Haruo wrote:The few times I've heard of such a thing up here, including the FBC Lynden case which is the one that stuck in my mind...
What happened there? I'm not familiar with it, but found online that in 2018 the First Baptist Church of Lynden voted to withdraw from their membership in the ABCUSA and changed the name of the church to Lynden Community Church.
Haruo wrote:...I think the term used was "Elders[ ' ?] Board" or "Board of Elders".
I'm not aware of any churches here who
both consider elders as ordained ministers
and speak in terms of an Elders' Board or Board of Elders. I have heard it used among those who have another office of elders separate from pastors and deacons.
Haruo wrote:We do have churches that refer to their Diaconate, others that call it a Deacon[s'] Board, and then those like us at Fremont who call it "the Church Council" and the Deacons "Committee Chairs". Generally the ones that call it a Diaconate seem to put more into the ordination thereof, while we "Council" folks emphasize their election (by the congregation, though usually unopposed).
We also don't use the terms Diaconate or Deacons' Board, just say "the deacons." I am familiar with Southern Baptists in the area who have/call theirs Deacons' Board or Board of Deacons. They usually wield more authority than in our churches. I remember filling in one Wednesday night at an SBC church years ago. It was also their business meeting. They first had a meeting of the board of deacons. Afterward one of deacons read the minutes of their meeting. When they came to something they recommended, one deacon made a motion to do it, another seconded it, and then the congregation voted on it. I don't know how widespread such usage is among Baptists, Southern or otherwise, but it was the only time I had seen anything like that.
By the way, our deacons are first "elected" -- set aside for the purpose, by the church -- then after an evaluation period ordained by the laying on of hands of a presbytery. Since deacons are also ordained by the laying on of hands, our presbyteries usually (at least can) contain deacons as well as elders (ordained preachers). I know in some other areas of the South the presbyteries (ordaining council) is limited to ordained ministers only.
We elect/ordain deacons for life, though if they transfer membership, the other church is not bound to recognize them or use them as deacons in their church. Of course, I suppose this is technically true of preachers as well.