Universal church is made up of local churches, each made up of Christians.

The prime example of this concept is the Roman Catholic church, where the pope acts as the universal overseer.

Structure:

Universal oversight

Universal treasury

Universal work

Local churches operate under the oversight of a conference. The conference only has oversight over churches in that conference.

A good example of this concept is the Southern Methodist Conference.

Structure:

Brotherhood oversight

Brotherhood treasury

Brotherhood work

The conference has power to move and replace preachers, as well as pass teaching material down to local churches.

Members belong to local churches, with no organization above. Local churches have full autonomy.

Structure:

Local oversight – Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5

Local treasury – I Corinthians 16:1

Local work – Philippians 4:15-16; II Corinthians 11:8; I Corinthians 9:14

Churches of Christ are an example of this concept, where Jesus is the head.

This is the only organization approved in the Bible.

Local churches join a convention. The convention maintains a very loose control over member churches.

A good example would be the Southern Baptist Convention.

They claim:

Local oversight

Local treasury

Local work

They also have:

Brotherhood oversight

Brotherhood treasury

Brotherhood work

Buckner Children’s Home

Baptist Hour radio program

Another example would be “Churches of Christ” (those that subscribe to institutionalism)

They claim:

Local oversight

Local treasury

Local work

They also have:

Brotherhood oversight

Brotherhood treasury

Brotherhood work

Herald of Truth

Bole’s Children’s Home