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!

Source: The Pastoral Ministry by Kenneth Hagin, Jr.
Excerpt permission granted by Rhema Bible Church