Principles of Church Organization and Administration

294 Pages·2013·2.75 MB·English

PRINCIPLES OF
CHURCH ORGANIZATION
AND ADMINISTRATION
By
OLIVER MONTGOMERY
MINISTERIAL READING COURSE
SELECTION(cid:9) FOR(cid:9) 1943
MINISTERIAL(cid:9) ASSOCIATION
OF SEVENTH NAY(cid:9) ADVENTISTS
REVIEW AND HERALD
PUBLISHING(cid:9) ASSOCIATION
TAKOMA PARK, WASHINGTON, D. C.
COPYRIGHT; 1942, BY THE
REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
PRINTED IN U. S. A.
CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION -
I-THE CHURCH
II-THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GOSPEL MINISTRY-
A DIVINELY APPOINTED LEADERSHIP(cid:9) - 25
III—THE FOUNDATION -(cid:9) - 34
IV—THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS (Organization) 44
V—THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS (Encampment) 52
VI—THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS (The Sanctuary
and the Priesthood)(cid:9) - 57
VII—THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH(cid:9) 64
VIII—LEADERSHIP(cid:9) - 70
IX-EFFICIENCY(cid:9) 79
X-THE REMNANT CHURCH(cid:9) - 85
XI-CONFERENCES-UNIONS-GENERAL CONFERENCE 96
XII-DIVISION COUNCILS-OPERATING POLICIES(cid:9) 111
XIII-RELATIONSHIPS-LIMITED AUTONOMY-MIS-
SION FIELDS DEFINED -(cid:9) - 124
XIV—ORDAINED AND LICENSED MINISTERS(cid:9) - 132
XV—THE CONFERENCE PRESIDENT(cid:9) - 145
XVI—OFFICERS—COMMITTEES—CONSTITUTION—
BY-LAWS(cid:9) - 153
XVII-PASTORS-CHURCH OFFICERS -(cid:9) - 161
(cid:9)
XVIII—CHURCH OFFICERS (Continued) -(cid:9) -(cid:9) - 181
XIX—DEALING WITH CHURCH MEMBERS -(cid:9) - 195
XX—RETAINING, TRANSFERRING, AND RECEIVING
CHURCH MEMBERS—CALLING AND TRANS-
FERRING WORKERS(cid:9) - -(cid:9) -(cid:9) -(cid:9) -(cid:9) - 201
XXI--MINISTERIAL INTERNSHIP PLAN—TENURE-OF-
OFFICE POLICY—FURLOUGH POLICY(cid:9) -(cid:9) - 216
XXII—DEPARTMENTS(cid:9) -(cid:9) -(cid:9) -(cid:9) -(cid:9) -(cid:9) - 223
XXIII—DEPARTMENTS (Continued) -(cid:9) - - 233
XXIV—DEPARTMENTS (Continued) -(cid:9) -(cid:9) - - 241
XXV—DEPARTMENTS (Continued) -(cid:9) -(cid:9) 250
XXVI—GOSPEL FINANCE -(cid:9) -(cid:9) -(cid:9) -(cid:9) 260
XXVII—GospEL FINANCE (Continued) -(cid:9) 271
XXVIII—GOD'S LOVE FOR HIS REMNANT CHURCH - 290
FOREWORD
THE FULFILLMENT of our Lord's prophecy in Mat-
thew 24 concerning the proclamation of the gospel of the
kingdom, and the threefold message of Revelation 14, has
resulted in the development of the Seventh-day Adventist
movement. Starting in its pioneer days in a very small way
and in a local area, this movement has spread until it now
embraces the whole world. Hundreds of thousands have
taken their stand and united with the body of believers who
proclaim the coming of Christ and who observe the seventh
day as the Sabbath.
These believers are from all the principal nations and
races of the earth. They represent many and varied cus-
toms and languages. To make it possible for these believers
to unite in fellowship, thousands of churches have been or-
ganized. Men and women have been called to the respon-
sibility of church office, that they might lead and direct
these churches in their spiritual activities.
Conferences and mission fields have been organized to
bind these churches together in unity of faith and practice.
Union conferences have united these into larger groups for
the same purpose. The whole body of believers is united in
one great world-wide organization in the General Conference.
A very important part of this vast and growing cause is
the development of institutions to provide for the educa-
tional, medical, and publishing interests of the work.
To provide for the carrying forward of such a work in
all the world requires the application of sound principles
of organization and administration.
Through all God's dealings with His people(cid:9) in ancient
times, in the establishment of the New Testament church,
and throughout the history of the Christian church down to
7
8(cid:9) ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
the church of today--He has worked out and established
certain great principles of organization. These principles
are Scripturally sound, and will endure to the very close of
the church's work.
Every minister, church officer, and institutional leader,
as well as every lay member in this movement, ought to have
a thorough knowledge of these principles. To help in ac-
complishing this, I heartily welcome the appearance of this
volume. It is timely indeed. Not many of our leaders
have chosen to write on this subject; consequently there is
a limited amount of literature available. The author has
made a very valuable contribution in this field of study.
He has traced the principles of organization given by the
Lord to His people anciently. He has clearly described the
working of these same principles in the apostolic church,
and then has put together a wealth of material which shows
the outworking of these same principles today. He has
carefully outlined the methods used in the administration
of every phase of the work connected with this cause.
It is conceded by people who understand the principles
of church administration in general, that Seventh-day Ad-
ventists have developed a very comprehensive and superior
form of organization. We believe that to be true. But at
the same time we recognize that this has come about through
divine guidance. From our earliest history the counsels
given through the Spirit of prophecy have guided and di-
rected in the development and application of these principles.
Consequently we can say with the utmost conviction that
these basic principles of organization and church administra-
tion are as truly inspired as are the basic religious beliefs
of the church. We should with the utmost vigor maintain
these principles, and resist the efforts of any who, being
uninstructed and uninformed, seek to set them aside.
It is the duty of everyone who bears any responsibility
FOREWORD(cid:9) 9
whatsoever in the leadership of the movement to instruct
himself fully in the way these principles apply to the work
he is called to do. Thus the work of the church will be-
come more efficient and powerful to accomplish its divine
mission.
As I have read this book in manuscript form, I have
rejoiced over the practical help it offers to those in need of
its instruction. I hope it will have a wide and continuous
circulation. I earnestly pray that in these days of change
and innovation, the church may rest secure under the leader-
ship of Spirit-filled men and women who have a high regard
for the principles and methods whereby the Lord has led
this movement in its world-wide development. I welcome
every laudable help to this end. May the special blessing of
God rest upon the important and valuable instruction con-
tained in this volume. It has been prepared by one whose
wide experience as a leader in this movement especially
qualifies him for the task.
J. L. MCELHANY.

INTRODUCTION G\-,
MANY YEARS AGO while serving as a local church
elder, I had the privilege of attending a convention of
church officers and conference workers. Elder Allen Moon,
the president of the union conference, who was with us at
that time, conducted a study each day on the subject of
church organization. These studies were largely confined to
the local church, its officers, and their duties. The broader,
more general principles were emphasized incidentally as a
basis for this more detailed study.
Thus very early in my connection with the Seventh-day
Adventist movement my attention was directed to the won-
derful principles of organization that have meant so much
to the successful building up and operation of our work
in all the world.
Later, after I had entered the ministry, it was my privilege
on many different occasions to study under the instruction
of Elder A. G. Daniells, as he unfolded the principles of
organization. Such studies were always a source of great
strength and help to me. There was and ever has been a
peculiar and special charm for me in this subject.
During the years of ministry and administrative respon-
sibility that followed, I continued to study in an endeavor
to broaden my understanding of God's method of dealing
with and directing His people through the organization of
His church in the earth. In the various fields where I have
served, and in many different sections of the world, I have
been asked to conduct studies on this phase of the work.
It was in 1935 that I was invited by the Theological
Seminary, which conducted its classes that year at Pacific
Union College, to give a series of studies on church or-
ganization. It was suggested that I prepare a syllabus
11
12(cid:9) ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
which would serve as a basis for these studies. This I did.
In (cid:9) I was again asked to conduct a similar series of
studies at the Seminary at Washington, D. C., and I have
continued to do this each year since. This led to an enlarging
of the syllabus and a broadening of the course of study.
Many times during recent years it has been suggested,
by brethren of the General Conference and many others,
that I prepare a book on this subject. This, however, I
hesitated to do, feeling that I did not have the proper
gifts for writing a book. The urge continued to come,
however, until, early in 1941, the Advisory Council of the
Ministerial Association, in counsel with the officers of the
General Conference, definitely requested that I prepare such
a book, with the result that this volume is now being sent
forth to the field.
It has been my purpose in preparing this book to make
it of special help to my ministering brethren, especially to
the young ministers, the students of our colleges, our church
officers, and our laity in general. It is sent forth with the
earnest prayer that it may be such a help and blessing to
all who study its pages.
I am profoundly of the opinion that those who are bearing
responsibility in leadership, either local, union, or general,
and those who are preparing for such responsibilities, should
have a thorough, practical understanding of the principles of
organization that have been so wonderfully developed and
worked out in this advent movement.
OLIVER MONTGOMERY.