Hi utahbill,
You wrote:
My authority is in relation to determining the course and direction of the youth ministry and includes retaining and oversight of other servants to this cause. I am also responsible for the people, direction, quality, ect. of the music portion of our worship service.
One of our daughter-in-laws is what, in effect, is office manager of a church. Prior to that she was in charge of a "Mom's Day Out" program where mothers leave their children at the church. Our daughter managed the program, and hired people to work with the children. I would in no way consider her in as being in an overseer's position as in being an elder. She has been delegated these tasks and works under the authoritry of others. Her duties sound similar to yours, except you work with people and music, she worked with people and kids.
and you wrote:
I will restate and hopefully better define my question. Not taking into consideration what titles any church body assigns, would a particular ministry leader such as I am be what the Bible calls an overseer?
Consider the folowing scriptures:
Acts 20:17, 28-30 (New King James Version)
17. From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church......... 28. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves
Titus 1:5-11 (New King James Version)
5. For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— 6. if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8. but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9. holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
In the passage in Acts, Paul informs the men described as elders that they are to guard both themselves and the flock, and that they were made overseers (Greek
episkopos, a noun, meaning an office, and translated overseer or elder) to shepherd (Greek
poimaino, a verb, meaning shepherd, tend to, rule, guide, guard). And we see that they were to guard against men arising in the flock and leading people astray with false teaching. And in the passage in Titus we again see that the role of the elders was one of guarding against false teaching.
From your description of what your duties are, I would not see you as an "overseer", in the biblical sense, at all.
The church we attend is part of a tradition where there is no instititution outside the local congregation that has any authority over local congregations. There are four elders at our church who are unpaid. The staff consists of what might be called pastors, but their official title is "minister". One of them does most all preaching (three Sunday services) and coordinates the worship services, one works with youth and families, and one focuses on the elderly and the sick. There is no "music minister". The paid staff has various duties assigned to them and they organize and provide leadership for many activities, but they are, without question, servants under the elders.
I was in an adult class once that three of the elders also attended where the teacher (not an elder) stated rather forcefully an opinion that I thought was clearly wrong. I squirmed in my seat as long as I could and finally spoke up, as nicely as I could, with a different opinion. One of the elders then said he agreed with me but didn't add much more. I was informed later that after the class he privately discussed the matter with the teacher, which I see as the elder's duty.
Hope I have been of some help. I believe people can lead, teach, and serve in many ways without being an elder, or overseer.
God bless, Homer
Perhaps the pastor does with input from many sources, could include me. It seems to me that a doctrinal position was established long ago on some main and plain issues but I am unaware of any established positions on secondary things.
