Lesson One
Church Government

•	"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues" 
•	I Corinthians 12:28
•	ORDAINED OF GOD
•	Sometimes there is much unwise criticism of organization. 
•	It comes mainly from the following two sources:
•	A person who has been saved from the denominational church world desires to be set free from the bondage of the traditional church structure, and therefore, swings to the other extreme of discarding all church government.
•	A person who refuses to submit to discipline, and therefore, adopts an independent attitude and spirit, and promotes the so-called "free" church.
•	Christian need to be fully persuaded that God has ordained church government and the Bible clearly teaches a divine plan for organization in the church.
•	Without organization there can be no government nor discipline in the church
•	To remove all misunderstanding let it be understood that the church is not an organization but a living organism indwelt by the Holy Spirit. 
•	Where there is no church government, every man is a law unto himself, and there can be neither divine order nor discipline. 
•	This can lead only to confusion, disorder, and the divine harmony and order of God's government is entirely disrupted. 
•	Church government and discipline is needed in the local assembly as well as in the church as a whole. 
•	The ministry is subject to government and discipline as well as the laity. 
•	Any man who cannot humble himself to obey those whom the Lord has placed over him is disqualified from ruling over others. 
•	THEOCRACY IS GOD'S FORM 
•	The form of church government given in God's Word is a THEOCRACY. 
•	It is God ruling His people through God-called Holy Ghost ministry.
•	Two extremes in church government, both are wrong:
•	Rule of the People: a democratic form of church government which is best for the country but has not been ordained by God for His church. 
•	The laity should be consulted and they be permitted to freely express their desires and convictions. 
•	They may influence the decision of the ministry, but they must submit themselves to the final decision of their pastor.
•	Rule of the Priesthood: a totalitarian form of government
•	Causes the pastor to become a lord over God's heritage 
•	Creates a dictatorship
•	A Theocracy is a balance between these two extremes.
•	The pastor is recognized as the head of the church ordained by God and through whom God may lead His people. 
•	It does not make the pastor a lord over God's heritage, but rather a leader of the people of God.
•	A theocracy concerns, affects and benefits only those who voluntarily submit to it.
•	It is a very serious offence for any man to put forth his hand against the ministry.
•	ORGANIZATION: A MEANS TO AN END
•	The church does not organize in order to build a strong organization but rather to evangelize the world.
•	The mission of the church is missions. 
•	The purpose of organization is to get the job done.
•	Organization must always be a servant to the church, never the church a servant to organization.
•	Organization is a wonderful servant but a very poor master.
•	Organization is not the end in itself; it is the means towards that end.
•	LOCAL ASSEMBLY SET IN ORDER
•	Every local assembly should:
•	Be affiliated with the organization,
•	Have a pastor who has been properly installed
•	Have church officers that may be necessary
•	The local church assembly should be set in order by the presbytery 
•	In other words a church cannot be set in order until there is a group of saints who are going to unite together to form a local assembly.
•	As soon as there is such a group of saints a meeting should be called, over which the District Superintendent or Sectional Presbyter should preside, and the church should be set in order.
•	The agenda for such a meeting should provide for taking care of the following matters of business:
•	Scripture reading and prayer.
•	Appointment of a recording secretary so accurate minutes of the meeting may be recorded.
•	Recording of the names of the charter members of the assembly.
•	Choice of the name of the assembly.
•	Reading of the Articles of Faith of the organization and the adoption of it by the assembly.
•	Installation of the pastor.
•	Reading of the Church Constitution for the local assembly and the adoption of the same by the assembly.
•	Election of church officers.
•	Appointment by the pastor of all other necessary church officers and ratification of it by the assembly.
•	Statement of affiliation by the presbyter to the assembly.
•	PASTOR INSTALLED BY THE PRESBYTERY
•	When the presbytery installs the pastor, he is given a measure of prestige and recognition of authority that is difficult for him to receive in any other way. 
•	It builds confidence and the assembly is given to understand that the church is united. 
•	The assembly understands that the organization is standing behind the ministry of their pastor and they need to recognize the authority behind their pastor.
•	The assembly understands that they are given protection.
•	In the event of their spiritual leader falling into sin, the entire organization would be there to give them protection and support.
•	There are three main ways in which a pastor is chosen:
•	He may be a pioneer preacher and has raised up the assembly through his own ministry. 
•	He may be placed there and appointed pastor of the assembly by the presbyter, bishop or superintendent of the district.
•	He may be called by the majority vote of the congregation itself. 
•	Never should there be an election of one man over the names of others.
•	Only the names of men approved and recommended by the presbytery should be considered.
•	The method of choosing a pastor is of secondary importance. 
•	The will of God is the one thing that is all-important.
•	No wrong motives must influence the choice either on the part of the pastor or of the people.

LESSON ONE
SELF HELP TEST

A. Write a clear definition of the following terms:
1.	Theocracy -
2.	Presbytery -
3.	Mystery of iniquity -

B. Explain the difference between an organization and an organism.
C. Explain the meaning of the following statement: "Organization is not the end in itself; it is the means towards that end."

D. State THREE ways in which a pastor may be chosen:
1.		_________________________________________________________
2.	_________________________________________________________
3.	 	  __________________________________________________________