Leadership Beliefs

Jesus


The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is the Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22–23, 4:15, 5:23). He is the One that we seek and follow as He continues to advance the movement that He started 2,000 years ago through His perfect life, substitutionary death and victorious resurrection. After He ascended into heaven, He gave us His Spirit and established His Church to be led by elders.


elders


Restored Church is an elder-led church that submits
to the authority of the Bible. Scripture uses three words interchangeably to refer to the function of one
and the same person:

“Presbuteros” 
Elder - executes God’s justice and government and administrates the affairs of the church.

"Episcopos” 
Overseer or bishop - oversees, a guardian, gatekeeper or watchman.

“Poimain”
Shepherd or Pastor - shepherd the flock, nurture and care for the flock, feed the flock.

See Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5,7; 1 Peter 5:1-2


deacons


This is the only other office mentioned in the scriptures regarding the local church. The Greek word for deacon is “diakonis” and means “servant, and who ministers alongside, 'helper.'" This does not mean that our deacons are servants and do menial jobs; everyone in the church should have a servant heart. What it does mean though, is that the deacons come alongside the elders, assisting them in the pastoring of the church, releasing them “to prayer and ministry of the Word.” (Acts 6:1-8)  Deacons are recognized servants
of the church who must be qualified for the area of ministry they are serving and caring for God’s people in (1 Tim. 3:8–13). Our deacons, together with and under the oversight of elders, exercise oversight in community groups and other ministries.


accountability

As a church, we hold a value of plurality and consensus on decisions of doctrine, direction and discipline. We also believe that every team has a leader, with Andy Rodgers taking the role of lead pastor-elder, but this is done as a ‘first among equals’ rather than as a senior pastor with associate pastors.
We believe in the autonomy of the local church, in which the elders are the highest governing authority in that church, but we do not believe it is healthy or wise for a church to be independent. As a team we actively seek accountability and counsel from those with whom we have relationship and in whom we recognize an Ephesians 4 gifting of either apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher or evangelist.
These men include: Andy Rogers, the Lead Pastor of Restored Church Uptown; Brad Sarian, the Lead Pastor of Restored Church Los Angeles; Tom Logue, the Lead Pastor of Restored Church Temecula; Matt Larson, the Lead Pastor of Anthem Church in Thousand Oaks, CA; and Chris Weinand, an Apostolic Leader who recently handed over the leadership of Southlands Church in Brea, CA, and also leads the Genesis Collective.