plurality of Elders
A plurality of elders in a Baptist church signifies a model of church governance consistent with historical Baptist tradition. According to the 1689 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith and other references, a Baptist church is a congregation of baptized believers united by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, adhering to the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the rights and privileges granted by His word. In this context, the scriptural officers of the church are bishops or elders and deacons.
This concept draws from the New Testament, where it's evident that the norm for church leadership was multiple elders, emphasizing the importance of collective leadership rather than a single authoritative figure. This biblical pattern of a plurality of elders is rooted in Baptist history and has been recognized as a legitimate form of church structure among Southern Baptists, reflecting the apostolic practice of shared responsibility and equal standing among elders.
"Elder led" vs. "Elder ruled"
The primary difference between these lays in where certain powers and authority lay within the local church. This quesiton is not unique to baptists, it is part of a concept called congregationalism. According to scripture, the church has the responsibility to bring new members in (witness profession of faith, baptism, etc) and to excommunicate unrepentant sinners.
References, with notes:
Chapter 26 "Of the Church," paragraph 8: A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons.15
15 Acts 20:17 "Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church."
Acts 20:28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."
Php. 1:1 "Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons"
13. "Of a Gospel Church" We believe that a visible church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by his laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his word; that its only scriptural officers are bishops or pastors and deacons whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus. [ I Cor. 1:1-3; Matt. 18:17; Acts 5:11; Acts 8:1; Acts 11:21-23; I Cor. 4:17; I Cor. 14:23; III John 9; I Tim. 3:5; Acts 2:41-42; II Cor. 8:5; Acts 2:47; I Cor. 5:12-13; I Cor. 11:2; II Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17-20; I Cor.11:23-24; Matt. 18:15-20; I Cor. 5:6; II Cor. 2:17; I Cor. 4:17; Matt. 28:20; John 14:15; John 15:12; I John 14:21; I Thess. 4:2; II John 6; Gal. 6:2; Eph. 4:7; I Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:22; I Tim. 3; Titus 1]
12. "A GOSPEL CHURCH" A church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by his laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by his word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Its Scriptural officers are bishops or elders and deacons. [Matt. 16:18; Matt. 18:15-18; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; Acts 2:41-42; 5:13-14; 2 Cor. 9:13; Phil.1:1; 1 Tim. 4:14; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:3,5-6; Heb. 13:17; 1 Cor. 9:6,14.]
This author makes the argument that "it is a form of church polity that is consistent with the history of Baptists in general and of Southern Baptists in particular." It was very helpful to show the history of the convictions about a plurality of elders throughout the history of the Southern Baptist Convention. Some choice quotes include:
William B. Johnson, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Anderson , SC, and the first president of the Southern Baptist Convention wrote in his work entitled The Gospel Developed Through the Government and Order of the Church of Jesus Christ (1846), “That over each church of Christ in the apostolic age a plurality of rulers was ordained, who were designated by the terms elder, bishop, overseer, pastor, with authority in the government of the flock.” Speaking of the practice of churches in the New Testament, Johnson asserted, “It is worthy of particular attention, that each church had a plurality of elders, and that although there was a difference in their respective department of service, there was a perfect equality of rank among them.”