The word, “authorized” will sound familiar to the ears of most consistories. It is written on the letters of the consistories to classis — the letters in which they announce the names of the brothers who will be delegated to attend classic. This article discusses the authority mentioned here

In order to form a church that will last we must also think of our children. They need to be nurtured in the fear of the Lord so that they too will learn to serve him. They need a good structure, not only in our families, but also in the church. They need answers about why we do things as we do. Then they will be able to pass on to their children the same faith and the same good traditions, and the church will remain.

This article is about the basic principles of church government.

This article is about church government and church polity and the rule Christ exercises in the church through his Word.

The marks of the church are true preaching, administration of discipline, and sacraments. In this article the focus is on church discipline, laying the foundation of church discipline to be God's holiness and the call on His church to reflect this holiness.

This article focuses on church government. It also discusses the relationship between the church and the officers.

Who is in charge of the church? This article looks at the form of church government and the place of elders in the church.

Why is church leadership entrusted to office-bearers? Is rule by the church council in the church biblical? This article explains the origin, essence and exercise of the offices in the church. 

It is often the case that Bible-believers are too preoccupied with other spiritual concerns to "bother" with church government. This article deals with the following: (1) a theological rationale for church government, (2) an evaluation of the historic importance of maintaining a thorough polity, and (3) beginning propositions for a theology of government.

‘According to the Reformed conception of the Church, the attributes of the Church are always present and belong to the essence of the Church. On the other hand, the marks of the Church, which ought always to be present, depend upon the state of the Church at any given time. The Church is always in either a state of deformation or reformation; however, continued reformation must always be its goal. The Church must be continually reformed. The marks of the Church tell us how we can find the true Church, and what it must look like.

How should authority in the church be exercised? To answer this question this article looks at the images used to describe the church, and considers that the church belongs to Christ. Christ governs the church through the offices of ministers, elders, and deacons.

Elders function within church structures which either enable or hinder their work. This article explains the different types of church government (Papal, Episcopal, Congregational and Presbyterial), drawing conclusions about the best approach to church government.

This article looks at the church as a spiritual body, church polity as spiritual government, and civil law.

This extensive article discusses the government of the church, as Christ wants it to be, according to Scripture, and as it is practiced from day to day.  Unless one sees, knows, and honours Jesus Christ from the heart, as King of the church and therefore in His church government, one invariably approaches even the ‘minor’ points incorrectly.

"Did Christ pour out His blood also for the bond of churches?". A previous article particularly refuted his main thesis that there is a contrast, or at least a sharp distinction, between the spiritual unity of the churches of Christ and the *organisational” unity and community as it is arranged by the Church Order, and that the Saviour would have given His blood for the former unity, but not for the latter. 

God the Almighty is sovereign Lord of heaven and earth. He rules over all, He is the highest Lord, also in His church. His kingdom has dominion over all! This almighty God exercises this government through His Son, Jesus Christ, to whom He has given all authority in heaven and on earth, Matthew 28:18; who ascended into heaven to ‘manifest Himself there as Head of His church, through whom the Father governs all things. 

‘The church is the Lords. In particular, the church is the Lord Jesus Christ's, the Mediator between God and men, the Son of God revealed in the flesh. He is not, of course, to be seen in contrast to the triune God. For this one God created heaven and earth with all that is in them. The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof.

The true church is to be recognized by the following marks: It practices the pure preaching of the gospel. It maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as Christ has instituted them. It exercises church discipline for correcting and punishing sins. In short, it governs itself according to the pure Word of God, rejecting all things contrary to it and regarding Jesus Christ as the only Head... The false church assigns more authority to itself and its ordinances than to the Word of God. 

Picking up from the Old Testament, this article shows that Christ chose a plurality of qualified elders to rule and govern His church. This article shows what it means for elders, bishops and pastors to exercise oversight of the flock.

This article is about three approaches to law, and how they can be applied in different situations, specifically in church life/church government.

This article gives some background on Reformed church polity, and also on the importance of Guido de Brès for the development of Reformed church polity.

This article asks the question who has authority in the church of Christ? The local church or the Synod?

This article is about Calvin's view on church government. The different offices in the church are also discussed.