An exploration into Historical and Political factors for the deviation of the Early Church from Scriptural Principles of Government in Reformed Church perspective

The question of church government deals with order and authority of the church. The basic principles for sound church polity base on the Scriptural conviction of the Sovereignty of God and Christ as Head and Ruler of the church. The church moved away from this Scriptural principle due to historical and political factors beyond her authority. The study holds that nowhere in the Scriptures do we find an exclusive picture related to any of the fully developed systems of church government today. The New Testament Scriptures suggest a flexible evolving format of plurality of elders in church polity. The aim of the study is to investigate how some ideas and concepts of church government evolved and developed in the history of the church, how historical and political factors forced the church to shift away from principles of Scripture to advocate for a prelacy theory of government practiced over the centuries. In reformed traditional view, the characteristics of hierarchicalism and clericalism in church structures are not accepted. There is no such a thing as highly hierarchical and clerical or ecclesiastical power in the church of Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiastical strategy as a factor on territorial organization in Santa Ana de Guadalupe, Jalisco, Mexico

Objective: The objective was to study the territorial organization strategy of local actors;church, government and population that influenced the evolution and currentorganization of the town of Santa Ana de Guadalupe after the canonization of the priestToribio Romo.Design / Methodology / Approach: The local development methodology was applied,through specific interviews with representatives of social partners; local church,government, and population.Results: It was found that the infrastructure and equipment of the Saint’s Temple, whichreceives more than 700 thousand visitors a year, shows potentialities, strengths andlimitations at the locality. Analyzing the territory, through its economic, political, socio-cultural, and environmental axes, it was noted that local development is a process ofgrowth and structural change in which the main interest of the town is to increaseemployment and meeting the needs and demands of religious pilgrims. As well as favorthe appropriate use of the resources, and over-all potential of the locality in order toimprove the standard of living of the population.Limitations of the study / Implications: The strategies of cooperation and knowledgeof the ecclesiastical agents in conjunction with the government and local populationthrough joint organization contribute to the transformation of Santa Ana de Guadalupe. Findings / Conclusions: It was observed that social partners (church, government and population) collaborate actively. Particularly in ecclesiastical activities to develop strategies (as organization and cooperation) to promote the local development.

Redefining a relevant Church Government Model for the Contemporary Church: An Analysis of Church Polity Principles in the New Testament Church

The church government in the New Testament deals with how ecclesiastical authority, operations and order were exercised in the church. The historical and Scriptural principles for church government suggest flexibility in orientation. Evidence for church government from the early New Testament Church is inconclusive. Nowhere in the Scriptures do we find an exclusive picture related to any of the fully/ officially developed systems of church government today. In the New Testament Church, there was no such a thing as highly hierarchical, clerical and ecclesiastical power. The principles of church government for the Supremacy of the reign of Christ in organization and operation characterized the New Testament Church. From a Reformed church perspective, the characteristics of hierarchicalism, clericalism and ecclesiastical power are rejected in entirety.

ДУХОВНОЕ ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ В БАРНАУЛЕ (АЛТАЙСКИЙ ОКРУГ, РОССИЙСКАЯ ИМПЕРИЯ) ВО ВТОРОЙ ПОЛОВИНЕ XVIII В.

The paper drawing on documents kept by State Archive of Altai Krai (Barnaul, Russia) reconstructs historical origins of mass parish education system in Barnaul of the second half of the 18th century which was a capital of the Altai District entered into Tomsk Province of the Russian Empire. The author describes a contribution of His Imperial Majesty, Front Office of Kolyvano-Voskresensky territory (Mining Office), and Barnaul Church Government to development of a system of enlightment of local schoolchildren run by priests of the Russian Church.

Restoration of the Old Believer Church Hierarchy: from Bukovina to Moscow

This article is a review of materials from one of the influential Old Believer magazines that covered the problems that accompanied the restoration of the church hierarchy of the Old Orthodox (Old Believer) Church of Christ in the sphere of higher church government. The Consecrated Council of 1846 in Belaya Krynitsa restored the conciliar tradition of the Church, although discussions about the format and composition of the Councils continued in subsequent years.