The Church of the Lutheran Brethren practices the congregational form of church government [nationally] and the autonomy of the local congregations. The office of pastor and elder is to be filled by men only. The synodical administration has an advisory function as it relates to the congregation, and an administrative function as it relates to the cooperative efforts of the congregations.
  —Church of the Lutheran Brethren Doctrinal Statement of Faith, Paragraph J

This paragraph of the statement of faith draws our attention quickly and raises numerous questions: 1) How is the church supposed to run? 2) What is the function of the synod? 3) Why does the synod ask the churches for money? 4) What benefit do the churches get from being part of the synod? 5) What is the elder’s job? 6) How do elders relate to the congregation? 6) What is the role of women in the church? 7) Who actually runs the church?

We affirmed earlier in this commentary that the Bible is the standard and source for faith and practice. What does the Bible say about church government?