8 Bible Verses about Church Government

And in these days, the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration, and the twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, 'It is not pleasing that we, having left the word of God, do minister at tables; look out, therefore, brethren, seven men of you who are well testified of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity,read more.
and we to prayer, and to the ministration of the word, will give ourselves continually.' And the thing was pleasing before all the multitude, and they did choose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch, whom they did set before the apostles, and they, having prayed, laid on them their hands.

and having appointed to them by vote elders in every assembly, having prayed with fastings, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that the things lacking thou mayest arrange, and mayest set down in every city elders, as I did appoint to thee;

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

Elders who are among you, I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be revealed a partaker, feed the flock of God that is among you, overseeing not constrainedly, but willingly, neither for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, neither as exercising lordship over the heritages, but patterns becoming of the flock,read more.
and at the manifestation of the chief Shepherd, ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory.

Stedfast is the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth; it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach, not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,read more.
his own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity, (and if any one his own house how to lead hath not known, how an assembly of God shall he take care of?) not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil; and it behoveth him also to have a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil. Ministrants -- in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre, having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience, and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable. Women -- in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things. Ministrants -- let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses, for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that is in Christ Jesus.

if any one is blameless, of one wife a husband, having children stedfast, not under accusation of riotous living or insubordinate -- for it behoveth the overseer to be blameless, as God's steward, not self-pleased, nor irascible, not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of strangers, a lover of good men, sober-minded, righteous, kind, self-controlled,read more.
holding -- according to the teaching -- to the stedfast word, that he may be able also to exhort in the sound teaching, and the gainsayers to convict;

And from Miletus, having sent to Ephesus, he called for the elders of the assembly, and when they were come unto him, he said to them, 'Ye -- ye know from the first day in which I came to Asia, how, with you at all times I was; serving the Lord with all humility, and many tears, and temptations, that befell me in the counsels of the Jews against me;read more.
how nothing I did keep back of what things are profitable, not to declare to you, and to teach you publicly, and in every house, testifying fully both to Jews and Greeks, toward God reformation, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, lo, I -- bound in the Spirit -- go on to Jerusalem, the things that shall befall me in it not knowing, save that the Holy Spirit in every city doth testify fully, saying, that for me bonds and tribulations remain; but I make account of none of these, neither do I count my life precious to myself, so that I finish my course with joy, and the ministration that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify fully the good news of the grace of God. And now, lo, I have known that no more shall ye see my face, -- ye all among whom I did go preaching the reign of God; wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I am clear from the blood of all, for I did not keep back from declaring to you all the counsel of God. 'Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the assembly of God that He acquired through His own blood,