At Basswood Church, we believe that Jesus Christ is the true Head of the church. He cares for His people and leads His church through the men He calls to shepherd, guide, and teach.
The New Testament describes this leadership office with several titles—elders, overseers, and bishops. Though the names differ, they all refer to the same role: men set apart to lovingly shepherd God’s people, provide spiritual oversight, and guard the church in truth and holiness. At Basswood, we call this the office of elder.
Christ rules His church through the faithful ministry of these qualified elders. Their task is not one of domination, but of humble service—feeding the flock with God’s Word, protecting it from error, and caring for it with compassion (Acts 20:17–18, 28–31; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4).