NOTE 8.--Councils may be called, presbyteries convened, or committees of reference chosen for advice in cases of moment, but they are all _advisory_ only, and in no case authoritative. There is no higher, and no other court of appeal in ecclesiastical affairs, than the individual church. +CHAPTER II+ CHURCH OFFICERS[1] The Scriptural officers of a church are _bishops_ and _deacons._ Bishops are in the New Testament also called "presbyters," "elders," and "overseers." Their duties and services have mainly reference to the spiritual interests of the body, though they properly have the oversight of all its concerns. The deacons have principal charge of the temporalities of the church, so as to relieve the pastor in that department of labor. They are, however, to be counselors and helpers of the pastor in all departments of his work. The qualifications for both offices are set forth in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus. NOTE 1.--Pastors and deacons, as teachers and leaders of the flock, cannot be selected for and imposed upon the churches by any external authority whatever, either civic or religious; but are elected and chosen by the free suffrages of the members, without compulsion or restraint, from among themselves, or those who are to become identified with them in fellowship. NOTE 2.--In the election of either a pastor or deacon, notice of such election should be given from the pulpit for at least two Sundays preceding the time for the same. The election should be by ballot, and at least _three-quarters_ of the votes cast should be necessary for the election of a pastor, and _two-thirds_ for the election of a deacon. Such election should be preceded by prayer for Divine direction, and conducted without partisan devices or personal strife. NOTE 3.--Both pastors and deacons are properly elected for unlimited terms of service, the relation to continue so long as there shall be mutual satisfaction. Such a course tends less to depreciate and make servile the officers and their duties in the estimation of the people, and of those who bear them, than a limited and specified time, though deacons are sometimes, and perhaps properly, chosen for a limited term of service, subject to reelection, at the option of the church. NOTE 4.--The church is to fix on the amount of salary necessary to a generous support of the pastor, and hold itself obligated by every consideration of Christian honor for the prompt and regular payment of the same. To fail in this is as dishonorable to the church as it is unjust and vexatious to the pastor.