In the early Christian congregation, the apostles and elders in Jerusalem acted in a representative way, making decisions for the entire Christian congregation.
مِنَ ٱلْوَاضِحِ أَنَّ مَسْؤُولِيَّاتِ ٱلْعَبْدِ ٱلْأَمِينِ ٱلثَّقِيلَةَ تَتَطَلَّبُ ٱتِّخَاذَ ٱلْكَثِيرِ مِنَ ٱلْقَرَارَاتِ .‏