8 Bible Verses about Church Government

Now in those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the native Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty.read more.
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And the statement pleased the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might straighten out what was left unfinished, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you,

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God that is under your care, serving as overseersnot under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; not as lording it over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.read more.
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

It is a trustworthy saying: if any one aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.read more.
He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (If a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church?). He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall into the same condemnation as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, and not fond of sordid gain; they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. They must also first be tested; and then if they are beyond reproach, let them serve as deacons. The women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be the husband of one wife, and must manage their children and their households well. For those who have served well as deacons gain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

namely, if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, and his children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild or rebellious. For the overseer must be blameless as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled;read more.
he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to refute those who contradict it.

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;read more.
how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, bound in the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will see my face no more. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with the blood of his Own.