If the church is to emulate the New Testament pattern, Christians simply cannot deny or ignore the importance of oversight in the life, activities, and affairs of the church. Ultimately, He is the one who governs and disciplines His church. All other authority in the church is delegated from Him and is, for that very reason , not to be ignored. After all, He is not bodily present to make decisions and give audible guidance. Moreover, special divine revelation is not provided every time we wish to visit the sick, resolve a dispute, determine questions of doctrine or buy a lightbulb for the church office.
Authority now rests with the many at the bottom.
The Biblical Pattern Christ directs his church through the Scriptures, His own self-revelation and authoritative guidance. Let me offer here a brief summary of the Biblical material which I believe is relevant to determining how Christ would have His church governed. The Bible is not silent on this matter. In my opinion, the spectacular mega-churches of our day are rarely governed in the way mentioned in point 3 above. It is in the essentials of presbyterian government, found today in various Reformed churches, that we find the above Biblical points coming to their best expression.