The tearing of the veil in the Tabernacle upon Christ's death at His crucifixion is of utmost importance with respect to this. The Temple in Jerusalem was divided into two portions, an outer room called the Holy Place in which a number of priests served, and an inner room called the Most Holy Place or Holy of Holies. This inner room represented God's presence. It was so sacred that the only person allowed in was the High Priest, and then only on one day of the year to make atonement for the sins of himself and the people.
This sacred room, the Holy of Holies, was separated from the rest of the temple by an elaborate and beautifully embroidered curtain. According to Jewish descriptions of the temple, this curtain was truly massive - measuring some 30 feet wide, 60 feet high and three inches thick. Its tearing in two from top to bottom at Jesus' death was a shocking and bewildering event! Not only that it tore is significant, but that it tore top to bottom signifies truly remarkable meaning: that not only was God Himself the cause of this event, He deliberately tore the curtain to make a point: mankind's sins, which had cut us off from Him (Isaiah 59:2), could now be forgiven through Jesus Christ's shed blood.
The old Levitical High Priest went into the inner chamber to perform the annual rituals only after a ritual of purification, and adherence to a strict ritual of conduct concerning the sacrifice itself. These priests entered the Holy of Holies with bells attached to their priestly garb, and a rope attached to their leg. The priests in the outer chamber listened intently, hoping the sound of the bells would not cease. If the sound of the bells ceased, the priests in the outer chamber would have to drag the dead ex-High Priest out by the rope attached to his leg (and they had to start the process all over again). Nobody could go in there to retreive a fallen High Priest, lest they be struck dead themselves. That they had to complete the annual sacrifice was beyond any question whatsoever. Any blemish whatsoever in either the purification ritual for the priest, or in the sacrifice ritual performed in the inner sanctum of the Temple would cause the High Priest to be instantly struck dead.
Comparing how the High Priest had previously only been able to pass through the curtain once a year to offer atonement for sins, Hebrews 10:19-22 explains that a new High Priest, Jesus Christ, through the sacrifice of Himself superceded this ritual for all time and gives mankind direct access to God. Imagine the incredulity and astonishment of the first janitor (or lowly stable-hand) of the Temple when he was able to peer unhindered right into the very inner sanctum of the Temple!
Heb 7-8 makes it clear that the old priesthood under the Levitical system came to an end on that day (and why). A distinction now being made concerning differnt ministries: Israel's being inward (everybody going to the Temple in Jerusalem), while the Church is called out (now a foriegn missionary society - as is seen in The Great Commission) and while Israel had a priesthood, all born-again believers in Christ not mere priests (I Pet 2:5), but members of a Royal priesthood (I Pet 2:9-10; cf. Ex 19:5,6; Rev 1:6; 5:10). To Israel God the Father was Jehovah, to the Universal Church he is Abba Father. To Israel God the Son is Messiah, while to the Church He is Saviour, Bridegroom, Head of the Body of Believers (the Church being itself the Bride of Christ), and while God the Holy Spirit was with Israel, He indwells each and every believer. The latter being underscored in Heb 9:24, and references of being "filled with the Spirit" (cf. Eph 5:18; I Cor 3:16; 6:19; II Cor 6:16, etc.)
There is no system of distintion between clergy and laity having any Scriptural basis other than the offices specifically defined: Bishop (overseer/Elder) and Deacon. The office of Pastor is actually doctrinal error, in that pastorship is not an office, but a gift of the spirit. (I Cor 12:1-11). Moreover, in Eph 4:8-16 there is no stipulation or qualifications specified (while there are qualifications for the offices of Elder and Deacon). Furthermore, while the offices are restricted exclusively for men (in accordance to the doctrine of headship), gifts of the Spirit are asexual.
The organization of the local expression of the Universal Church is clearly defined in Scripture. Acts 20:6-10 (esp. v7) intimates the church having stated meetings, each local church chooses its own leaders (Acts 6:1-3), these leaders are universally recognized as being leaders of The Faith, that a corporate discipline exists (I Cor 5), they have responsibilities to orhpans and widows (I Tim 5), have a united effort to raise money (I Cor 16: II Cor 8-9), have letters of commendation (Acts 18:27; Rom 16) and churches are autonomous from one another.
The office of "elder" emphasizes that aspect of the office of a leader within the Church pertaining to maturity; "overseer" emphasizes the accountability of the office of leader within the Church before God (Acts 20:17-28 esp. v17 & 28), while "pastor" describes the ministry of the office of leader within the Church, i.e., as shepherd - to heed, lead and feed the local flock (however, "pastor" is not an Scripturally defined office). Furthermore, each church had a plurality of elders (Acts 14:23; Phil 1:1). This being actually an essential part to maintain the purity of doctrine adhered to by any arbitrary church, in that a plurality of elders would be far less likely being led astray and teach false doctrines and heresy to the congregation. While it is common for many congregations to have one man preside as minister or pastor, with all activities under his control, this is not entirely Sciptural nor actually desireable. Nor is it Scriptural that all minstry be relegated intirely to the leader(s) of an assembly; anybody who adheres to sound doctrine as taught by the Scriptures may be permitted by Church leadership (so far as they don't preach heresy).
The finished work of Christ upon the cross has removed all human distinctions of privelege (Gal 3:28). Every believer in Christ (whether male or female), is a priest to God (Heb 13:15), both holy (I Pet 2: 5) and Royal (I Pet 2:9), able to worship and witness all they desire., not only able to partake, but to participate in the two Scriptural ordinances appointed by Christ (I Cor 11; Mt 28:19), i.e., "the breaking of bread" (Acts 2:42; 20:7), and the practice of baptism (from the Greek baptizo - placing into, or submerging, not "sprinkling") after conversion into The Faith and before taking their place in a local church (Acts 2:41; 8:12; Rom 6:1-11).
Scripture talks about a Church order, similiar to the voluntary order of subservience evident of God Himself (Father - Son - Holy Ghost). Nothing explicitely (or implicitely) respecting this order, is implied (or can be inferred), whereby married men are precluded from assuming an office (except for a lack of the specific qualifications cited in Scripture pertaining to these two offices).
In the Bible, Christ did establish the Authority of the Church with Peter as it's head and it has been passed from Peter down.
There is the Word, but also the Authority of the Church Christ established Himself. So when some broke away to form other Churches that only followed the Word, they abandoned the Authority Christ established (which was also written about in the Word). :-)
Thank you for your wonderful explanation!