Chapter 30) THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH

1. We believe that this true church must be governed according to the Spiritual order which our Lord has taught us in His Word.¹ There should be ministers or pastors to preach the Word of God and to administer the sacraments;² there should also be elders³ and deacons⁴ who, together with the pastors, form the council of the church.⁵ By these means they preserve the true religion; they see to it that the true doctrine takes its course, that evil men are disciplined in a spiritual way and are restrained, and also that the poor and all the afflicted are helped and comforted according to their need.⁶ By these means everything will be done well and in good order when faithful men are chosen⁷ in agreement with the rule that the apostle Paul gave to Timothy.

1. Acts 20:28; Eph 4:112; 1 Tim 3:15; Heb 13:20-21
2. Luke 1:2; Luke 10:16; John 20:23; Rom 10:14; 1 Cor 4:1; 2 Cor 5:1920; 2 Tim 4:2
3. Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5
4. 1 Tim 3:8-10
5. Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 4:14
6. Acts 6:1-4; Titus 1:7-9
7. 1 Cor 4:2. 8. 1 Tim 3