8 Bible Verses about Church Government

Now in these days, when the disciples were being multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration. And the twelve, having called the multitude of the disciples to them, said, "It is not proper that we, leaving the word of God, should serve tables; but look ye out, brethren, from among yourselves, seven well-attested men, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint over this business;read more.
but we will devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And the saying was pleasing to the multitude; 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 Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch; whom they set before the apostles; and, having prayed, they laid their hands on them.

And, having appointed elders for them in every assembly; and, having prayed with fastings, they commended them to the Lord on Whom they had believed.

For this cause I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you;

And, having sent from Miletus to Ephesus, he called for the elders of the assembly.

The elders, therefore, I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of Christ's sufferings, also a partaker of the glory about to be revealed; feed the flock of God which is among you, overseeing it, not by constraint, but willingly; nor yet for base gain, but of a ready mind; neither as lording it over the allotted charges, but becoming examples to the flock;read more.
and, when the Chief Shepherd is manifested, ye will obtain the unfading crown of glory.

Faithful is the saying, "If anyone desires the office of bishop, he covets a noble work." It is needful, therefore, that the bishop be irreproachable, a husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, hospitable, apt to teach, not given to wine, not a striker, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,read more.
presiding well over his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity (but, if one knows not how to preside over his own house, how will he take care of an assembly of God?); not a novice; lest, being puffed up, he fall into condemnation of the Devil. And it is needful also that he have an honorable testimony from those without, lest he fall into reproach and a snare of the Devil. It is needful that deacons, in like manner, be grave, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy of base gain; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. But let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, being without reproach. It is needful that their wives, in like manner, be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let deacons be husbands of one wife, presiding well over their own children and their own houses. For those serving well as deacons acquire for themselves a noble standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

if anyone is blameless, a husband of one wife, having believing children not in accusation of rioting, or unruly. For the bishop must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not a striker, not greedy of base gain; but hospitable, a lover of good, sober-minded, righteous, pious, temperate;read more.
holding fast the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the healthful doctrine, and to convict those who contradict.

And, having sent from Miletus to Ephesus, he called for the elders of the assembly. And, when they came to him, he said to them, "Ye yourselves know from the first day on which I came into Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time; serving the Lord with all humility, and with tears, and with trials which befell me in the plottings of the Jews;read more.
how I shrank not from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and from teaching you publicly, and from house to house, fully testifying, both to Jews and Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus. And, now, behold, I, bound by the Spirit, am going to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifieth to me in every city, saying that bonds and tribulations await me. But I make not my soul of any value as dear to myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify the Gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the Kingdom, will see my face no more. Wherefore, I testify to you this day, that I am clean from the blood of all men; for I shrank not from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit appointed you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God, which He purchased with His own blood.