> "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."
(John 20:23) The [Power of the Keys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_of_the_Keys) is a Catholic (and, IIUC, Lutheran) doctrine that only certain individuals — particularly and approximately, those serving as "Priests" (i.e. pastors in Protestant terminology) — have certain abilities. In John 20:23, Jesus makes it plain that *someone* has the ability to forgive and to withhold forgiveness. Some interpret this (along with other scripture, e.g. Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18 and 1 Corinthians 5:1-5) to mean that this ability is "special" somehow to priests/pastors. It is from this same doctrine (IIUC) that we get the idea of excommunication, which is similarly granted to specific "offices" within the Church. Protestants, of course, reject many Catholic teachings. What I would like to know is, **who, according to Arminian Protestants, has the power specified in John 20:23**? Who (if anyone; see also [this question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/30258)) can forgive sins or withhold forgiveness? Is it *any* Christian, or only pastors? Or some other distinction? (For bonus points, is excommunication a thing?) I am asking about *Arminian* (or at least, non-Anglican, non-Lutheran, and non-Calvinist) Protestants specifically, as the answer is obviously different for the excluded groups. (Well, maybe not for Calvinists, but their ideas on predestination muddy things IMHO.) ---- While the (first) linked question is related, it doesn't have much in the way of answers, and, more importantly, doesn't appear answer the more specific "*who* has 'the Keys'" question that I am asking. There are some [other](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/89608) [questions](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/83406) which also appear similar, but aren't clear what group they apply to, aside from [this answer](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/89675/53502) which is specifically Lutheran.

I've heard Christians claim that someone may have the "gift of apostleship", even though they may lack the "church office" of apostle itself. Same for prophet, evangelist, teacher, etc. What is the biblical basis for making this distinction? What biblical reasons are there for talking about the "gift of X" and the "church office of X" as two separate categories, where X can be apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist, teacher, etc.?

I'm constructing a survey of Anglican worshippers in England. One of the questions asks about _ordination-status_, with the following options: * I am ordained * I am a curate * I am a licensed lay-person * I am an unlicensed lay-person For worshippers in the Church of England, are these categories: * **comprehensive** (_everyone_ is described by _one_ of them) * **exclusive** (_no-one_ is described by _two_ of them)?

I realize that many conservative Presbyterian churches (PCA, OPC, etc.) have fairly basic standards for membership, not requiring much more than baptism and a basic affirmation of faith, although stricter doctrinal requirements are placed on people who become office-holders. What I'm wondering is, how involved would someone who is an Amyraldian 4-point Calvinist be allowed to be? (Or someone who denies double predestinarianism, for that matter.) Could someone who holds those beliefs comfortably attend a conservative Presbyterian church if they hold other Presbyterian beliefs (infant baptism, spiritual presence view of Communion, etc.), or would they be better off in a different denomination?

Some churches who appoint elders do so for a term (3 years is typical from what I have seen). Other churches ordain elders for life. Is there a Biblical basis for ordaining elders for life? This is a follow on to my question about [term eldership.](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/7573/what-is-the-biblical-basis-for-term-eldership)

Some churches who appoint elders do so for a term (3 years is typical from what I have seen). Other churches ordain elders for life. Is there a Biblical basis for ordaining elders for a term?