All churches are established as local, independent, fundamental Baptist churches. Although PBMI was involved in the establishment of these churches by sending out the founding pastor and college students to help win souls to create the church, the resulting church is still independent.

PBMI does not tell local churches how to worship or interfere in church polity, practice, or governance. However, like the apostle Paul, PBMI representatives do visit the churches, encourage the pastors and congregations, point out deficiencies, and praise their victories. PBMI is not a group of inspectors, but rather caretakers and helpers.

For example, if a pastor decides to follow the ways of Pentecostalism (which has happened in two or three cases) there’s really nothing PBMI can do about it. PBMI cannot remove the pastor or perform church discipline. That is the responsibility of the local church. They are autonomous.