Government

Government

The covenantal nature of mankind gives rise to both individual and collective forms of governance, which are the two modes of governing, judicial, and teaching authority. The individual governmental authority is distinct from the collective governmental authority of elders in general and of Presbyters of the Church in particular. First, individual governing authority is to be exercised by individual members and the leaders of educational, vocational, and associational structures in accord with public Trinitarian oaths administered by elders of family, Church or state. Oaths taken during a Rite of Incorporation into Basileia, for example, establish a two-way relationship of accountability between individuals and the authority of the Church first and foremost in regards to formative discipleship, not just to corrective discipline (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:21-6:9; Titus 3:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:13 - 3:7). Second, collective authority is to be exercised by elders whose primary role is to define and defend a Christian society's covenantal boundaries in the government of family, Church, and state. Again, as with individuals in general, the authority of elders is bound by public Trinitarian oaths, which are ultimately backed by the authority of the Church (Matt. 16:16-19; Eph. 5:22-33).

Also see “Governing Roles of Men and Women in Basileia,” Head, and Kingly, Priestly, and Prophetic.