8 Bible Verses about Church Government

Now in these days, [as] the disciples were increasing [in number], a complaint arose by the {Greek-speaking Jews} against the {Hebraic Jews} because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution [of food]. So the twelve summoned the community of disciples [and] said, "It is not desirable [that] we neglect the word of God to serve tables. So, brothers, select from among you seven men {of good reputation}, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need.read more.
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And the statement pleased the whole group, and they chose Stephen (a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit), and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a convert from Antioch), whom they stood before the apostles. And they prayed [and] placed [their] hands on them.

And [when they] had appointed elders for them in every church, [after] praying with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

On account of this, I left you behind in Crete, in order that what remains may be set in order and you may appoint elders in every town, as I ordered you.

And from Miletus he sent [word] to Ephesus [and] summoned the elders of the church.

Therefore [I, your] fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, [and] also a sharer of the glory that is going to be revealed, exhort the elders among you: shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion but willingly, in accordance with God, and not greedily but eagerly, and not as lording it over {those under your care}, but being examples for the flock.read more.
And [when] the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

The saying [is] trustworthy: if anyone aspires to supervision, he desires a good work. Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching, not addicted to wine, not a violent person, but gentle, peaceable, not loving money,read more.
managing his own household well, having children in submission with all dignity (but if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), not newly converted, lest he become conceited [and] fall into the condemnation of the devil. But [he] must also have a good testimony from those outside, in order that he may not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil. Deacons likewise [must be] dignified, not insincere, not devoted to much wine, not fond of dishonest gain, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience, and these also must be tested first; then let them serve [if they] are above reproach. The wives likewise [must be] dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in all [things]. Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing [their] children and their own households well. For those who have served well acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith [that is] in Christ Jesus.

If anyone is blameless, [the] husband of one wife, having faithful children, not {accused of dissipation} or rebellious. For it is necessary [for] the overseer to be blameless as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, prudent, just, devout, self-controlled,read more.
holding fast to the faithful message according to the teaching, in order that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to reprove those who speak against [it].

And from Miletus he sent [word] to Ephesus [and] summoned the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them, "You know from the first day on which I set foot in Asia how I was the whole time with you-- serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews--read more.
how I did not shrink from proclaiming to you anything that would be profitable, and [from] teaching you in public and from house [to house], testifying both to Jews and to Greeks with respect to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. "And now behold, bound by the Spirit I am traveling to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me {there}, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in town [after town], saying that bonds and persecutions await me. But I consider [my] life [as] worth {nothing} to myself, in order to finish my mission and the ministry that 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 went about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you on this very day that I am guiltless of the blood of all [of you], for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has appointed you [as] overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he obtained through the blood of his own [Son].