What form of government does the Church of God have?

• A. Federal
• B. Decentralized
• C. Centralized
• D. Democratic

Answer: (C)

The concept being tested is how authority is organized across the church. In a centralized form of church government, a central leadership holds the authority to set doctrine, policy, and ministerial standards, and guides the entire church through a common structure. Local congregations operate under this central oversight, with pastors and regional leaders reporting to the central body. This arrangement keeps teaching, discipline, and programs uniform across all churches, ensuring unity and coordinated ministry.

This contrasts with models where authority is shared more broadly or directly with each local church. A federal or decentralized system would grant more autonomous decision-making to regional or local churches, while a democratic model would place major policy decisions in the hands of congregational voting. The centralized approach best describes how the Church of God maintains cohesive governance and consistent practice across its congregations.