Another Bible word is "bishop." While the term has a "high church" connotation today, Biblically, it refers to the pastor as the "overseer" or supervisor of the congregation. He leads, instructs, and "manages" the church.

The third term is "elder." Biblically, an elder was not a separate board of rulers, but described the office of the pastor in that he was to be "older" (I Tim 3, "not a novice") and presumably wiser. The Bible was written to a culture that revered age and looked to the elders for leadership.

So if all these described, the pastor, you would be left with a man who was mature (physically and spiritually), capable of administering a congregation, and with the people skills to meet their needs. Three terms (elder, bishop, pastor) all refering to the same job.

If you want to see this demonstrated, check out Acts 20:17-28. Paul summons the "elders" of Ephesus (v. 17) and commands them to "take heed therefore unto [themselves], and to all the flock...to feed the church of God" (v. 28) over which "the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers," (v. 28). The same group is pastoring, bishoping, and eldering (those are not really words!).

Another similar passage is I Peter 5:1-2. Peter addresses the "elders," telling them to "feed the flock of God" and to take "the oversight thereof." Again, the same group with all three job descriptions. Elder, pastor, and bishop all refer to the same office.

NOW, to finally get closer to your question about elder rule. Notice in both passages I just cited, "elders" was plural. This probably just means that multiple pastors from each city/location were referenced, e.g., all of the pastors ministering over individual congregations in Ephesus. But I certainly think this allows for multiple pastors in a single congregation. If the congregation is of any significant size, the church would need multiple people to disciple, lead, and administrate various ministries. For efficiency of operation, there should probably be a single person to whom each "pastoral staff" member answers, but a multiple staff is certainly permitted. If that is all that is meant by "elder rule," or a church that has an "elder board," I see no problem with it.

However, church history has intervened. Many churches down through the years (from my experience) that practice "elder rule" do it not as a group of men on the pastoral staff, but more like what most other churches call a "deacon board." They are important men in the church who call the shots and run the place. Problem? Not necessarily. As a group providing accountability to the pastor, they can serve a great function. If they are a group hindering the pastor's ministry to the congregation, however, and not giving him the liberty to lead as he is called of God, I would be concerned. The Biblical pattern is that God will hold the pastor(s) accountable for the congregation (Hebrews 13:17), so he needs the authority in the church to do his job.

Bottom line? I think a church can have a multiple-staff organization (elders, if you like), but ultimately there needs to be an individual coordinating, leading, administering, and making sure the spiritual needs of the congregation are being met.