Church leaders had authority to

Transact business

Acts 14:27

On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Acts 20:27

For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

Care for Churches

2 Corinthians 11:28

Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

1 Timothy 3:5 

(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)

Settle doctrinal disputes and make laws

Please read Acts 15

Acts 16:4

As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.

1 Corinthians 4:17

For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Corinthians 7:17

Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.

1 Corinthians 11:2

I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.

1 Corinthians 11:34

If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.

1 Corinthians 14:37

If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.