As noted in our tutorial on worship assemblies, any fellowship of believers which regularly gathers to worship is a church – even if that fellowship or congregation consists of only two or three people. When a congregation is small, not much organization is needed, or even possible. The congregation can function very well on an informal basis.
However, as more people join the congregation it is necessary to become more formal. Policies and procedures should be adopted so the church can function smoothly, with a minimum of misunderstanding and friction. The larger a church becomes, the more structure is needed.
Authority to Organize
The thought of formally organizing a church makes some people very uncomfortable. They question whether they have the right to do so. “How,” they ask, “can we do this, or even call ourselves a church since we have no priest or preacher over us?”
The truth is that, according to Scripture, every follower of Christ is a priest (1 Peter 2:4-9). All followers of Christ – not just a special few – are to minister to each other (1 Peter 4:10). Just as all should participate in the corporate worship, all should participate in building up and strengthening the church body.
Mutual Agreement
“But who will lead the church?” In short, you will. The question is not so much one of who has authority and control, as it is serving one another. When each member puts the interests of all the rest ahead of his own (Philippians 2:3-4) you can mutually agree on who should serve in what capacity. When you have men who meet the qualifications for the leadership roles mentioned in the New Testament you can appoint them to lead the congregation. In the meantime the church should make decisions by mutual agreement.
Training
“But how can we appoint people from our own number as leaders? Don’t church leaders require special training?” Actually, no. Most of the men Jesus selected as His Apostles did not have training from the theological schools (Acts 4:13). They were taught directly by Christ. You, too will be taught by Christ as you diligently study His word and apply it to your life. It is being with Jesus which qualifies someone to lead in the church, not a certificate or degree from a seminary.
Affiliation
Another question people have is whether a church must report to anyone. In other words, does some organization or headquarters have authority over you? The answer is, “No!” Christ is the Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18) and you are accountable only to Him. No other church or institution has the right to exercise authority over you. Others may give you advice and counsel, but your responsibility is to Christ, alone.
What leaders should you appoint to lead and guide the church? The New Testament speaks of Evangelists, Elders, Deacons/Deaconesses and Teachers working in each congregation. While your church is small and young, you may not have enough qualified people to fill all of these roles. However, it should be your ambition to prepare and equip people for these roles.
Evangelists
The primary responsibility of an evangelist is to proclaim the gospel to those who are outside of Christ. It is his job to confront the unbeliever with the message of Christ. In addition to bringing people to faith in Christ, evangelists help establish and organize new congregations. They also help train and equip others to work in the church. The qualifications of evangelists are found in 1 Timothy 4:12, 5:22, 6:2-16 and 2 Timothy 2:24-25, 3:14-15, 4:1-5.
Elders
Elders constitute the governing board of the church. Other biblical names for the role of Elder are Pastor, Shepherd or Overseer. It is they who give direction to the church and determine policy. They are responsible for the spiritual health of the church. They are the main speakers and teachers in the church. If at all possible, there should always be more than one elder. Though the elders may divide the work among themselves according to their various abilities, all elders are equal in authority and responsibility. The qualifications of elders are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Peter 5:1-4.
Deacons – Deaconesses
Deacons and deaconesses look after the physical well-being of the church members. Specifically, they administer the benevolence programs of the church. In addition, they handle the church’s finances. By concentrating their efforts on the physical needs of the church, deacons/deaconesses free the elders to concentrate on the church’s spiritual needs. The qualifications of deacons are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
Teachers
Teachers assist the elders in their task of giving religious instruction. Teachers prepare curriculum and other teaching materials. In addition to classroom instruction, teachers explain spiritual principles through practical applications. The qualifications of teachers are found in James 3:1-18.
Please note that most of the qualifications for these leadership roles have nothing to do with formal education. A certificate or degree from a seminary is not required to serve in the church. However, a Christlike character is required.
Also note that appointing people to these positions does not guarantee that the church will be healthy and pleasing to the Lord. It is entirely possible to have the correct church structure and still be without love and the other fruit of the Spirit which Christ requires in His people. However, a church will not be as healthy as it ought without people functioning in these roles.
Registration – Incorporation
In addition to following the New Testament example for the church, there is another reason to consider formally organizing your fellowship: In some parts of the world the authorities require churches to register or incorporate. Without legal recognition, the authorities may forbid your worship assemblies. In some cases, they may even apply penalties or take legal action against you. In addition, it may be necessary to become a recognized organization before you can open a bank account or for the church to own property.
The danger of registering or obtaining formal legal status is that by doing so, you give the government a measure of control over you. In some cases, the authorities have gone so far as to appoint church leaders and censor what is taught in the church. As a result, some churches refuse to register as a matter of principle. You will have to decide for yourselves whether the advantages of registration outweigh the possible dangers of government interference in spiritual matters.
Regardless of whether you seek formal recognition or not, you should still strive to follow the New Testament example regarding church leadership.
Each place has its own requirements which must be satisfied before granting legal recognition to a church. Should you decide to register or incorporate, you will need to consult an attorney who can guide you through the process. In general, however, you will be required to submit a constitution and bylaws for your organization. For an example of these documents please refer to this Sample Constitution and Bylaws. Your attorney can help you modify it to meet your requirements.