We believe that the consistent pattern of leadership for the church laid out in the New Testament is that of leadership by a team of qualified elders.  While the congregation does at key points play an important role in the decision making process in the New Testament, the responsibility of leading, directing, feeding and protecting falls largely to the elders.  In addition, we believe that the terms "pastor" and "elder" are synonymous and interchangeable in the New Testament.  Therefore, we do not make a differentiation in authority between our vocational elders (i.e. paid staff) and our lay elders.  However, we do refer to our vocational "Elders" as Pastors.