CHURCH GOVERNMENT

1. What is the structure of the policy used?

Congregational sovereignty.

Ephesians 2;19, 20 – Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Ephesians 4:11, 13 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; :13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

Luke 22:24-26 – And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. :25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. :26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Peter 5:1-3 – The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

2. What method is used for selecting officials?

Election by the membership.

Acts 6:1-4 – And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. :2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. :3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. :4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Acts 14:23 – And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

3. What offices are filled?

Elders, Deacons, Pastor, Evangelist, Helps.

Titus 1:5-9 – For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: :6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. :7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; :8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; :9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers

1 Corinthians 12:28, 29 – And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. :29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

1 Timothy 3:1-14 – This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. :2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; :3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; :4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; :5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) :6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. :7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. :8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; :9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. :10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. :11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. :12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. :13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. :14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

Acts 20:17, 28-31 – And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. :28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. :29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. :30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. :31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

4. Is discipline of the membership practiced, ad if so, by what method?

Yes. By exclusion from the Communion Service.

1 Timothy 5:19, 20 - Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. :20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Matthew 18:15-17 – Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. :16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. :17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 – It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. :2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. :3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, :4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, :5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. :6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? :7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: :8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. :9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: :10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. :11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. :12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? :13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, 15 – Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. :14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. :15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

1 Corinthians 11:26-32 – For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. :27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. :28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. :29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. :30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. :31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. :32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 – Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Proverbs 3:11, 12 – My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: :12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Hebrews 12:5-11 – And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: :6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. :7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? :8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. :9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? :10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. :11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Ephesians 5:11 – And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

With 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 – Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? :15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? :16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. :17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, :18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Romans 16:17 – Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Hebrews 13:10 – We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

1 Corinthians 4:14 – I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.