This book provides a thorough examination of the structure and governance of the church, tracing its history from biblical times to the present day. The author explores the various models of church government and offers insights into the debates and controversies that have shaped the church over the centuries. With a clear and engaging writing style, this book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and theology of the Christian church. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.