8 Bible Verses about Church Government

Now in these days while the number of the disciples was multiplying, the Grecian Jews began to murmur against the Hebrews, because their widows were habitually overlooked in the distribution of alms. Then the Twelve called the general body of the disciples together, and said to them. "It is not fitting for us to leave off preaching the Word of God, and minister at tables. "So, brothers, find from among your own number seven men of good reputation who are full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them over this business.read more.
"But we will give ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word." This plan commended itself to the whole body, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. These men they presented to the apostles who, when they had prayed, laid their hands upon them.

They chose elders for them in every church, after prayer and fasting, and commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

I left you in Crete for this reason, that you might set right the things left unfinished, and appoint presbyters in every city as I had instructed you;

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church to come to him;

Now to you who are presbyters I make this appeal; for I am myself a presbyter, and was a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory about to be revealed. Be shepherds to your flock of God; take charge of them willingly, and not through compulsion; not for filthy lucre, but with a willing mind; not by way of lording it over your heritage, but by becoming examples to the flock.read more.
Then, when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you too will receive the fadeless wreath of glory.

This is a faithful saying, "If any man is seeking the office of a minister he is aspiring to a noble task." The minister should be a man of blameless character; he should be husband of but one wife; he should live a sober, self-restrained, orderly life; he should be hospitable, skilled in teaching; no drinker or brawler; but forbearing, peaceable, and no money-lover;read more.
he should be a man who rules his own household well, and keeps his children ever under control and thoroughly well behaved. For if a man does not know how to rule his own household, how shall he take charge of a church of God? He must not be a recent convert, lest he be blinded with pride, and incur the doom of the devil. He should also have a good reputation among outsiders, lest he fall into reproach, and into a snare of the devil. Deacons, likewise, must be serious, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of gain, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. They should first be tested, and after that, if they are found irreproachable, let them serve as deacons. Deaconesses likewise must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husband of but one wife, men who rule their children and their household properly. For those who have well discharged the duties of a deacon are gaining an honorable position for themselves, as well as much fearless confidence in the faith of Christ Jesus.

men who are blameless, the husband of one wife, with believing children who are not accused of riot or insubordination. For indeed a presiding officer, as God's steward, ought to be blameless, not self-willed or quick-tempered, not a drunkard or violent, or greedy of filthy lucre; but he must be hospitable, a lover of the good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled.read more.
He must hold to the faithful word according to the teaching, so that he may be able both to encourage by sound teaching, and to confute our opponents.

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church to come to him; and when they arrived, he said to them. "You yourselves know quite well, how I lived among you, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, "serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and amid trials that befell me through the plots of the Jews.read more.
"You know that I never shrank from declaring to you anything that was profitable, nor from teaching you publicity and in your homes, testifying both to Jews and Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what will befall me there, except that in city after city the Holy Spirit is warning me that bonds and afflictions are awaiting me. But I hold not my life of any account, as dear unto myself, if only I may run my race, and accomplish the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to attest the gospel of the grace of God. And now I know that not one of you among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will ever see my face again. So I testify to you this day that I am clear from the blood of all men; I never shrank from telling you the whole counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, and be shepherds of the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood.