Benjamin L. Merkle

Benjamin L. Merkle (Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
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This item will be available on June 1, 2026

This item will be available on June 1, 2026
In a time when Christians are debating the different roles of leadership, Ben Merkle offers clarity on the roles of authority that are within the church walls. While other books discuss who specifically should oversee this or that, Merkle offers clarity that goes a step further.
While several works have tried to ascertain the definition of who the leader of the church should be, Authority in the Church calls for the pastor as well as the congregation to understand the role of authority within the church and how that authority is held by all people within the church’s walls, not just the people at the leadership table.
With deep biblical insight and theological rigor, Merkle addresses how all parties within the church have a charge to assist in protecting the health of the church body with their own unique authority, given to them by God in Scripture. An added value to this book is that it is not only a book that will be appreciated for course adoption in pastoral leadership classes, but it is written with an approachable tone that all readers with an interest in the topic will appreciate. Whether you are a pastor, elder, deacon, or congregant, God has called you to lead with a specific and unique authority for the betterment and protection of God’s church.
Preface
INTRODUCTION: The Shepherd of the Church
PART 1: THE AUTHORITY OF THE CONGREGATION
1. Leadership and Congregational Authority
2. Membership and Congregational Authority
3. Discipleship and Congregational Authority
4. Restrictions and Congregational Authority
PART 2: THE AUTHORITY OF THE ELDERS
5. Titles and Elder Authority
6. Qualifications and Elder Authority
7. The Role of Leading and Elder Authority
8. The Role of Shepherding and Elder Authority
9. The Role of Teaching and Elder Authority
10. Restrictions and Elder Authority
PART 3: THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEACONS
11. The Title and Deacon Authority
12. Qualifications and Deacon Authority
13. The Role of Assistant and Deacon Authority
CONCLUSION: Authority in Christ’s Church
APPENDIX: Diagnostic Questions for Leaders
General Index
Scripture Index
In a time when Christians are debating the different roles of leadership, Ben Merkle offers clarity on the roles of authority that are within the church walls. While other books discuss who specifically should oversee this or that, Merkle offers clarity that goes a step further.
While several works have tried to ascertain the definition of who the leader of the church should be, Authority in the Church calls for the pastor as well as the congregation to understand the role of authority within the church and how that authority is held by all people within the church’s walls, not just the people at the leadership table.
With deep biblical insight and theological rigor, Merkle addresses how all parties within the church have a charge to assist in protecting the health of the church body with their own unique authority, given to them by God in Scripture. An added value to this book is that it is not only a book that will be appreciated for course adoption in pastoral leadership classes, but it is written with an approachable tone that all readers with an interest in the topic will appreciate. Whether you are a pastor, elder, deacon, or congregant, God has called you to lead with a specific and unique authority for the betterment and protection of God’s church.
Preface
INTRODUCTION: The Shepherd of the Church
PART 1: THE AUTHORITY OF THE CONGREGATION
1. Leadership and Congregational Authority
2. Membership and Congregational Authority
3. Discipleship and Congregational Authority
4. Restrictions and Congregational Authority
PART 2: THE AUTHORITY OF THE ELDERS
5. Titles and Elder Authority
6. Qualifications and Elder Authority
7. The Role of Leading and Elder Authority
8. The Role of Shepherding and Elder Authority
9. The Role of Teaching and Elder Authority
10. Restrictions and Elder Authority
PART 3: THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEACONS
11. The Title and Deacon Authority
12. Qualifications and Deacon Authority
13. The Role of Assistant and Deacon Authority
CONCLUSION: Authority in Christ’s Church
APPENDIX: Diagnostic Questions for Leaders
General Index
Scripture Index