Truth in Love Biblical Counseling
POLICY REGARDING CREDENTIALING WHEN A CHURCH HAS A FEMALE ELDER OR PASTOR
Truth in Love Biblical Counseling (TILBC) believes that the “local church” is an essential part of the life of the universal church and of the life and faith of individual believers. TILBC also recognizes that there is great diversity among those who may legitimately be called “Christian” and the local church fellowships they are part of.
TILBC holds that it is of vital importance for those pursuing and holding a credential with TILBC to be actively connected to and involved in a local church fellowship. This ensures that those we credential are hearing the Word of God taught accurately and well, that they are invested in one-anothering relationships with other believers, and that they are properly submitted to the oversight and biblically qualified ecclesiastical authority delegated by Jesus Christ to the leadership of the local church.
TILBC holds to a complementarian view of who may serve as ecclesiastical authority in the local church[1]. We recognize and affirm that God gifts and calls women in myriad ways to serve within the local church. We also hold that Scripture clearly teaches that it is biblically qualified men that God has ordained to serve as ecclesiastical authority in the church (1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Corinthians 11:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-3).
Therefore, regarding the TILBC certification and commissioning credentials specifically, while adhering to these convictions, for these reasons, we believe we are biblically constrained to not credential any individual who is part of a local church that ordains women as elders or pastors, has a woman serving in the ecclesiastical role of elder or pastor, or who is a woman serving in the ecclesiastical role of elder or pastor, whether or not they have any direct oversight or authority over the TILBC credentialed member or credentialing candidate. We also believe we are biblically bound to recognize the title of Reverend or Pastor for men alone.
[1] Activities and duties that constitute or require elder-level authority include: Authoritative preaching in the weekly assembly; exercising final governing authority; formal church discipline; ordaining or appointing leaders (including their examination for the office); doctrinal oversight (setting the doctrinal boundaries or theological distinctives of the church, including what is taught and how error is corrected); officiating covenant marriage unions.
TILBC holds that it is of vital importance for those pursuing and holding a credential with TILBC to be actively connected to and involved in a local church fellowship. This ensures that those we credential are hearing the Word of God taught accurately and well, that they are invested in one-anothering relationships with other believers, and that they are properly submitted to the oversight and biblically qualified ecclesiastical authority delegated by Jesus Christ to the leadership of the local church.
TILBC holds to a complementarian view of who may serve as ecclesiastical authority in the local church[1]. We recognize and affirm that God gifts and calls women in myriad ways to serve within the local church. We also hold that Scripture clearly teaches that it is biblically qualified men that God has ordained to serve as ecclesiastical authority in the church (1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Corinthians 11:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-3).
Therefore, regarding the TILBC certification and commissioning credentials specifically, while adhering to these convictions, for these reasons, we believe we are biblically constrained to not credential any individual who is part of a local church that ordains women as elders or pastors, has a woman serving in the ecclesiastical role of elder or pastor, or who is a woman serving in the ecclesiastical role of elder or pastor, whether or not they have any direct oversight or authority over the TILBC credentialed member or credentialing candidate. We also believe we are biblically bound to recognize the title of Reverend or Pastor for men alone.
[1] Activities and duties that constitute or require elder-level authority include: Authoritative preaching in the weekly assembly; exercising final governing authority; formal church discipline; ordaining or appointing leaders (including their examination for the office); doctrinal oversight (setting the doctrinal boundaries or theological distinctives of the church, including what is taught and how error is corrected); officiating covenant marriage unions.
