Question 41 :: How is the local church governed?

Answer:

The head of the Church is Christ with individual local gatherings shepherded by ministers, elders and deacons.

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Children:

Churches are led by ministers, elders and deacons.

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Ephesians 4:11-13

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 

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Commentary:

Under the lordship of Jesus, ministers, elders and deacons work together to lead individual local churches. God calls and equips willing men to see to the spiritual and physical needs of the flock of God (the church) with Jesus as the Great Shepherd over all. The bible is the sole authority for faith and practice. In independent Christian churches, we do not ascribe to the idea of governance apart from what we find within the pages in scripture. We recognize no convention, synod, diocese or governing body as having authority over the local church. The leadership in the local church is a covering to that membership. Christian churches are led by a plurality of elders just as we see in the New Testament.

Further Study:

Acts 6:1-7, 20:28-31; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 2 Timothy 4:2-5; Titus 1:5-14;1 Peter 5:1-5