What does the Bible say about conducting business? Like a church business meeting?
Answer
The Bible does not specify exactly how the business of the church is to be decided. There is a strong implication that this is the duty of the deacons, but nothing is said about a congregation that doesn’t have deacons.
The scriptures I use to say that the business of the church is the responsibility of any chosen deacons are these:
“It is unreasonable that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Therefore, brothers, choose you from among yourselves seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:3-4) Some will argue about whether these men chosen were deacons, but the principle is that those who are responsible for the spiritual welfare of the church (apostles initially, elders now) are not to be distracted by the physical business of running the church.
Among the qualities of a deacon in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 is that they must be able to rule their children and households well. That, and the requirement of honesty, indicates that the deacons had some administrative or business duties in the church.
If there are no elders or deacons, the church still must be operated. In some places all the men of the congregation are designated as the corporate decision makers. In other places it is a board of directors chosen from the congregation. In some places it is all members of the congregation that meet to make business decisions. The scriptures are silent, so we have a certain amount of leeway, keeping in mind that the physical business of the congregation should always be in line with spiritual growth and accuracy.