God’s Design for Church Leadership #4 - What the Bible Actually Says About Church Governance

I’ve been part of the church world long enough to notice certain patterns. One of them is the hidden assumption that the Bible doesn’t say much about how local churches should function—so we’re free to improvise, be creative, and structure things however we see fit. The problem with this assumption is that (1) it’s not true, and (2) silence in one area does not give us permission to do whatever we want.

In fact, the New Testament tells us a great deal about how churches should be ordered. But our modern verse-snatching, proof-texting approach to theology often fails to see the broader, Spirit-inspired patterns that emerge across the canon.

Let me briefly lay out some of the key elements of biblical church governance:

1. The Church Is Led by Men

Biblical leadership is not arbitrary; it’s rooted in God’s created order. Paul makes this clear in 1 Timothy 2:12–13, when he grounds male leadership in the order of creation, not in cultural convenience:

“I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.”

This is not a matter of value or giftedness—it’s about God’s wise design for how His household should operate. Male leadership in the church mirrors the leadership role men are called to exercise in the home (Eph. 5:23; 1 Cor. 11:3). When lived out with humility, sacrificial love, and accountability, male eldership blesses the entire church—men and women alike.

2. The Church Is Led by Qualified Men

Being a man does not automatically qualify someone for leadership. Gender is a prerequisite, not a qualification. As we explored in our previous article, pastors must be specific kinds of men—those who reflect the character of Christ, live under the authority of His Word, and shepherd His people with wisdom and integrity (1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9).

In other words, churches should never settle for willing men; they must seek out qualified ones. God's standards are not optional.

3. The Church Is Led by a Plurality of Qualified Men

The consistent pattern in the New Testament is a plurality of elders leading the local church (Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1). The church is never pictured as being led by a single elder, and certainly not by a celebrity figure with unchecked power.

This pattern should be followed first and foremost because it is biblical, and secondly because it is wise in a fallen world. Many evangelicals rightly critique the idea of a pope, yet ironically operate with mini-popes in their own pulpits—leaders who are functionally unaccountable and carry all decision-making power.

Plurality guards the church from pride, abuse, and burnout. It also enriches the church with diverse wisdom and shared responsibility. And let’s be clear—plurality has nothing to do with the size of the congregation. A church plant of 20 people needs plurality just as much as a church of 2,000. The more qualified, godly men you have leading your church, the better. You can’t have too many men who reflect Christ.

4. The Church Governs the Church

While elders lead, the congregation is not passive. The New Testament gives the gathered church real responsibility in affirming leaders (Acts 6:3; 2 Cor. 8:19), correcting sin (Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5), and preserving the gospel (Galatians 1:8–9).

Elders are accountable to the Word, but they are also accountable to the church. A healthy church is one where every member is active in seeking to build up the body, not just watching the elders “do ministry.”

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It’s also important to clarify that pastors in the New Testament are not specialists. In the business world, specialization makes sense—marketing, accounting, HR, etc. But in the church, we’ve adopted that mindset and created titles like worship pastor, kids pastor, youth pastor, family pastor, counselling pastor, even executive pastor and maintenance pastor.

Is it sinful to have pastors focused on specific areas? That’s the wrong question.

The right questions are:

• Is this what God wants for His church?

• Is this the pattern we see in Scripture?

• Is this God’s design for His household?

• Is this what Christ expects from His bride?

  
  

In Scripture, pastors are generalists—shepherds who oversee, teach, protect, and equip the whole body. While it's normal for some elders to be more gifted in certain areas (1 Tim. 5:17), all are called to share in the same pastoral task, not divide it up like corporate departments.

The church does not belong to us; it belongs to Christ. And He has not left us without direction. He has told us who should lead, how they should lead, and how the whole body should participate in His work.

Our job is not to be innovative but to be faithful. We don’t need to reinvent the church. We need to return to the patterns Christ has given; patterns that reflect His wisdom, His love, and His authority.

May God help us see again what He has so clearly revealed, and give us churches that are not just exciting or efficient—but faithful, biblical, and fruitful.

Nino Marques