When the result of the decision on congregational officers was announced at the 2005 Synod, there had to be some shaking of heads. When a denomination appears to be agreed about one direction, but then narrowly fails to make the change needed to continue in that direction, what has been gained?

The question of whether congregations should have their own officers—such as a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer—has been brought up at the Synod meetings since 2001. Everyone would agree that this is not, in itself, one of the key questions of our time. But it is based on some principles that are biblically essential, such as the role of elders, the bounds of Christian liberty, the use of members’ gifts, and the unity of the body of Christ.

Last year’s Synod, after having carefully considered the question for three years, voted 4-to-1 to eliminate officer positions in the congregation, except for the ordained offices of elder and deacon, and for the ...