Mutual Submission
The basic principle of Biblical church government is mutual submission to one another in the Lord. This means that individual believers and congregations should submit themselves to each other in a brotherly way, that is, without one lording it over another.
The Head of the church is Jesus Christ, who has appointed officers for the care and service of His people (Eph. 4:7–12). To maintain order in the church, Christ has appointed officers for its care and instruction.
Church officers, according to the Biblical pattern, include pastors, elders and deacons. Such officers should not be regarded as "higher" forms of Christians; rather, they serve special functions of ruling and leadership. These officers submit certain decisions (elections, buying property, etc.) to the congregation, while the congregation submits other functions (preaching, daily oversight, pastoral work, etc.) to its officers.
