RenewalCast Episode: Elders and Deacons with Justin Deberry

Introduction: In this episode of Renewal Cast, Coalt and Jay speak with Justin Deberry, a pastor at West Center Baptist Church in Madison, South Dakota. Deberry shares his background and experiences in church ministry, and the group discusses the importance of church polity and government.
OverviewThe conversation centers around the significance of church polity and government in creating a safe and flourishing environment for church members. Deberry uses the metaphor of a trellis and vine to explain how good structure and order help guide the spiritual growth of the church in the right direction. The group also touches on the importance of membership, accountability, and clear decision-making processes in creating a healthy church environment.

Timestamped Chapter Summary

• Introduction to Justin Deberry (0:00:14)
• Overview of the main topics discussed (0:00:33)
• Importance of church polity and government (0:03:13)
• Metaphor of trellis and vine (0:04:06)
• Creating a safe house for people (0:04:41)
• Importance of membership and accountability (0:05:07)
• Clear decision-making processes (0:05:45)
• Good church government helps create a culture of clear responsibilities and accountability (0:04:59)
• Well-thought-out biblical church government helps people flourish (0:05:38)
• Good church government protects the body from outbreaks of sin and puts boundaries and guardrails in place (0:05:55)
• God creates order to serve us (0:06:29)
• Naivety of relying solely on the Holy Spirit to work things out (0:06:29)
• The loudest person often becomes the one in charge without good church government (0:06:56)
• Need for organization and clear decision-making processes in the church (0:07:23)
• Make decisions ahead of time to handle problems in the church (0:08:13)
• Constitution and church documents create unity and harmony in the body (0:08:39)
• Church is a monarchy with Jesus as king (0:10:13)
• The Bible doesn't tell us everything about polity but makes a few things clear (0:11:01)
• The distinct roles of vocational pastors and lay elders (0:11:32)
• Importance of defining roles in the church (0:11:57)
• Elders and deacons (0:12:06)
• Elders provide spiritual care, deacons provide physical care (0:14:14)
• Elders focus on prayer, teaching, counseling, and discipling; deacons focus on buildings, budgets, benevolence, and physical aspects of ministry (0:15:20)
• Pastor/Elder is an office of teaching and authority for teaching; deacon is an office of service (0:17:06)
• Importance of having clear organization and decision-making processes in the church (0:17:23)
• Elder board and deacon board distinction (0:17:50)
• Importance of appealing to the Bible in church government decisions (0:19:35)
• Process of transitioning to elder deacon government (0:19:53)
• Importance of taking time to teach and be deliberate in church government changes (0:21:03)
• Need for discernment in timing of church government changes (0:21:55)
• Importance of giving people time to adjust to church government changes (0:23:01)
• Emotional capital and leading during church government changes (0:23:16)
• Importance of defining roles and clarifying duties (0:24:19)
• Finding healthy churches and resources for transitioning church government (0:24:27)
• Valuable principles from the business world for church government (0:25:06)
• Looking to the Bible for guidance on church government (0:25:43)
• The roles of elders and deacons in the church (0:28:43)
• Importance of choosing leaders with good character (0:33:08)
• Biblical qualifications for church leaders (0:33:38)
• The effectiveness of God's way (0:34:05)

Relevant Links and Resources

• West Center Baptist Church: https://westcenterbaptist.com/

Quotable Phrases

• "Good church government helps create a culture of clear responsibilities and accountability." (0:04:59)
• "Well-thought-out biblical church government helps people flourish." (0:05:38)
• "God creates order to serve us." (0:06:29)
• "The loudest person often becomes the one in charge without good church government." (0:06:56)
• "The distinct roles of vocational pastors and lay elders." (0:11:32)
• "Elders provide spiritual care, deacons provide physical care." (0:14:14)
• "Importance of choosing leaders with good character." (0:33:08)
• "When we do things God's way, it just works better." (0:34:08)
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The importance of church polity and government cannot be overstated in creating a safe and flourishing environment for church members. Good structure and order help guide the spiritual growth of the church in the right direction. Membership, accountability, and clear decision-making processes are vital in creating a healthy church environment. Defining roles and clarifying duties for leaders is also essential. As Justin Deberry reminds us, when we do things God's way, it just works better.