Why do so few churches have a plurality of elders?
Benjamin L. Merkle suggests three reasons in 40 Questions about Elders and Deacons 
(Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2008), 188–91:
- Lack of Qualified Men
- Lack of Biblical Knowledge
- Fear of Change
Some of his shrewd observations about fear of change apply to more than changing a church’s polity (pp. 189–90, numbering added):
Fear is a motivating factor in the lives of many people, and fear of change often is what holds back a church from adopting and implementing plural eldership.
[Pastors fear change.]
- Pastors fear that the congregation will reject their ideas.
- They fear that the church will split if they try to change the constitution or bylaws in regard to church government.
- They fear that their efforts will fail and the church will be worse off than before.
- They fear having to do the hard work of educating the congregation about eldership.
- Other pastors fear that they might lose some of their power and authority in the church. Newton agrees: “At the root of much opposition to plural eldership are pastors who fear the loss of their authority in the church.”
Those in the congregation are also fearful.
- They fear that things might not be as comfortable as they are now. Continue Reading…
