Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch (1995, Paperback, Revised)

The author presents clearly the case for eldership in the early Christian church and the need for the contemporary church to return to such leadership. My education in seminary did not present this biblical picture. Using denominational practice as the basis for current church polity is self-serving and tends to perpetuate the status quo without examining the real need for returning to biblical directives. If your denomination's doctrine, polity and practices are "right", why mess things up by checking the Scriptures? Let us not "proof text" what we want my misinterpreting what the Bible actually teaches.