The Parkway Church of Christ recently received a letter from the elders of the University Heights Church of Christ in Bowling Green, in which they announced the beginning of a “Spanish speaking ministry here in Bowling Green.” The letter stated that a Nicaraguan preacher had been chosen for the work, and the “Elders, Deacons and interested members” of various area churches were invited to meet this preacher at a specified time and place. The letter further stated, “We, the Elders of University Heights have agreed to take on the oversight of this ministry.”
While there is nothing wrong with a local church expanding its teaching program to include Spanish-speakers, there is something wrong with the elders of one church taking oversight of a “ministry” that is supported by other churches. There is also something wrong with churches funding “ministries.” Local churches are scripturally authorized to directly support individual preachers for their work of gospel preaching (2 Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:14-18; 2:25-30; 1 Corinthians 9:1-14). However, churches are not authorized to fund preacher “ministries.” The Bible teaches that the sound preacher is a “laborer,” and as such he is “worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:18), but there is a difference between a “minister” and “ministry.” A preacher is a minister (servant, see 1 Cor. 3:5). Technically, a “ministry” is a work. Many ministries are organizations. Others are conglomerates of various services and activities that are provided by the minister, but funded by churches and individuals.
Local church elders are authorized to oversee the members, monies, works and affairs of the flock that is “among them.” Paul told the Ephesian elders, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all of the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Peter told elders, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof…” (1 Peter 5:2). These verses clearly limit the scope of the elders’ oversight to the local church of which they are members. They have no right to oversee programs and activities beyond the scope and ability of their local church to provide or perform. The elders of one church have no right to supervise the use of the monies and resources of another church or churches. If the University Heights church wishes to hire a Spanish-speaking preacher, they are certainly authorized to do so. However, they have no authority to “take the oversight” of a multi-church “ministry.”