 Church Of Christ Headquarters – Where Is It?
Dear Teacher:
I would like to know, where is the Headquarters of the Church of Christ and what kind of organization does it have? -Jesse K
Dear Jesse:
Christ is the founder and head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22). Since He is in heaven at the right hand of God that is where our headquarters is located.
Churches of Christ have no organization beyond the local congregation. Thus –
- Each congregation is separate and independent from all others.
- Each follows the teachings of Christ as they understand them and answers only to Christ, the head of the church.
- Each chooses its own leadership and preacher.
- Each determines which good works it will engage in or support.
Here in America we have some 13,500 congregations with as many more in foreign lands. We voluntarily cooperate with other congregations and assist others with tasks too large for them to handle alone. While this plan may seem strange to some, it is exactly how congregations functioned in Bible times.
The elders of the church in Ephesus were told by Paul to take heed to themselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit had made them bishops (Acts 20:28). While they had supervisory authority in their own flock, they had none in other congregations. Peter wrote that elders should "tend the flock of God which is among (them), exercising the oversight..." (I Peter 5:2). We call this congregational autonomy.
Independent congregations means that we are free to follow and serve Christ as we understand the Word of God to direct us, with no interference from without. It provides protection from disruptive and destructive leaders. To corrupt our brotherhood: - Satan must conquer each congregation, one at a time.
- If one congregation falls to error, others can simply refuse to follow their example and reject their fellowship.
When churches have an umbrella type of government, Satan need only capture the man at the top and he automatically has all the congregations under that persons control in his evil hands.
To establish his kingdom in the earth Christ chose twelve apostles to be his emissaries in accomplishing that task. Having completed their mission, their office was not perpetuated following their demise.
Read the New Testament through and you will find no mention of popes, general secretaries, presiding bishops or any other designation or description of church-wide leaders.
There is a disadvantage when a small church needs to raise funds for a meeting place. While other groups can apply to their headquarters for financial assistance, we must raise the funds ourselves. Some sister congregations will assist us as they wish. The consolation is that when we have done so, no ecclesiastics or bureaucrats from above can interfere with our activities or take our building from us.
Since God planned the organization of his church, is would be presumptuous for us to change it. John Waddey |
