Democratic citizens choose the leaders who most represent their preferences and then send them into office with a mandate. If one’s legislator doesn’t heed the mandate, the electorate throws him out. In a congregational church, however, an elder’s only mandate is to serve Scripture’s mandate, not the members’! Contrary to secular theories of democracy, an elder’s authority comes from God (Acts 20:28), and his work is to bind consciences with God’s Word. You can vote a civil office holder out of office