Today I stumbled across a couple of blog posts on church polity, one written by Presbyterian pastor Kevin DeYoung, the other being a response by Hunter Powell of 9Marks (a Congregationalist/Baptist ministry). I found it interesting because while I consider myself to be a plural-elder congregationalist who largely agrees with John Owen and Sam Waldron on church polity, I agreed with just about all of Pastor DeYoung’s post. Most people I know, when they hear the word “congregationalist,” immediately think “democracy,” as if elders are ruled by the congregation instead of the other way around. We must, must, must define our terms.
Pastor DeYoung’s post can be read here: “Putting In a Good Word for Presbyterianism”
Hunter Powell’s response can be read here: “Questioning Kevin DeYoung’s Good Word on Presbyterianism”
Both are written very respectfully. I recommend Pastor Deyoung’s post for the points it makes against extreme forms of congregationalism, while I recommend Mr. Powell’s post for shedding some light on the historic differences of opinion (and unity) on church polity in the Reformed tradition.
The Sovereign Logos 