Terms of Reference

Bishop

A person ordained to oversee the spiritual well being of the members of the church.  A synonym for elder or overseer.   The word contains the idea of exercising oversight, visiting the sick, seeking out lost sheep, to look out for the well being of someone, protector, scout.  Has the idea of total self-sacrifice in caring for the souls of others.  Bishops (elders) were selected by the Holy Spirit and ordained by the Apostles.  In practice, Bishops were put in place by the apostles of their designees, they were not nominated or elected.  At Peyton Community Church, the Pastor chooses Elders who are then confirmed by the vote of the Deacons.

Timothy and Titus contain qualifications of Bishops (Elders)

^{1 Tim 3:1}This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. ²A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; ³not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; ⁴one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence ⁵(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); ⁶not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. ⁷Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Note:  In the following verses from Titus, Paul equates elders with bishops. 

^{Titus 1:5}For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— ⁶if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. ⁷For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, ⁸but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, ⁹holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

Congregation

The members of the local church.  In the context of the Peyton Community Church Bylaws, it refers to members of Peyton Community Church.  See Bylaws for qualifications for membership.

Deacon

A servant.  Deacons were established to support the apostolic company in the management of the people of the Lord.  They ministered to physical needs.  In keeping with this charter, at Peyton Community Church, deacons perform many functions of church physical plant management, financial management and care for the physical needs of those within the church that are unable to care for themselves.  Deacons were nominated and elected by the members of the church. 

In the New Testament, the word Deacon occurs to describe domestic servants, civil rulers, of Jesus, followers of Christ in relation to Christ, followers of Christ in relation to one another.

Timothy contains qualifications

^1Tim3:8Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, ⁹holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. ¹⁰But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. ¹¹Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. ¹²Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. ¹³For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Elder

A synonym for Bishop.  However, the emphasis is not on the office, but on the character and understanding of the person.  The terms Bishop and Overseer refer to the work that is undertaken.  An elder is a commissioned to watch over and ensure the spiritual well being of the members of the church.  When used in the New Testament in the context of the church, it referred to a person with spiritual authority that assisted the apostles with the administration of the local churches by teaching, preaching, admonishing, and praying for the members of the congregation and judging matters of personal conflict and questions of doctrine and practice within the church.

See Bishop for qualifications.

Ordain

To appoint or to place in a position of service.  To invest officially by the laying on of hands with ministerial authority.

Ordination

The act or an instance of ordaining: the state of being ordained. 

Overseer

Biblically overseer is used interchangeably with Bishop.  However, in the context of the Peyton Community Church Bylaws, the term takes on the additional meaning of an advisor and one to whom the Senior Pastor is accountable.

Senior Pastor

The Senior Pastor is ordained to guide and spiritually feed the members of the local church.  He is involved in the spiritual oversight and he is ultimately responsible for the care and well being of those in the local church who are not able to care for themselves.  The role involves tender care and vigilant oversight.  In the context of the Peyton Community Church Bylaws, it refers to a man with a dual role; he is head-elder and head-deacon.

Shepherd

Is used metaphorically of those who act as Pastors in scripture.

Quorum

Quorum requirements, for official church meetings, will be complied with in accordance with the PCC Deacons Guidelines Reference Book.

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