• 1 Timothy 3:1-5
    This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);
     
  • 1 Corinthians 12:18
    But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
     
  • Ephesians 4:11-16
    And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
     
  • Philippians 2:5
    Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
     
  • 1 Timothy 5:17
    Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
     
  • 2 Timothy 4:2-4
    Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
     
  • Titus 1:6-9
    if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
     
For more scripture references, please see Bible verses for Church Leadership


Resources

Principles of Church Leadership

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

A major responsibility for the fracturing of the WCG rested with the leadership, based on a philosophy of authoritarianism Christ warned against.


What's Wrong with Leadership Today?

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

For those aspiring to leadership in God's Kingdom, greatness comes from humbly serving others, not arrogantly ruling over them like gentile rulers.


Character and Leadership

Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christian leaders should exhibit Christ-like qualities such as truth speaking, upholding standards, listening to others, giving gifts, and remaining humble.


Character and Leadership (2023)

Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Leaders cannot compartmentalize their personal and public lives. Immorality in private life will bleed into public leadership. Jesus condemned hypocrisy.


Anarchy in God's Church? (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

If we reject the spiritual gifts God gave to others, we put ourselves at risk of being deceived, and altering our belief system in response to every new idea.


Unity (Part 2): God's Pattern of Leadership

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God is not the author of confusion, but throughout the scriptures has used a consistent pattern of appointing leaders over His called-out ones.


Letters to Seven Churches (Part Two): Ephesus

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Ephesus church effectively battled various heresies, for which Christ commends it. However, the members lost sight of the reason, having left their first love.


The Church Family - Convinced and Persuaded

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Church government should reflect God's government, typified as a family, with Christ as the loving husband and the church as the submissive wife.



For more resources, please see the library topic for Church Leadership