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The Church has authority because it was given by Jesus Christ Himself, as found in Scripture, Matthew 16:18, from KJV:

18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

We also see Peter speaking with authority at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15), and then the council sending Barsabas and Silas with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. Prior to that, in Acts 14:22, Paul and Barnabas ordain priests, demonstrating the authority to do so.

In each case stated above, Peter and the Apostles were given authority by Jesus to preach, teach, ordain, lay on hands, and give rules.

Please also consider the following passages demonstrating authority held by the Apostles: Matthew 16:19, Matt 18:18, Mark 3:15, John 20:21, and John 20:23

Finally, here are passages which demonstrated how the authority from Christ cascaded through the Apostles to the rest of the Church:

Titus 1:7-11
For a bishop, as God’s steward….. must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it. For there are many insubordinate men, empty talkers and deceivers….they have no right to teach.

Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you.

2 Cor 13:10
I write this while I am away from you, in order that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority…

Titus 2:15
Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

3 John 1:9
I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge my authority.

Acts 14:23
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.

Acts 15:2
And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

1 Cor 12:28-30
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

1 Tim 3:1-5
THE SAYING is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s church?

Again, here is the Scripture to prove the statement. Do you accept what is clearly taught here, in plain language, or do you refute it?