Congregations of Record

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Elders or heads of Families congregating in free assemblies may form a Living Network of 10s, 100s, 1000s as Jesus commanded if bound by love and charity alone through faith in the The Way of Christ. They may prosper as a peculiar people without diminishing their individual liberty, in accordance with the practices of the early Church.


Defining terms

It is essential in a discussion of ancient text that we know the meaning of words at the time of their use. At different times those term may be used differently because of changes in society.

Congregations in Hebrew

The first place we see the Hebrew word for congregation in the Bible is Exodus 12:3 "Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel..." The word "edah"[1] is also translated "company" and "assembly". It is from the Hebrew word "ed"[2] meaning "witness" or "testimony".

This word "edah" is contracted from the Hebrew word ‘uwd[3] composed of the letters AyinVavDalet meaning "to return" in the sense of "repeat" for the purpose "to bear witness".

But there were other words translated congregation like MemVavAyinDalet or mowed[4] as we see in Exodus 27 verse 21 in reference to the the tabernacle of the congregation[5]

A congregation in the Greek

There is only one instant of the word congregation in the New Testament which is from the Greek word sunagoge.[6]

A synagogue at the time Christ was composed of ten individual families. Each family was an independent social unit. They were meant to be bound be charity in the form of freewill offerings.

Nder the kings some of the power to make choices for the family shifted to the kings and the priests making the word of God to none effect according to Scripture.

But originally a congregation was clearly a congregation of the people, a free assembly of families distinct from the ekklesia or called out in Israel known as the church in the wilderness.

Congregation vs Church

An ekklesia which is often translated Church did not mean a congregation of the people nor a free assembly and should not be used interchangeably.

There are numerous words in the Greek which can mean an assembly and should not be confused with the term ekklesia.

There are many words in the Greek that can mean a small assembly or group of people like "sumposion" [7] used in Mark 6:39 when Christ commanded the people be assembled in familiar patterns and ranks of tens.

We know other words could have been used like to designate types of assemblies like "agora"[8] and "paneguris"[9] as well as "heorte"[10], "koinos"[11], and "thiasos"[12] and sunago[13] or even sunalizo a verb that means "to gather together, assemble" [14] all contain the root of the word synagogue but none of these common Greek words mean the same as the Greek term "ekklesia"[15].


The Disciples of Christ were called out and appointed a kingdom[16] to serve much like the levites but the people were called to repentance and to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Congregation of Testimony

A Congregation of Testimony is a Congregation of Recorded Elders or a CORE.

The first reason the people should gather in these congregations or companies upon companies of elders of families in groups of tens, in ranks by hundreds, and ranks by fifties is because Jesus commanded that his disciples make the people organize themselves in that way.[17]

The word "Record" simply means testimony or witness. The Bible tells us in The Old and New Testaments to establish everything with two or three witnesses. That testimony is both in writing, by your words, and in deed, by your actions. It does not include contracts or oaths which bind individuals but does include Freewill offerings of, for, and by the people to give substance to their words while allowing every man to remain free.

Congregations of the early Church were nothing more than free assemblies of families who came together seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness in word and deed. The Kingdom of God is from generation to generation.[18]

The Christians who believed in the Gospel of the Kingdom sought to practice Pure Religion by taking care of one another through Faith, Hope and Charity and the Perfect law of liberty without using any of the benefits offered by the world of Caesar nor any other authoritarian Benefactors or the Fathers of the earth.

At Pentecost the heads of families being Baptized were put out of the system of Corban by the thousands and began to form a Living Network by the free elders of each family gathering in small groups of Tens who picked ministers to serve their needs in society. This was the Church and together they naturally formed the Church in general.


Congregation of Recorded Elders


leaders are titular

In order for a congregation to form a part of the kingdom it must gather with other congregations by choosing a minister linked in a network of ministers. That minister facilitates the charity within the congregation. That minister's job from a kingdom perspective is to facilitate the charity within the gathering of congregations in a living Network with all other congregations.

Why Congregate?

The Pattern

The pattern of tens starts with ten families.

A family consists of the eldest Father of a family, his wife, unmarried sons and daughters and married sons and their wives and children.

The eldest father is an Elder.

Each family unit operating under one Elder gathers in a free assembly where what he contributes to the minister it is completely given up. This is a burnt offering.

While they may be a member of a free assembly when the assembly meeting ends there are no legal bonds maintaining their membership. The Congregation is not a corporation nor even an unincorporated association.

The Elders' mission and obligation is to love God and their fellow elders and those other elders all over the kingdom network.

The fulfillment of that mission and obligation of a congregation is the responsibility of every Elder and his family. By freely attending to the Weightier matters for himself and other families he secures his own liberty under God according to the Perfect law of liberty.

A congregation is not a Democracy. The majority of Elders do not elect the minister. It is by consensus. Each elder must choose the minister he wishes to connect him with the whole body of the Church. While there is no means or inclination to compel offerings by force or guilt there is usually a token head tithe of value like the Half shekel.[19]

The elected Minister who is appointed by Ordained Ministers of the Church is a member of the congregation of fellow ministers. But like the Elder's free assembly that congregation of ministers is also not a corporation nor an unincorporated association. This is for at least three reasons.

  • Their choice of minister is not the result of a democratic vote.
  • Ministers do not own what they receive as donations but only hold it in trust as an appointed ex officio ministers.
  • What elders release to their ministers is freely given as if it is a burnt offering.

It is a principle and policy of the prophets that each minister is acting as a single independent stone of the Altar of God. They are not hewn but seek to fit together in a cohesive group as friends.

There is another classification within the the network of tens. Ordained ministers of the Church are members of their congregation but hold all things in common within that independent congregation and are joint heirs within the whole network of congregations. This is explained in more detail within the book The Free Church Report.

Why Ministers of the Church?

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  • A Minister is a legal representative of Christ who came to save, serve and set the people free.
  • A minister is a titular servant of Christ to the people.
  • A minister is an individual member of the Church.
    A minister's Membership is by appointment or anointing, ex officio or ordination.
    Ministers do not exercise authority one over the other.
    Ministers hold all of what has been given them to hold for Christ and His purposes in common as joint heirs.
  • A minister is part of the Body of the Church as a member of their Congregation of Ministers ["COM"];
    A Congregation of Ministers' ["COM"] legal existence within the Church resides in their Ordination or the appointment by Ordained Overseer or Ministers as the Church in order to remain Free Assemblies.
  • A minister is a Titular clerk or "clergy" in one form of government called the Church.
  • A congregation of Ministers is a convention of Churches.
  • Together they form Altars of clay and Stones as the Church in general.
  • And spiritually are the Body of Christ.

Why Minister?

His Church is:

  • It composed of the "called out" Ministers of Christ.
  • It composed of those who are servant Ministers of the Church.
  • It consists of all ministers of His kingdom at hand.
  • It is the legal entity of Christ.
  • It is the institution of God appointed by Christ.
  • It is foreign to the World.
    • It is “A body or community of Christians", those following the Doctrines of Jesus.
    • It is united under one form of government by the profession of one faith.
    • It observes the same rituals and ceremonies.
    • It has a legal and apostolic identity.
    • It is the religious society founded and established by Jesus Christ,
    • It is to receive, preserve, and propagate His doctrines and ordinances.

Why Church?

  • The individual and families of congregations should be linked as one Spiritual body in practical and real ways. This is accomplished by their charitable Communion through their Ministers of service in a virtual society. They are bound by a common love for one another within the mission of the Church and purpose of Christ. With the help and service of every family in congregations of congregations through the network of Ministers, Bishops and Archbishops chosen by the people, the people become one nation under God.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 ¶ Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,


Terms like bishop and archbishop or liturgy are common terms in the modern Church, but in the first century Church they often had a very different meaning and purpose.

Jesus talked about the apostles as if they were princes when he appointed them a kingdom using a word that is translated both ruler and princes but His instructions limited them. The decree of Christ barred them from exercising authority one over the other like the princes of the other nations.[20]

The apostles and other deacons[21], ministers of ten, like the Levites before them were to serve the people as Benefactors but could only do so by the division of the Freewill offerings of the people which is another way of saying by charity rather than force like the gentiles were doing then.

Anyone who would pray to the Fathers of the earth to obtain benefits at the expense of their neighbor, a covetous practice, is not following the instructions of Christ and therefore should not be labeled Christian. Any Church that is not seeking to provide the benefits of society through charity is not His Church.

This Daily ministration by ministers of His Church required that the people came together and contributed regularly to build a network of congregations which strive to live by faith, hope and charity which is the perfect law of liberty.

Early Congregations

Congregations of record or testimony were a part of the kingdom from the beginning.

"Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [such] over them, [to be] rulers of thousands, [and] rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:" Exodus 18:21

Early Israel was a network of congregations bound only by a common purpose which did not allow people to take from others because their "rulers" "hated covetousness".[22]

Those "rulers" were called "sar"[23] in the Hebrew this is the letters Shem and Reish. It is from the verb ShemReishReish[24]

It is not the word mashal [25] which is from the letters MemShemLamed and is also translated "rule" and "ruler" and associated with dominion[26] and the power of a "Pharaoh" and "Egypt".[27]

Another word for "ruler" is nasiy’ [28] which is the letters NunShemAlef. It appears in Exodus 34:31 in reference to the "rulers of the congregation".[29]


We also see phrases like "the ruler of his house" in Genesis 43:16.[30] It is from the word bayith[31] The Hebrew letters for bayith are BietYodTav [תיב]. Biet means house and Yod is the divine spark while the letter Tav is the door of faith.

These words for ruler do not always mean ruler as we might think of ruler today. Sar, Shem Reish, is translated prince 208 times, captain 130, chief 33, ruler 33, governor 6, keeper 3, principal 2, general 1, lords 1.


Exodus 18:25 And Moses chose[32] able men out of all Israel, and made them heads[33] over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Moses was not giving the power of a king to these ministers. That rejection of God would not come until 1 Samuel 8.

Deuteronomy 1:15 "So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes."

This statement "chief of your tribes, wise men, and known" meant the people chose their leaders and Moses approved their and blessed their choice.

Moses and Jesus appointed a kingdom and barred the ministers from exercising authority one over the other like the princes of the other nations.

They both had Daily ministration by ministers who were called out. These voluntary systems required that the people choose to come together and contribute regularly to build a network of congregations which strive to live by faith, hope and charity which means Freewill offerings which is the Perfect law of liberty.

This also required men of truth[34]. Christ was the truth. What he told us to do and seek is His truth. Anyone who tells you that you do not have to seek and strive to be a doer of what Christ said to do to be His follower is not preaching the gospel of Christ.

In order to love your neighbor as yourself you need to devote time and energy to care for his or her true needs. To do this well you must gather together in a network of charity, faith and hope that others will be there for you when you need help. Those who work at this process of social care by charity will develop the trust of love in Christ found amongst the early Christian community.


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Footnotes

  1. 05712 ^הדע^ ‘edah \@ay-daw’\@ from 05707 meaning witness in the original sense of fixture; n f; AV-congregation 124, company 13, assembly 9, multitude 1, people 1, swarm 1; 149
    1) congregation, gathering
    • ע Ayin also U. Divine Providence "eye" or "fountain" of five states of kindness or severity. AlefYodNun or nothingness as opposed to AlefShin something [eye, watch] (Numeric value: 70)
    • ד Dalet Selflessness – Charity, back and forth or through a door or pathway, to enter like a fish (Numeric value: 4)
    • ה Hey Expression--Thought, Speech, Action. Manifest seeds of thought and life. [Emphasize, jubilation, window, fence] (Numeric value: 5)
  2. 05707 ^דע^ ‘ed \@ayd\@ contracted from 05749; n m; {See TWOT on 1576 @@ "1576b"} AV-witness 69; 69
    1) witness
    1a) witness, testimony, evidence (of things)
    1b) witness (of people)
    • ע Ayin also U. Divine Providence "eye" or "fountain" of five states of kindness or severity. AlefYodNun or nothingness as opposed to AlefShin something [eye, watch] (Numeric value: 70)
    • ד Dalet Selflessness – Charity, back and forth or through a door or pathway, to enter like a fish (Numeric value: 4)
  3. 05749 ^דוע^ AyinVavDalet ‘uwd \@ood\@ a primitive root; v; {See TWOT on 1576} {See TWOT on 1576 @@ "1576d"} AV-testify 15, protest 6, witness 6, record 3, charge 2, solemnly 2, take 3, admonished 1, misc 7; 45
    1) to return, repeat, go about, do again
    1a) (Piel) to surround, go round and round
    1b) (Pilel) to restore, relieve
    1c) (Hithpalel) to be restored
    2) to bear witness
    2a) (Qal) to bear witness, say again and again
    2b) (Hiphil)
    2b1) to testify, bear witness
    2b2) to cause to testify, take or call as witness, invoke
    2b3) to protest, affirm solemnly, warn, exhort or enjoin solemnly, admonish, charge
    2c) (Hophal) to protest, give warning
    • ע Ayin also U. Divine Providence "eye" or "fountain" of five states of kindness or severity. AlefYodNun or nothingness as opposed to AlefShin something [eye, watch] (Numeric value: 70)
    • ו Vav Connection, Connecting realms and worlds or the dividing veil between them. [nail... And, Add, secure, hook] (Numeric value: 6)
    • ד Dalet Selflessness – Charity, back and forth or through a door or pathway, to enter like a fish (Numeric value: 4)
  4. 04150 מוֹעֵד‎ MemVavAyinDalet mow‘ed [mo-ade’] or מעד‎ mo‘ed [mo-ade’] or (fem.) מועדה‎ mow‘adah (#2Ch 8:13) [mo-aw-daw’] from 03259 יָעַד‎ YodAyinDalet ya‘ad fix or appoint; n m; [BDB-417a] [{See TWOT on 878 @@ "878b" }] AV-congregation 150, feast 23, season 13, appointed 12, time 12, assembly 4, solemnity 4, solemn 2, days 1, sign 1, synagogues 1; 223
    1) appointed place, appointed time, meeting
    1a) appointed time 1a1) appointed time (general) 1a2) sacred season, set feast, appointed season 1b) appointed meeting 1c) appointed place 1d) appointed sign or signal 1e) tent of meeting
  5. Exodus 27:21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which [is] before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: [it shall be] a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
  6. 4864 ~συναγωγή~ sunagoge \@soon-ag-o-gay’\@ from (the reduplicated form of) 4863; TDNT-7:798,1107; {See TDNT 764} n f AV-synagogue 55, congregation 1, assembly 1; 57
    1) a bringing together, gathering (as of fruits), a contracting
    2) in the NT, an assembling together of men, an assembly of men
    3) a synagogue
    3a) an assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures; assemblies of that sort were held every sabbath and feast day, afterwards also on the second and fifth days of every week; name transferred to an assembly of Christians formally gathered together for religious purposes
    3b) the buildings where those solemn Jewish assemblies are held. Synagogues seem to date their origin from the Babylonian exile. In the times of Jesus and the apostles every town, not only in Palestine, but also among the Gentiles if it contained a considerable number of Jewish inhabitants, had at least one synagogue, the larger towns several or even many. These were also used for trials and inflicting punishment.
    • For Synonyms see entry 5897
  7. 4849 ~συμπόσιον~ sumposion \@soom-pos’-ee-on\@ from a derivative of the alternate of 4844; ; n n AV-company 1, not tr. 1; Repeated twice in Mark 6:39
    1) a drinking party, entertainment
    1a) of the party itself, the guests
    1b) rows of guests
    "The symposium (or symposion) was an important part of ancient Greek culture from the 7th century BCE and was a party held in a private home where Greek males gathered to drink, eat and sing together. Various topics were also discussed such as philosophy, politics, poetry and the issues of the day."
    " The equivalent of a Greek symposium in Roman society is the Latin convivium."
    A Roman convivium according to Marcus Tullius Cicero for the republican period and Seneca suggest that ten to twelve was the maximum number.
    Plato in his "Laws" endorses the benefits of the symposium as a means to test and promote virtue in citizens.
  8. 58 ~ἀγορά~ agora \@ag-or-ah’\@ from ageiro (to gather, probably akin to 1453); ; n f AV-market 6, marketplace 4, street 1; 11
    1) any collection of men, congregation, or assembly, especially of the people
    2) the place of assembly
    2a) for public debating,
    2b) for elections
    2c) for trials {#Ac 16:19}
    2d) for buying and selling {#Mr 7:4}
    2e) for all kinds of business
    3) market place, street {#Mt 11:16 20:3}
  9. 3831 ~πανήγυρις~ paneguris \@pan-ay’-goo-ris\@ from 3956 and a derivative of 58; n f AV-general assembly 1; 1
    1) a festal gathering of the whole people to celebrate public games or other solemnities
    2) a public festal assembly
  10. 1859 ἑορτή heorte [heh-or-tay’] of uncertain affinity; n f; AV-feast 26, holy day 1; 27
    1) a feast day, festival
  11. 2839 ~κοινός~ koinos \@koy-nos’\@ probably from 4862; TDNT-3:789,447; {See TDNT 395} adj AV-common 7, unclean 3, defiled 1, unholy 1; 12
    1) common
    2) common i.e. ordinary, belonging to generality
    2a) by the Jews, unhallowed, profane, Levitically unclean
    It primarily meant "common, mutual, shared, joint".
  12. The Greek words sunagoge

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