Church Autonomy
W. Carl Ketcherside
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An understanding of this great principle will effectively forbid a surrender of rights and privileges on the one hand, and operate to offset wholesale apostasy upon the other. No man is justified in relegating a divinely given obligation to another man, no congregation can be justified in delegating its obligation to another congregation. Both such transfers may find the work accomplished by proxy, but both will incur the wrath of God. It is not enough that good is being done in the world, but it must be done by those upon whom God has laid the burden of the task.
One of the attributes of usurped power is that it always seeks to increase the area of its dominance. It will not remain static when wrongly acquired. The elders who surrender their work and authority even in a minute degree to a hired pulpiteer will soon find themselves displaced altogether. The congregation which assigns its legitimate functions to another congregation, or to a coalition of congregations, will soon find itself in the intolerable state of "taxation without representation." The organization which assumes the prerogatives belonging to another, and the congregation which divests itself of its proper rights, are both guilty of violating the constitution of heaven. Unlawful seizure and usurpation are no more reprehensible than abandonment and renunciation of heaven-ordained work.
Men are never satisfied with simplicity in government. They must tamper, meddle and experiment with it until it becomes complex and top-heavy and eventually crushes that which it was designed to preserve and protect. The Church of Rome with its hierarchy cracking the whip of despotism over the personal and intimate relationships of its helpless and supine subjects is an example of what happens when congregations barter away their functions. It is for that reason we should regard with concern every infringement upon congregational autonomy, regardless of how innocent it may be in its inception. The hole in the dike may be the portent of an inundation which will destroy all we hold dear.
In many sections of the southland "preacher's meetings" are a regular feature. The clergymen of "The Church of Christ" meet for luncheon one day per week at some hotel. In such meetings current problems of "the brotherhood" are frequently discussed. It may be argued that it is a harmless thing for brethren to meet and talk about matters which trouble Zion. But when it is recalled that those present are the official mouthpieces of congregations, that they have a direct pipeline to the minds of the membership through their control of the pulpits, and that they operate as political pressure groups to enforce conformity, and that any person who dares to cross them is castigated and driven out of the synagogue, it can readily be seen what a threat is posed by those whose livelihood depends upon their staying in office. In national political conventions, the party choice is often made in a smoke-filled hotel room behind the scenes, and the rest of the delegates become stooges whose only service is to ratify that choice during the roll-call. Who will
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In these days of rapid transportation it has become popular to arrange for large gatherings at some central location when holidays make it possible for many to attend. Such occasions provide unexcelled opportunity for fellowship, mutual teaching and discussion, and spiritual sharing. But there is always a grave danger when there is a great accumulation of talent, wealth or power in any place. There is ever a tendency upon the part of those present to feel that they "represent" the brotherhood of disciples. Those who speak may do so dogmatically, telling others what position they must take on current issues, and those who attend may return home and try to bind upon those who were not present, the ideas they received. This is sectarianism. God has provided for no delegate conventions to regulate his church.
Editors occasionally seize power and attempt to subjugate the church to their plans and programs. Careless and indifferent members prefer to let another do their thinking and often regard a paper as a "brotherhood organ." The editor is exalted to the position of "oracle" and his pronouncements become law. He debars from his column those who differ and funnels a one-sided propaganda to the readers. This is the essence of popery and smacks of the thought control and brainwashing of Romanism. There is no such thing as a "brotherhood paper."
It is not the function of one congregation to discipline the members of another. The elders of one congregation cannot exclude the elders of another. One congregation cannot disfellowship another congregation. There is no headquarters on earth for the church of our God and the elders are to oversee only those "among them." That is the extent of their jurisdiction. When they go beyond that they are usurpers.
If the elders of a local congregation believe that error threatens the flock of which they are superintendents, they can instruct and warn them, but they cannot summon a meeting of delegates from other congregations to discuss and decide brotherhood policy with a view to binding a course of procedure or conduct upon the churches or brethren in general. They cannot create a brotherhood journal to represent the churches, nor select an editor to be the interpreter of brotherhood thought. Neither can they formulate a code or standard to which all must conform. There are no diocesan bishops, no delegate conventions, no ecumenical councils of talented men, no convocations of preachers, no consistorial and ecclesiastical courts for the trial of heretics, provided in the framework of God's revelation.
If elders, preachers, editors, papers, and congregations, remain in their proper sphere, the church of God will move forward in glorious triumph. Let us remember that the smallest congregation of saints in a remote area is as great in heaven's sight as the largest in a metropolitan center. The worth and dignity of each individual must be cherished, the rights of the local congregation must be protected. Then we will be free from creedalism and lordship of men!