8 Bible Verses about Church Government

AND in those days the disciples being multiplied, there was a complaint of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, that their widows were neglected in the daily service. And the twelve calling the multitude of the disciples, said, It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God to serve tables. Look out therefore, brothers, from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit, and of wisdom, whom we may set over this business;read more.
but we will attend continually to prayer, and the ministry of the word. And the proposition pleased all the multitude, and they elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus, and Nicanor and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch, and set them before the Apostles; and they having prayed imposed hands on them.

And having appointed them elders in every church, and having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

For this cause I left you in Crete, that you might regulate things which are deficient, and appoint elders in every city, as I charged you,

And from Miletus sending to Ephesus he called for the elders of the church.

The elders among you I exhort, who am a co-elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed; feed the flock of God which is among you, not by constraint but willingly, not for base gain but of a ready mind, not as having a lordship over God's inheritance but being examples to the flock;read more.
and when the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive an unfading crown of glory.

IT is a true saying, If any one desires an episcopate he desires a good work. It is necessary therefore that a bishop should be blameless, a husband of one wife, circumspect, sober, well-behaved, hospitable, apt to teach, not a wine-drinker, not a quarrelsome man, but gentle, not contentious, not avaricious,read more.
ruling well his own house, having his children in subjection with all dignity,??5 but if any one knows not how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God???6 not a novice, lest being inflated with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. And he must also have a good name from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil. The deacons in like manner ought to be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not devoted to base gain, having the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these be proved first, then let them serve, being found blameless. The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, circumspect, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling well their children and their own houses. For they who exercise the deaconship well, procure for themselves an honorable standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

if any one is blameless, a husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of intemperance or of insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless as a steward of God, not self-indulgent, not soon angry, not given to wine, not contentious, not devoted to base gain, but a lover of hospitality, kind, sober, just, holy, self-denying,read more.
holding firmly the faithful word taught, that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to convince those who contradict.

And from Miletus sending to Ephesus he called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them, You know from the first day that I came into Asia, how I was with you at all times, serving the Lord with all humility, and tears and trials that befell me by the conspiracies of the Jews,read more.
how I kept not back from declaring to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house any thing that was profitable, testifying both to Jews and Greeks the change of mind to God, and the faith in our Lord Jesus. And behold now, I go constrained by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things which shall befall me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city, saying, That bonds and afflictions await me. But life precious to myself, I make of no account that I may finish my course and the service which I received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that you all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom shall see my face no more. Wherefore I call you to witness this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not kept back from declaring to you all the counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves, therefore, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his blood.