Teaching Elders, Pastors, and Church Governance Models

Yes, churches that call their main leader a “teaching elder” are not uncommon, especially in elder-led or Presbyterian-type structures. The terminology itself is not necessarily a sign of doctrinal unsoundness; it usually signals a certain philosophy of church governance and a desire to align terminology with their reading of the pastoral epistles.

Biblical Terms: Elder, Bishop, Pastor

The New Testament uses several terms:

• Elder (presbuteros) — emphasizes maturity and status within the congregation.
• Bishop or overseer (episkopos) — emphasizes oversight; see 1 Timothy 3:1–2: “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”
• Pastor (shepherd) — emphasizes care and guidance. This term appears explicitly in Ephesians 4:11.

In 1 Timothy 3:2, a bishop must be “apt to teach.” In 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul writes:

"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.’’

From such texts, some churches conclude:

• There should be multiple elders.
• Among them, some labor “especially” in word and doctrine.
• Those elders who focus on teaching are, functionally, “teaching elders.”

They avoid “pastor” either because they see it as too bound up with shepherd imagery (which some would associate more with Israel), or because in modern usage it suggests a single, dominant office that they are trying to soften into plural leadership.

What “Teaching Elder” Usually Means in Practice

In elder-led churches, “teaching elder” typically denotes:

• The elder who bears primary responsibility for public teaching and preaching.
• Often, the one present on a daily basis at the church facility, handling numerous practical and administrative tasks.

Meanwhile:

• Other elders may work regular jobs and attend meetings but are not present daily.
• Titles such as “administrative elder” or “pastoral care elder” might be assigned, yet the person who is physically present and engaged in daily ministry—usually the teaching elder—ends up functioning much like what most congregations call “the pastor.”

Thus, although the title “teaching elder” sounds more collegial and scripturally grounded to them, in practical terms there is often little difference between a “teaching elder” in such a church and a “pastor” in a more congregationally-governed church. Both:

• Teach the word regularly.
• Provide leadership and oversight.
• Handle day-to-day matters and many small decisions.

Governance Choice Rather Than Doctrinal Marker

New Testament passages such as 1 Timothy 5 (the widow list, etc.) are tightly bound to specific first-century church situations. Churches today often do not replicate those structures exactly (for instance, strict widow lists with detailed criteria), even while appealing to the same chapters to justify elder terminology. That selective appropriation shows that much of this is a matter of prudential governance choice rather than strict biblical reproduction.

Within the present dispensation, local assemblies have significant freedom in how they order their internal governance, provided they do not undermine foundational truths of the gospel or the unique character of the body of Christ. A church may legitimately choose:

• A “pastor-and-deacons” model.
• A plural-elder model with a “teaching elder.”
• Another structure, so long as it respects biblical doctrine and basic order.

So encountering a church that calls its pastor a “teaching elder” does not in itself signal unsoundness. The more important questions are:

• What does the church teach about the gospel, Scripture, and the distinctives of this dispensation?
• How does authority actually function—does the leadership serve the congregation with transparency and accountability?

Terminology can sometimes reflect a desire to sound more “biblical” or to distinguish themselves from other traditions, but in lived reality, a faithful “teaching elder” in an elder-led church and a faithful “pastor” in a congregational church usually perform very similar work.

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