Now, those persons thus called out, wherever they may be, and however many or few there may be, are God's out-called, are God's family on earth. To this family he has given a name, and to this we are obliged to adhere.

of this body of the out-called is The Church (out-called) of God. It embraces all who have been born again. We exclude no one wherever found. We judge no man that he joins a sect, or party, or denomination. We are personally responsible for our acts only, and hence we do what we believe the word teaches us in respect of this matter, and leave others in the hands of God. This name God has given to his loyal subjects on earth, and we claim that no man, or body of men, has a right to change it.

      But

is in a few points different from the general. However, it is, first, only that part of the general Church within a given area. Hence, we hold that the out-called in any given area are as much the Church in that area, as the whole number of the out-called in the world are the Church general. Nothing is required to make them the Church in that locality other than that which makes them a part of the whole body. Hence, there is no such thing really as forming a church, except in the apostolic way of bringing men to repentance and faith in Jesus. It is according to the divine order that those within a given area, who have become members of the divine family, should associate together, worship together, work together as one body. And this local body thus worshiping and working together has the name of the general body, with the addition of the terms designating the area within which they live. Hence, we have the Church of God at Ephesus, etc., etc. To us no other order and no other name are admissible. If men will not follow this order, the responsibility rests upon them. We go everywhere preaching the gospel, and those who are willing to follow this order we recognize as the Church of God in said locality. This is according to apostolic precedent and example; and according to our ideas of the Church and of the authority of its Head we can do nothing else.

      But is not this church to be organized? It is. But this does not constitute it a church. It must be that before in the most important sense. Organization is a duty laid upon the church in every locality. It does not become a church by virtue of this organization, but the organization is right and proper, and is by virtue of its being a part of the Church general, and to the end that certain things may be done and effected. The organization is of a body already in existence, and consists simply in the appointment of men to certain prescribed offices as the servants of the church.

      The end of organization determines the nature and powers of the offices. It is first designed as a means through which the body can acts as a body in pecuniary and secular matters. It is to make it an active unity. For this purpose deacons are wanted. They are simply diakonos, persons who act for other in temporal things. They are to receive and distribute the funds of the church, and attend to all its secular and temporal interests according to the directions of the church.

      Again, organization also contemplates the spiritual interests of the body. These are nourishment and oversight. The flock is to be fed, and the members are to be under the watch-care of the experienced. These duties are incumbent on the order of elders. They are presbuteroi, elder or senior ones, men of intelligence and wisdom, who can instruct the others; and episcopoi, inspectors, guardians, superintendents. But this is only a division of the same order, some discharging the latter and some the former functions. The former are more generally known as ministers, the latter as elders.

      This is all we know of church organization; these are the only orders of officers recognized in the New Testament. And as we aim to follow the New Testament order we refuse to recognize anything as Scriptural in the organization of a church but what has here been pointed out.

      These churches do not, after organization, apply for admission into the denominational Church. The New Testament knows no such order. It is of human origin. It places the universal Church first, and the local churches as so many parts of the universal, and only local churches by virtue of being constituent parts of the general Church.

      Now, as the spiritual interests of the Church are entrusted to the order of elders, they necessarily act in their local capacities by consultation. Hence comes the church council. The specific things, in the exercise of their episcopal and presbyterial functions, which they are to do are not prescribed; neither is the manner of doing it prescribed. But the duty of overseeing and of teaching is laid upon them; and in the discharge of this duty, or of parts thereof, they are at liberty to devise such means and ways as will best subserve the required ends. Out of this liberty, even in early ages, grew councils of churches by their representatives; and in more modern times and among us, the Eldership has been formed. That is, the various churches within a given area agree to commit certain interests into the hands of a council of elders. This council of elders is known among us by the English name for a body of presbyters--the Eldership. it has charge of the spiritual interests of churches only as it regards the presbyterial or teaching functions of the order. It is composed of all the teaching elders or the presbyters within a given area, and an equal number of ruling elders or episcopoi elected by the local churches. It is a society formed after the principles of voluntary societies, and having its foundation in the liberty of the order of elders in the discharge of their presbyterial functions. The local churches are thus governed and controlled by the Eldership within these limits by virtue of the authority given to the order of elders. By this means, also, the unity of the body is made more real and sensible to all the members.

      But as there are general interests to be subserved, the order of elders have exercised their liberty in forming a

      As their are certain interests which the local Eldership can best attend to as such; and as these are district interests that the district or State Eldership can best attend to, so are there other and general interests for the promotion of which all can most efficiently work together. In this wise and by this rule are the various interests divided and sub-divided. The plan is one, as we have said, that finds its authority in that liberty which is granted to the order of elders. They are to attend to and promote the spiritual interests of the body, but the precise way and manner are not prescribed. There is liberty in this, and in the exercise of this liberty, and with deep thought and earnest prayer, the plan, which has now been in successful operation among us for fifty years, was adopted. The obligations to the Eldership are, within its properly prescribed limits, the same as to the local elders, who obtain the rights and authority of their order from God.

      Thus have we aimed to keep up to the model given in the New Testament. We believe this to be God's order; and if carefully followed out it will destroy sectarianism, and bring to pass that degree of external unity for which all seem so earnestly to long and pray. God's way, and not ours, is the only true way. His plan, and not any plans of our devising, will answer more effectively the soul-burdened prayer of the Anointed.

[The Church Advocate 40 (August 4, 1875): 4.]

      Christian H. Forney's "The Church" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 40, No. 14 (August 4, 1875), p. 4. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article printed from a microfilmed edition of the newspaper held by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for arranging for the interlibrary loan, and to St. Vincent College Library for the use of its microfilm reader/printer.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 29 June 1999.
Updated 13 July 2003.