Duties of the Church Member

James Renihan has written a fantastic book on English Particular Baptist Ecclesiology, from 1675-1705*.

In it, on page 55, he reviews Benjamin Keach’s list of church members’ responsibilities to the pastor and to one another. They are as follows.

To the pastor:

1. prayer
2. reverential esteem
3. submission
4. vindication from the reproaches of opponents
5. information, i.e. going to him in times of trouble
6. adequate financial support
7. adherence in times of trials
8. attendance at meetings called by the pastor

To one another:

1. submission to the church as a whole
2. peace, unity, and sweet accord
3. willingness to follow the Scriptural process of settling offenses
4. impartiality in the exercise of discipline

*Edification and Beauty: The Practical Ecclesiology of the English Particular Baptists, 1675-1705