First, let me say, there is no such thing as the perfect church government. There is no clear-cut Bible pattern for church government—period! Many people read things into the Word of God and use scriptures to support their views on church government. But those scriptures don’t necessarily mean what these people try to make them mean.
I don’t entirely favor the independent form of church government, which gives the pastor total control of the operation of the church. In this type of church government, many so-called pastors who “answer only to God” have literally robbed their congregations.
In these cases, I don’t blame people who have been cheated for wanting some say-so in church government. After all, many times these people are the ones who have had to pay off the pastor’s personal debts after he left town. They are probably also the ones who have had to pay off church debts that were incurred because money was collected from God’s people for one purpose, but was used for something else instead.
On the other hand, churches that have a congregational type of church government can also have their problems. I’ve seen pastors who were forced to live on next to nothing; at the same time, the people in the congregation who set the pastor’s salary had everything they needed to live well.
There simply isn’t any cut-and-dried Bible pattern for church government. Somewhere in the middle of the independent and congregational methods of church government is a happy medium that can be reached. For example, I believe there needs to be some kind of accountability on the pastor’s part for church finances. Someone besides the pastor and his wife should have access to the church financial reports.
That kind of check-and-balance system makes sure the finances are kept in order. It also helps the people in your church feel comfortable about the way the finances are used. Finally, it protects the pastor from being accused of any wrongdoing in the area of church finances.
It doesn’t matter who you are or how big your church is, no one has all the answers for a successful ministry. It’s important that you have goals and plans, that you keep accurate records, and that you know how to work with people. But most of all, to be effective as a pastor, you must do what God has told you to do, and you must minister to the needs of your people!
Excerpt permission granted by Rhema Bible Church
Kenneth W. Hagin, President of Kenneth Hagin Ministries and pastor of RHEMA Bible Church, ministers around the world. Known for calling the Body of Christ to steadfast faith, he seizes every ministry opportunity to impart an attitude of “I cannot be defeated, and I will not quit.”
Rev. Hagin began preparing for his call to ministry—a ministry that now spans 50 years—at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. He graduated from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Faith Theological Seminary in Tampa, Florida.
In his early years of ministry, Rev. Hagin was an associate pastor and traveling evangelist. Later, he went on to organize and develop RHEMA Bible Training Centers in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and in other countries around the world.
Kenneth W. Hagin’s array of responsibilities also includes International Director of RHEMA Ministerial Association International. He hosts the annual A Call to Arms® Men’s Conference, and with his wife, Lynette, cohosts RHEMA Praise, a weekly television program, and Rhema for Today, a weekday radio program broadcast throughout the United States. They also conduct Living Faith Crusades, spreading the message of faith and healing around the world.
Recognizing the lateness of the hour before the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, Rev. Hagin has expanded his speaking schedule beyond his regular pastoral duties. To fulfill the urgent call of God to prepare the Church for a deeper experience of His Presence, Rev. Hagin delivers messages that reveal key spiritual truths about faith, healing, and other vital subjects. He ministers with a strong healing anointing, and his ministry leads the Body of Christ into a greater experience of the glory of God!
Kenneth W. Hagin and his wife live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the son of the late Kenneth E. Hagin.
