The Biblical Basis for Church Autonomy The Bible is the authority for Baptist faith and practice andBaptists believe that the Bible supports church autonomy. In New Testament times, each congregation of Christians was a separate entity under the Lordship of Christ, relating to each other in fellowship; no human individual or group outside the church exercised authority over the congregations. For example, each of the seven churches to which the Revelation was directed existed as a separate entity under no authority except that of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1-3). The churches in New Testament times selected from their own membership persons to care for the physical needs of members (Acts 6:3-6), determined what persons would be commissioned for specific ministries (Acts 13:1-3), and disciplined their own members (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13). Each of these actions was taken under the Lordship of Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit without any external direction or control. Spiritual leaders, such as the Apostle Paul, relied on persuasion and example rather than dictatorial demands when writing to the New Testament churches. Furthermore, Christians in New Testament times resisted the efforts of governmental and religious authorities to dictate religious belief and practice (Acts 4:18-20; 5:29). The early Christians insisted on autonomy from both secular and religious authorities. The Bible indicates that only those who have been born-again are to be members of churches (Acts 2:47). Born-again persons voluntarily gather in fellowships and form churches. These persons have all been saved in the same way–only by faith in God’s grace gift of salvation in Christ (Romans 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-9). As such, no individual or group inside or outside of a church is to “lord it over” another individual or church (1 Peter 5:3). Just as all the members of a congregation are to have an equal voice in their own church’s governance, so is each congregation spiritually equal to others. No church, or organization of churches, is superior to another church. None has authority over another church. In other words, each church is to be autonomous. Congregational church governance and the autonomy of churches go hand in hand. One cannot exist without the other. If individuals or groups outside of the congregation exercise control over it, then there is no autonomy of the church. Some Misconceptions about Baptist Autonomy The Baptist denomination is made up of various entities, including local congregations, associations of churches, state and national conventions, and various other groups. Each of these is autonomous. However, this autonomous relationship is sometimes misunderstood. Some talk of “levels” in Baptist life, such as the local church level, the associational level, the state convention level, and the national convention level.
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