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WHO QUALIFIES TO BE ACHURCHLEADER?

CCan we afford to beselective? Don’t we create a lot of problems

for ourselves if we insist on“blameless” leaders? Or are ourself-inflicted wounds far worsewhen our churches are left inthe hands of the wrong men?How much disappointment,discouragement, bad will, andloss of spiritual effectivenessoccur when unqualified leadersmake decisions and set the pacefor the people of God?

To help us avoid suchpitfalls, Dan Vander Lugt andKurt De Haan have written thisbooklet to focus our attentionon the biblical qualifications forchurch leadership. They willshow us why this is an issuethat concerns all of us.

Martin R. De Haan II

Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo: Stephen Wilkes/Getty Images/StoneScripture quotations are from the New King James Version, ©1979, 1980, 1982, ThomasNelson, Inc., PublishersCopyright © 1988, 2002 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA

CONTENTSLooking For A Few Good Men . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Who Qualifies To Be A Church Leader? . . . . . 7

Someone With A Good Reputation. . . . . 8

Someone With Self-Control . . . . . . . . . 10

Someone With Godly Values . . . . . . . . 13

Someone With A Loving Heart. . . . . . . 15

Someone With A Healthy Home . . . . . 17

Someone With A Mature Faith . . . . . . 19

Someone With A Teachable Mind . . . . 21

Case Studies . . . . . . . . 24

Problems And Principles . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Standards For Leadership . . . . . . . . . . 31

Would You Qualify?. . . 32

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

LOOKING FOR AFEW GOOD MEN

RRecruiters for the U.S. Marine Corpstell us that they are

“looking for a few goodmen.” Not everyonequalifies for this highlydisciplined and well-respected company ofsoldiers who have often ledthe way into battle. Recruitsmust survive a series ofgrueling physical and mentaltests before they becomefull-fledged Marines.

Christ is looking for afew good men to lead Hischurch and to model thegodly attitudes and actionsthat should mark all matureChristians. He’s selectiveabout who should guide Histroops into spiritual battleand who should care forand nurture His people.The qualifications areextensive and essential tothe spiritual health of acongregation. To

compromise on thestandards is to risk crises ofcharacter and morale withinthe body and a diminishedtestimony in the world.Many of our churches areexperiencing a lack ofgodliness and effectivenessbecause of a failure to trainand select qualified leaders.

What are theleadership positionsthat Christ wantsfilled? Two types of churchleaders are given specialattention in the NewTestament: elders anddeacons. In the apostlePaul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, he outlined thequalifications for those who would lead by teaching, ruling, equipping,

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These few goodmen are to modelgodly attitudes and

actions for all.

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counseling, modeling,rebuking, encouraging,protecting, loving, andsacrificially serving. Beforedescribing the characterqualifications of elders anddeacons, we should firstexamine the specific roleeach type of leader is to playin the life of a local church.

What is an elder?An elder, in Old Testamenttimes, was an older manwho held a position ofleadership over a family ortribe. Moses, for example,was assisted by elders (Ex. 3:16,18; 24:1). Thesemen, by virtue of their ageand experience, wererespected leaders.

In early New Testamenttimes, during the beginningsof the church, a person’s agewas also a consideration.Although Bible scholars arenot in agreement about theminimum age when aperson could be called anelder, some have suggestedthe age of 30. Jesus was 30

years old when he beganHis public ministry (Lk.3:23). And New Testamentscholar Merrill C. Tenneyhas noted that members ofthe Jewish ruling council,the Sanhedrin, had to be atleast 30 years old. Inaddition, several of thecharacter qualities listed in1 Timothy and Titus can beevident only in a man withyears of proven characterand maturity.

Age alone, however, doesnot guarantee maturity orspirituality. A relativelyyoung man could qualify.When Paul told Timothy,“Let no one despise youryouth” (1 Tim. 4:12),Timothy was probably inhis mid-thirties and he helda position of authority overchurches in the area ofEphesus. Timothy was toshow by his godly life thathe should be followed.Young men who are inpositions of leadership inour churches today must

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likewise demonstrate bytheir life that although theymay not be senior citizens,they are spiritually wise and mature.

What is an elder todo? Some churchesconsider the term elder tobe synonymous with pastor.Other churches choose agroup of men to serve aselders, often with a headelder or pastor assumingthe role of leading in theteaching and preaching ofGod’s Word (1 Tim. 5:1).

Elder, pastor (orshepherd), and overseer(also translated bishop orpresbyter) are terms used todescribe different aspects ofthe same office (see Acts20:17,28; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim.3:1; 5:17; Ti. 1:5-9; 1 Pet.5:1-2). An elder is to:• “Rule” the church

with a servant attitude (1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:17;1 Pet. 5:1-3).

• “Equip the saints” byteaching the Scriptures

(Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Tim. 4:6,11,13,16; 2 Tim. 4:2-4).

• Protect the flock from false or distorteddoctrine (Acts 20:17,28;1 Tim. 1:3-4; 6:20-21; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Ti. 1:10-16).

• Shield the church fromthe work of unruly anddivisive individuals (2 Tim. 2:14-18,23-26;Ti. 3:9-11).The apostle Paul said,

“If a man desires theposition of a bishop [orelder], he desires a goodwork” (1 Tim. 3:1).Individuals should beencouraged to demonstrateChristian character and todevelop their leadershipabilities. But the apostlealso went on to say, “Abishop then must be . . . .”It is great to desire to be aleader, but a person mustmeet the qualifications. Thelist does not require sinlessperfection, but it does

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require a high level ofChristian character and amature faith in Christ.

What is a deacon’srole? The term deaconcomes from a Greek wordmeaning “one who serves.”

The seven men mentionedin Acts 6:1-6 functioned asdeacons in a limited senseas they assisted in thedistribution of food toneedy widows. From whatwe see happening in Acts 6and what is describedelsewhere in the NewTestament, as localchurches were establishedand grew, the official role ofdeacon was to assist theelders so that they couldgive themselves to teachingand prayer. Philippians 1:1

and 1 Timothy 3:8-13closely tie the role ofdeacon to the work of theelders, and we may assumethat deacons wereadministrators of the manydetails in the life of thechurch. That’s why manychurches today assign tothe deacons the veryimportant matters of thechurch’s financial andphysical needs. (Somechurches have “trustees”who fill this role.)

What should setthese individuals apartfrom others in thechurch? The biblicalstandards for churchleadership are personalcharacter qualities, notcollege or seminary degrees,business administrativeskills, or personal charisma.We may tend to select ourleaders on the basis ofpersonal success or socialstanding. But Paul said tosearch deeper, to look forcharacter qualities that

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For Paul, the highstandards for

leadership were not optional.

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reveal a deep-seated faithreflecting integrity, maturity,and stability.

The standards for eldersare high because they are tobe “examples to the flock”(1 Pet. 5:3). And becausedeacons also are inpositions of responsibility,they are to be goodexamples of what it meansto grow in Christlikeness.

How do thesequalifications apply to everyone? Thequalifications for churchleaders are, for the mostpart, characteristics of aperson who is taking hisfaith in Christ seriously,growing in his knowledge of God, and maturing in hisChristian life. Therefore, thisstudy should help usexamine our lives to see ifwe are becoming Christlikein word and action. Eventhough we may not hold theoffice of elder or deacon, weshould be maturing and beable to be an example to

others. Like the apostle Paul,we too should be able to say,“Imitate me, just as I alsoimitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).

In the following pageswe will examine thequalities outlined by theapostle Paul in 1 Timothy 3and Titus 1. As you studythese qualifications,examine yourself to see ifyou measure up. Then,evaluate your churchleaders and your church’sselection process to makesure that the right peopleare leading your church.

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The qualificationsfor church leadersare characteristicsof a person who is

taking his faithseriously, growing

in his knowledge ofGod, and maturingin his Christian life.

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WHO QUALIFIESTO BE ACHURCHLEADER?

DDuring local, state,and national

election campaigns,voters are barraged by theclaims of candidates whoattempt to convince theelectorate that they are themost qualified to bepresident, senator,legislator, governor, mayor,councilman, or some otherpublic official. Campaignrhetoric can be brutal.Unfortunately, the winnerisn’t always the mostqualified person. Theadvantage often goes to theone with the best “mediaimage.”

The scene should be verydifferent in a fellowship ofbelievers who are selectingchurch leaders. Politicking,boasting, power games, andpopularity contests have no

place in the church.Personal character andspiritual maturity should be the key issues for theselection of leaders.

Both elders and deaconshave a direct influence onthe spiritual well-being ofthe congregation. It is notsurprising, then, that theScriptures list a number of specific spiritualqualifications.

The most extensive list ofqualifications for leaders isfound in 1 Timothy 3:1-13and Titus 1:5-9. Althoughthe requirements are moreextensive for elders than fordeacons, the similaritiesbetween the characterqualities are great (see page

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“Too often theimportant thing is personality,

not spirituality.”—Warren W. Wiersbe

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31 for a separate listing).Both elders and deacons are to be “blameless” incharacter (1 Tim. 3:2,10).The main difference inqualifications is that eldersare to be “able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2) and able “toexhort and convict” (Ti. 1:9).Some qualifications forelders deal more particularlywith their ability to relatewell with people, both in communicating thetruth and in handlingdisagreements. In thisbooklet we will combine the lists of qualifications and point out significantdifferences between therequirements for the twotypes of church leaders.

To highlight the characterqualities, we have groupedthem into seven categories.A person who qualifies for church leadership must possess: (1) a goodreputation, (2) self-control,(3) godly values (4) a lovingheart, (5) a healthy home,

(6) a mature faith, and (7) a teachable mind.

A GOODREPUTATIONAn old maxim states, “Achain is only as strong as itsweakest link.” That certainlyis true when applied to thereputation of church leaders.A man may have greattalents and an extensiveknowledge of the truths ofthe Bible, but if his life has a “weak link” his reputationwill suffer great damage and his ministry will bediminished, if not destroyedcompletely. That is why thisfirst group of qualificationsis so vital to leadership. Let’sexamine each one briefly.

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GOOD REPUTATION

BLAMELESS

GOOD TESTIMONY

GOOD BEHAVIOR

REVERENT

PEOPLE

PEOPLE

ELDERS

DEACONS

CHRIST


Blameless (elders anddeacons—1 Tim. 3:2,10; Ti. 1:6-7). This is an all-inclusive quality relating toall areas of life. It isimportant that an elder ordeacon be above reproachin any of the importantareas of personal characterlisted in 1 Timothy 3 orTitus 1. When tested, theymust be found “blameless”in the sight of the peoplethey will be ministering to.

Does this mean that aman has to be perfect to bea church leader? Obviouslynot, since no one is perfect.But the characteristicpattern of his life must be in line with the biblicalstandards of leadership. Any leader who violates anyone of these high standardsmust be dealt with speedilyand biblically (Mt. 18:15-17;1 Tim. 5:19-20). Whenconsidering a candidate, itshould be asked if there areany verifiable, unresolvedcharges of wrongdoing that

could be brought againsthim.

A Good TestimonyAmong Those Outside(elders—1 Tim. 3:7). Those “outside” are non-Christians who observe thetestimony of church leaders.An elder cannot functioneffectively as a leader andwitness in the community if a cloud of disgrace hangs over him because of questionable or clearlysinful activity. The witnessof the entire church in the community and theauthority of such a leaderwithin the church itselfwould be seriously damagedby a bad reputation.

If a leader’s character is in question, it’s not only bad for the church but also dangerous for theindividual. First Timothy 3:7states that if an elder doesnot have a good reputationhe will fall into “the snare ofthe devil.” Satan is workingto discredit Christian leaders

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and to stifle the church’switness.

Of Good Behavior(elders—1 Tim. 3:2). Theword translated “of goodbehavior” can also betranslated “respectable” or“honorable.” It comes fromthe Greek word for “orderly”or “well-arranged.” A manwho lives an orderly life isconducting himself in anhonorable manner, thusearning the respect of thosearound him.

A church leader, then,should not be someone who runs from crisis tocrisis because of his owndisorganization. Anycandidate for church officeshould be observed andquestioned to determine ifhis life reflects consistencyand order.

Reverent (deacons—1 Tim. 3:8). A person whoserves in an official role inthe church is to berespectable and dignified.Such an individual is to

take his role seriously. Does the person have a

frivolous attitude towardspiritual issues? Like thepreceding characteristic, “ofgood behavior,” would anobserver, whether in or outof the church, respect theperson and his official role?

SELF-CONTROLAn addict is a person whohas lost control of his life.The controlling factor maybe cocaine, alcohol, food,sex, TV, anger, money,power, work, or an all-consuming hobby. In each case, the person iscontrolled instead of beingthe controller. In contrast, achurch leader is to exhibit

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SELF–CONTROLSELF–CONTROLLED

NOT GIVEN TO WINE

NOT QUARRELSOME

NOT SELF–WILLED

NOT QUICK–TEMPERED

NOT DOUBLE–TONGUED

PEOPLE

PEOPLE

ELDERS

DEACONS

CHRIST


self-control. But what does itmean to be self-controlled?Paul’s list of qualificationsspecifically mentions self-control and several otherrelated items.

Self-Controlled(elders—Ti. 1:8). A leader isto exhibit a disciplined life.He must demonstrate agrowing Christlikeness andbe in control of his passionsand appetites (Gal. 5:16-26). This self-control is not merely self-effort; it is cooperating with theindwelling Spirit to makewise choices and to live independence on Him.

A self-controlled personchooses to live for Godinstead of self. His life is inorder. He is not in bondageto sinful impulses. Thefollowing characteristics are a good indicator of a person’sdegree of self-control.

Not Given To Wine(elders and deacons—1 Tim. 3:3,8; Ti. 1:7). The Greek word used

in 1 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7 refers to a habit of overdrinking. In classicaland Hellenistic Greektimes, the term had themeaning of being “tipsy” or“rowdy.” The Greek wordused in 1 Timothy 3:8meant “to be attached to”or “addicted to” wine.

Paul warns against theoverindulgence of wine— of becoming known assomeone who gets drunk or spends too much timedrinking. Such a personwould not be a worthyexample, for he would fallinto the danger of beingcontrolled by wine insteadof by the Spirit (Eph. 5:18).

A person beingconsidered for leadershipshould be evaluated bythese questions: Is histestimony diminished by a use of alcohol? Does he have a personaldependency on alcohol ordrugs? Does he have anykind of addiction?

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Not Quarrelsome(elders—1 Tim. 3:3). Anelder should not be aperson commonly given toargument, disputation,controversy, and rivalry. Amature person should beable to compromise onnonessential matters.

When considering acandidate, ask these kindsof questions: Does theperson find it difficult toparticipate in a dialogue ifhis point of view is notprevailing? Does hestubbornly maintain hisviewpoint in the face ofreasonable and unansweredobjections?

Not Self-Willed(elders—Ti. 1:7). A personwho is overbearing andinconsiderate is not qualified

for leadership. Neither issomeone who consistentlydisplays an insensitive desireto have his way regardless offacts, circumstances, and theneeds or feelings of people (1 Cor. 13:5).

The questions to ask,then, are these: Does theperson insist on always“being right”? Is he rude inhis behavior when someonechallenges his viewpoint?Does he resist worthycauses merely because hedid not originate the ideas?

Not Quick-Tempered (elders—Ti. 1:7) A quick-temperedman becomes angry andbelligerent very easily. Doesthe person being consideredfor leadership typicallybecome so filled withemotion when facingopposition that heexpresses himself in anangry, intimidating manner?Does he shake his fist,jump to his feet, and hit thetabletop? Does he resort to

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An elder should beable to compromise

on nonessentialmatters.

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personal attacks that arecompletely unrelated toissues being discussed? Ifthe answer is yes to thepreceding questions, thecandidate is unqualified.

The Bible commands us,“Be angry, and do not sin”(Eph. 4:26). Proper anger iscontrolled and directed atwhat God is angry about.

Not Double-Tongued (deacons—1 Tim. 3:8). A church officershould be a person whoseword can be trusted. Hecannot be inconsistent orinsincere in what he says.He cannot say one thing toone person and somethingcontradictory to another.His yes means yes and hisno means no.

Is the man who is beingconsidered for church officeone who keeps his promises?Or is he hypocritical inspeech? Does he alter thetruth to serve his own bestinterests? Does he slanderpeople behind their backs?

GODLY VALUESWould you be devastated if a thief stole your DVDplayer, your VCR, and yourTV? How would you react ifyour life savings vanishedwith an investment broker?Do you spend more timewaxing your car thantalking with your family?Does your occupationconsume all your thoughtsand energy? Do you taketime to pray and read theBible? What does yourcheckbook or your credit-card statement say aboutyour values? These are thekinds of questions thatreveal what we treasuremost in life. Church leaders

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GODLY VALUES

NOT GREEDY FOR MONEY

NOT COVETOUS

LOVER OF WHAT IS GOOD

HOLY

PEOPLE

PEOPLE

ELDERS

DEACONS

CHRIST


are to show us what Godvalues by what they value.

Not Greedy ForMoney (elders anddeacons—1 Tim. 3:3,8; Ti. 1:7). The priorities of aleader must not be centeredon the accumulation ofworldly wealth. He must be a good illustration of onewho, though he may bewealthy, places his greatestpriority on laying uptreasures in heaven (Mt. 6:19-24). No oneshould be able to accuse aleader of using his positionfor personal financial gain(1 Th. 2:3-9). In hisfinancial dealings, whetherpersonal or business, hecannot be one who usesunethical or questionabletactics to make money.

Not Covetous(elders—1 Tim. 3:3). Thischaracteristic is closelyrelated to “not greedy formoney.” A leader cannot bepreoccupied with materialwealth. The love of money

leads a person away fromthe faith (1 Tim. 6:10).

Several questions willhelp to discover if thecandidate for leadership is greedy or covetous. Doeshe give more attention tothings or to people? If he iswealthy (which is not wrongin itself), does he have avariety of friends, includingsome who have little of theworld’s goods? Is too muchof his time involved inacquiring or maintainingmaterial possessions?

A Lover Of What Is Good (elders—Ti. 1:8).In his commentary on Titus,William Hendriksen statesthat “a lover of what isgood” means, “lovinggoodness, virtuous, ready to do what is beneficial toothers.” Gene Getz explainsthat it refers to a personwho “desires to do good,not evil.” In Galatians 6:10the apostle Paul stated,“Therefore, as we haveopportunity, let us do good

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to all, especially to thosewho are of the household of faith.”

A “lover of what isgood,” then, means thatsuch a person shows by hisactions that he desires toreflect God’s goodness in allthat he does and in all ofhis relationships. He hasthe best interests of othersin mind.

Holy (elders—Ti. 1:8). A leader must have anearnest desire to be pleasingto God. His attitude andactions must reflect adevoutness—a devotion toGod. He must place a highpriority on spiritual realityin his own life. His lifeshould demonstrate that hisheart is centered on Godand His kingdom, not onworldly things.

This characteristic mayseem to be somewhatdifficult to measure, butanswering the followingquestions should help. Doesthe person’s way of life and

his conversation show thathe takes God and His Wordseriously? Does the personset aside time for the studyof Scripture and prayer?

A LOVING HEARTIn the great love chapter ofthe Bible, 1 Corinthians 13,the apostle Paul extolledthe supremacy that love should have as acharacteristic of our lives. It is no wonder, then, thatPaul included severalrequirements that areindicative of a candidate’slove for others. It is notenough for an elder ordeacon to have a goodknowledge of Scripture, bean effective teacher, give

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LOVING HEART

GENTLE

NOT VIOLENT

HOSPITABLE

PEOPLE

PEOPLE

ELDERS

DEACONS

CHRIST


large sums of money to thechurch, or even professgreat faith. Without love, itall adds up to nothing. Thefollowing qualifications arevarious aspects of how aleader is to express love.

Gentle (elders—1 Tim.3:3). The exact meaning ofthis term is much broaderthan that which can beexpressed with one word.All of the following termsapproximate the meaning of the original Greek word:gracious, kind, forbearing,considerate, magnanimous,and genial.

If a man is short-tempered, inconsiderate,rude, or cruel, he would notbe qualified for leadership.

Not Violent (elders—1 Tim. 3:3). Literally theGreek word means “not astriker.” An elder cannot beone who resorts to displaysof temper or intimidation inorder to control others. Nordoes he walk around with“a chip on his shoulder,”

looking for someone toknock it off. He doesn’tseek to settle his differencesof opinion with violentwords or actions. Churchleaders must not be peoplewho would make the board room a place forvicious verbal combat. Inexamining the qualificationsof a man for leadership, a careful look must betaken at how he settles his differences with others.

Hospitable (elders—1 Tim. 3:2; Ti. 1:8). Thisterm literally means “loving strangers.” In NewTestament times this qualityreferred to the action ofbefriending and givinglodging to fellow believerswho were traveling or were fleeing persecutionbecause of their faith inChrist. In a broader sense,to be hospitable refers to friendliness and awillingness to help otherswho need assistance.

Does the candidate for 16


church office welcomenewcomers into the church?Does he entertain believersin his home? Does he showhospitality to missionariesand traveling Christianworkers?

A HEALTHY HOMEWould you hire an automechanic who drives asputtering, smoking pile ofrusting junk? Or would youask a dental hygienist withdecayed teeth to instructyou on how to keep yourteeth in good condition?Would you want a personwho has been in five autoaccidents in the last year togive you some driving tips?

We expect the person

with whom we entrust ourpossessions and our lives tohave some proven expertise,to know what he’s talkingabout. The same is true ofchurch leaders. They mustpractice what they preachand be good examples tothe believers they areguiding and serving. Aperson’s home life is themost revealing aspect of hischaracter and leadershipability. That is why Paul, in the lists he presents in 1 Timothy and in Titus,gives four qualifications that deal with the spiritualhealth of the leader’s home.

He Is The HusbandOf One Wife (elders and deacons—1 Tim.3:2,12; Ti. 1:6). Good Biblescholars offer differingexplanations of thisrequirement. Some say anelder or deacon can bemarried only once duringhis entire life. Others say itmeans only that a leadermust be married to one

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HEALTHY HOME

HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE

MANAGES HOUSE WELL

OBEDIENT CHILDREN

RESPECTFUL CHILDREN

CHILDREN ARE BELIEVERS

PEOPLE

PEOPLE

ELDERS

DEACONS

CHRIST


woman at a time. Anotherview is that an elder ordeacon must be faithful tohis wife, “a one-womankind of man.” And stillothers say that this impliesa church leader must bemarried.

At the very least, thisqualification requires that if a church leader is married he must befaithfully devoted to hiswife. Is the candidate aman who is dedicated toonly one woman? Anadulterer, a man who keepsa mistress, or a flirtatiousperson clearly would not bequalified as a leader.

He Manages HisHouse Well (elders anddeacons—1 Tim. 3:4,12).Paul made the observationthat a man who cannotgovern his own householdcan hardly be trusted togovern the church. Hischildren should be properlytrained, and he must have agood relationship with his

wife. This qualification may also include financialmanagement. As the head of the family, a man must demonstrate the characteristics that willmake him a fitting leaderfor a congregation.

This does not mean, of course, that a leader is a perfect home manager,but it does require anaffirmative answer to thequestion: Does he do agood job of managing hisown household?

His Children Are Obedient AndRespectful (elders—1 Tim. 3:4; Ti. 1:6). This is a more specific statement of how a church leader issupposed to manage hisown house. His children areto show evidence that theirfather is a respected leaderat home and that he knowshow to instruct anddiscipline them. No fatherhas perfect children, so weshouldn’t expect perfection

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from the children of leaders.But, as Titus 1:6 states, thechildren should behave insuch a way that no one canaccuse them of being wildor insubordinate.

His Children Are Believers (elders—Ti. 1:6). This qualification(lit. “children having faith”)is specifically required ofelders because of theirresponsibility for thespiritual welfare of theircongregation. It may well be argued that if a fathercannot disciple his ownchildren, can he beexpected to be effective inleading others to faith andmaturity in Christ? Thisqualification does notdemand that the leader’schildren act like little angels all the time, but it does mean that they have put their faith in Christ.

A MATURE FAITHIf you wanted to learn howto fly an airplane, whatkind of teacher would youprefer: a 9-year-old whobuilds model airplanes, or a licensed and tested flightinstructor with thousands ofhours of actual flying time?

Who should be leadingour local churches andinstructing believers in howto live the Christian life? For obvious reasons, wewould prefer to have leaderswho have a proven andsteady faith—a faith that isexperienced and mature.

Not A Novice(elders—1 Tim. 3:6). Acandidate for a position of

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MATURE FAITH

NOT A NOVICE

TESTED

CLEAR CONSCIENCE

FIRM GRASP OF SCRIPTURE

ABLE TO EXHORT

ABLE TO CONVICT

PEOPLE

PEOPLE

ELDERS

DEACONS

CHRIST


church leadership is not tobe a new convert. A newbeliever has not earned a good reputation as aChristian. He is not knownwell enough in the Christiancommunity. The apostle Paulwarned that if an immaturebeliever were quicklyelevated to a position ofleadership, he would be indanger of becoming proudand “fall into the samecondemnation as the devil”(1 Tim. 3:6); that is, hewould be filled with thesame kind of pride that led to Satan’s fall and besubject to God’s judgment.Advancing a new Christiantoo rapidly could lead to his having an inflated,unrealistic assessment of his spiritual condition.

Even though a candidatemay fulfill many of the otherqualifications, it is veryimportant to investigatewhether he has enoughChristian experience to behumble if he would be

elevated to the position ofelder.

Tested (deacons—1 Tim. 3:10). Just as anelder should not be anovice, so a deacon mustbe a person of maturity in faith and character. He must have shown by his faithfulness that he isqualified for official service.

Has the individualdemonstrated his ability to function as an exampleto others? Is his life in harmony with thescriptural qualifications?

Hold The MysteryOf The Faith With AClear Conscience(deacons—1 Tim. 3:9). A deacon cannot be ahypocrite. His faith cannotbe merely intellectual,contradicting his day-to-daypattern of living. He mustdisplay a sincerity of faithand a firm conviction of thetruth of God’s Word.

Holding Fast TheFaithful Word (elders—

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Ti. 1:9). Like the precedingqualification for deacons,elders are likewise requiredto be men who have a firmgrounding in sound doctrine.They must be convinced of its truthfulness and bewilling and able to defend it.

When considering aperson for leadership, askthese questions: Does theperson base his lifestyleand decisions on thewritten Word of God? Doeshe respect the Scriptures asthe final word of authorityin all matters of faith, life,and practice? Or does heexhibit a tendency to ignoreor bypass biblicalabsolutes?

Able To ExhortAnd Convict (elders—Ti. 1:9). As stated in thequalification that an elderbe “able to teach” (1 Tim.3:2), he should be a manwho knows the Bible well.He should have a firmhandle on the truth and beable to explain convincingly

the demands of Scriptureon our lives.

When confronted by aperson who is wrapped upin false doctrine, would hebe able to recognize theerror? Would he also beable to discuss appropriateScripture passages thatspeak to the issue?

A TEACHABLEMINDSome people can be asstubborn as a mule. Nomatter how you reason withthem, they refuse to listen.Once they make up theirmind, they don’t want to beconfused with the facts.When such a person isappointed to a leadership

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TEACHABLE MIND

ABLE TO TEACH

TEMPERATE

SOBER–MINDED

JUST

PEOPLE

PEOPLE

ELDERS

DEACONS

CHRIST


position in the church,trouble is soon to follow. A leader must be able todiscuss conflicting ideasand come to wise decisions.That is why the apostlePaul listed severalcharacteristics of a qualifiedleader that reflect the abilityto think objectively.

All of the qualities in this section are requiredcharacter traits for elders,and for good reason. Theelders are to be the keydecision-makers in thechurch. They have theprimary responsibility forproclaiming and protectingthe truth as well as dealingwith the many details ofchurch life.

Able To Teach(elders—1 Tim. 3:2). This isa key qualification with twoshades of meaning. First, itmay mean that a leadermust be able to instructothers regarding biblicaltruth. But the Greek wordcan also mean “teachable.”

Most likely, there is moreimplied here than just theability to teach. In thecontext, therefore, thisquality seems to refer to anability to communicate thetruth without arrogance. A leader should be willingto be corrected. The bestteachers are those who see themselves ascommunicators of truth, not the originators of it. Anopenminded, reasonablespirit is an essential qualityof leadership, as is arecognition of theimportance of dialogue.

The following questionswill help to evaluate acandidate. Does he have afirm grasp of biblical truth?Is he able to explain thattruth to others? Does hehave a mind that is open tonew information, even if itruns contrary to his currentviews? Does he possess theability to discuss any issuein an objective and patientmanner? (2 Tim. 2:24.)

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Temperate (elders—1 Tim. 3:2). This wordmeans more than justmoderation in eating ordrinking. Gene Getz states that “a man who is temperate does not losehis physical, psychological,and spiritual orientation.He remains stable andsteadfast, and his thinkingis clear.” He is balanced inhis living, not prone todestructive extremes.

When considering a person for churchleadership, we should ask if the individual showsa reliable sense of balancein his judgment. Does he exhibit any tendencytoward fanaticism or legalism, which could interfere with theeffectiveness of his overalljudgment and ministry?

Sober-minded(elders—1 Tim. 3:2; Ti. 1:8).The meaning of this word isvery closely related to theprevious term, temperate.

A church leader must besensible in his thinking andactions. He cannot besomeone who is prone toact on impulse or make rashand irrational decisions. Hemust be self-controlled andprudent in his actions. Aperson who is qualified as a church leader avoidsquick decisions based oninadequate information, andhe generally exhibits soundjudgment.

Just (elders—Ti. 1:8). A person who exercisesauthority in the churchmust be concerned withjustice in all his dealings.He must do what is rightand be fair in all situations.

An elder, therefore, must have the courage to seek truth even when it is inconvenient or controversial. He always seeks to be fair andimpartial. And he must seekto make decisions on thebasis of principle, notpersonalities.

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CASE STUDIES

WWe haveattempted to

outline thebiblical qualifications forelders and deacons in asimple, concrete fashion.Even so, some examples are valuable indemonstrating how thebiblical qualificationsshould be applied. EXAMPLE ONE:George P.George is a longtime churchmember, quite wealthy, andgenerous in his financialsupport. He is extremelyopinionated, however, andfellow believers are oftensurprised at the vehemenceof his feelings in regard towhat usually appear tothem to be minor issues. He tends to be bitterlycritical of other members of the congregation.

George seems to dislikeparticipating in groupsituations. If he does

participate in a discussionabout something in whichhe has taken an interest, he disrupts the freediscussion of the group with his harsh remarks andemotional outbursts. Hedisplays no interest indoctrinal study and seemsto be unaware of theinappropriateness of hisdisplays of temper.

George is clearly not ready to serve as an elder or a deacon.Leaders are expected to beuncontentious (1 Tim. 3:3),able to teach (or teachable,1 Tim. 3:2), not violent butgentle (1 Tim. 3:3), notquick-tempered (Ti. 1:7),and self-controlled (Ti. 1:8).EXAMPLE TWO:John (“Pop”) W.John has a warm, outgoingmanner, is a regular churchattender (has been since1940), and is still active inthe work of the church.Unfortunately, he has areputation for doggedly

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defending odd theologicalviewpoints on minor issues(sometimes taking the pastorto task in public meetings).He is also sharply andunreasonably critical onoccasion. He gossips andoften does so in such a loudvoice that his accomplicesare embarrassed by theattention that he draws totheir “huddle.”

“Pop” may be a valuableand loved member of thecongregation, but he is notqualified to be a churchleader. He lacks prudenceand temperance (1 Tim.3:2); he is contentious (1 Tim. 3:3); and he lacksthe essential quality ofbeing able to teach.EXAMPLE THREE:Christopher H.Chris has been a member of a local church for 3 years and is a successfulentrepreneur with greatpersonal charm. He hasbeen a generous financialsupporter of the church, and

he appears to have sincerespiritual concerns. He is stillnot well-known in thecommunity, however, andseveral reports have cometo the attention of churchmembers, implying that hehas demonstrated a seriouslack of discretion in some ofhis business dealings.

Since Chris has been inthe church only 3 years, itwould probably be unwise toconsider him as a candidate.If he has demonstrated suchremarkable qualities that itseems necessary to considerhim as a candidate, however,he must be cleared of allcharges of alleged wrongfulbusiness practices.

A church leader isexpected to be: blameless (1 Tim. 3:2,10; Ti. 1:6-7), ofgood behavior (1 Tim. 3:2),respected by unbelievers (1 Tim. 3:7), not greedy formoney (1 Tim. 3:3,8; Ti. 1:7),not covetous (1 Tim. 3:3),tested (1 Tim. 3:10), and nota novice (1 Tim. 3:6).

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EXAMPLE FOUR:Harold H.Harry joined the churchabout 5 years ago. Asuccessful executive whohas worked his way to thetop rank of an importantcorporation, he is a naturalleader who displays self-confidence and a masteryof the social graces. He hasfew close friends, however.He and his wife havedevoted a great deal of their time and energy to the accumulation ofmaterial status symbols,and they limit their socialrelationships to othercouples who share theirown preoccupation with possessions.

A number of people havenoted Harry’s lack of interestin discussions that he isn’tleading or dominating. Harry has been “too busy”to make a significantcontribution of his time tothe work of the church, andhe openly declares that

there is little time in his busy lifestyle for meditation,study, or reading.

Harry represents aserious challenge to thechurch leadership. Although disciplined insome respects, he is notsuited for church office.Harry is only selectivelyhospitable (1 Tim. 3:2; Ti. 1:8), and he may bevulnerable to the charge of being a lover of money (1 Tim. 3:3,8; Ti. 1:7).Although shrewd, cunning,and clever, he is not sober-minded (1 Tim. 3:2; Ti. 1:8),temperate (1 Tim. 3:2), andjust (Ti. 1:8). He is not ableto teach (1 Tim. 3:2; Ti. 1:9).He has proven himself to bequarrelsome (1 Tim. 3:3), hehas not been active andtherefore has not beenadequately tested (1 Tim.3:10), and his disdain forstudy and high spiritualideals shows that he is not“holding fast the faithfulword” (Ti. 1:9).

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EXAMPLE FIVE:Allen M.A middle-level supervisor ina local factory, Allen has aburning desire to be a top-level leader in his church.Having an authoritarianpersonality, he often isdomineering and arrogant.

Because of his obsessionwith power, Allen haslearned to think in terms of political, theological, andideological labels. He hassomehow concluded thatthe ability to label peopleand organizations is a signof spiritual authority.

Allen has a profounddislike for open-minded

discussion because he isafraid of being exposed toany facts that might breakdown his simplistic view ofreality. He avoids people orcircumstances that mighteducate him.

Although Allen has astrong desire to be a churchofficer, he represents agrave danger to the spirituallife of the church. He isseriously deficient in manyareas. He is not able toteach (1 Tim. 3:2; Ti. 1:9);he is not sober-minded (1 Tim. 3:2), just (Ti. 1:8),and temperate (1 Tim. 3:2);he is self-willed (Ti. 1:7); hemay become quarrelsome(1 Tim. 3:3); and he is not“holding fast the faithfulword” (Ti. 1:9).

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“You don’t lead by hitting peopleover the head. That’s assault,

not leadership.”—Dwight Eisenhower

z

z


PROBLEMS ANDPRINCIPLES

SStating thequalifications forleadership is

relatively easy. Finding,enlisting, and evaluatingleaders can be difficult. Thissection will address some ofthe practical problems youmay encounter.

Shortage ofqualified candidates.Don’t lower the standards.Only qualified individualsshould lead. Revise thechurch constitution ifnecessary so that it does notrequire a difficult-to-fulfillminimum number of eldersor deacons. Developleadership through activediscipleship training (2 Tim.2:2). The biblical issue is nothow many but who will lead.

Qualified men arenot willing to beleaders. In order toencourage qualified men toaccept leadership positions,

emphasize the truth that aperson who desires the roleof church leader “desires agood work” (1 Tim. 3:1).Extol the rewards both nowand in eternity of serving theLord and laying up treasuresin heaven (Mt. 6:19-21; 1 Tim. 3:13; 1 Pet. 5:4).

Deacons whofunction as elders.If deacons in a church arefunctioning as elders inteaching, spiritual oversight,and decision-making, makesure that they measure upto the qualifications ofelders. Study the biblicalpattern of leadership:Deacons are to assist theelders to free them forprayer and the teaching ofGod’s Word (Acts 6:3-4).Deacons can serve in awide variety of ways—but itis to be service that assiststhe elders.

Current leaderswho aren’t qualified.If after studying the biblicalqualifications for leaders,

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you conclude that one ormore of the current leadersin your church fail to passthe test, apply theprinciples of Matthew18:15-17, Galatians 6:1,and 1 Timothy 5:19-20. Dothe courageous and lovingthing—go to the personprivately first and discussthe biblical standards withhim. Make sure you havethe right attitude andaccurate facts before youapproach him.

If a person does notexpress a willingness to dealwith his sin, find anotherchurch leader who will gowith you again to theindividual. If that fails, thenpresent the case to theentire church leadership fortheir investigation. Anunrepentant person orsomeone who has destroyedhis reputation should beremoved from leadership.

Leaders who wantto rule but not serve.During the teaching and

training of leadership,emphasize the principles ofbeing an example and beinga servant (Mt. 20:20-28;23:8-12; Jn. 13; Acts 6:1-4; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3). Adeacon or an elder shouldbe assigned a clearly definedarea of responsibility in thechurch. Effective leadershipis involved leadership.

How do you know that a man isqualified? If your churchallows nominations from thecongregation, a candidateshould be suggested forconsideration by someonewho knows the person welland genuinely believes thatthe nominee is qualifiedaccording to the standardsof 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

In order to protectnominees from possibleembarrassment and toprevent potential discord, it would be wise first tosuggest candidates in strictconfidentiality to currentchurch leaders. Because

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elders have theresponsibility to overseechurch doctrine andpractice (1 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Pet. 5:1-4) and are usually aware of matters not known to thecongregation at large, they should play animportant role in thenominating process.

In addition, it wouldseem wise to ask thecandidate to examinehimself according to biblicalqualifications prior to anypublic announcement. Heshould withdraw fromconsideration if in goodconscience he does not feelhe is qualified. And in thecase of nominations forelders, thorough interviewswould be appropriate.

If when a candidate’sname is announced,members of thecongregation know of anyconcrete, verifiable factsthat could disqualify him on the basis of the scriptural

requirements for the officeof elder or deacon, theyshould seek him out inaccordance with the patternset forth in Matthew 18:15-17. The body of Christ isresponsible to maintaininternal discipline and to keep unqualifiedindividuals from beingelected.

What if strongdisagreement arisesabout an individual’squalifications?Determine if thedisagreement is based onthe biblical criteria or if it isa personality issue. Anyserious accusations shouldbe carefully examined bychurch leaders to determinewhether or not the nomineeis qualified, and to protecthim from subjective andunfair charges. (If anaccuser is unreasonable or bears a personal grudge,he should be confronted.)

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STANDARDS FORLEADERSHIP

ELDERS1 Timothy 3:1-7 (●) and Titus 1:6-9 (▲)

1. blameless ●▲2. one wife ●▲3. temperate ●4. sober-minded ●▲5. good behavior ●6. hospitable ●▲7. able to teach ●8. not a drinker ●▲9. not violent ●▲

10. not greedy ●▲11. gentle ●12. not quarrelsome ●13. not covetous ●14. rules house well ●15. children subject ●16. not a novice ●17. good testimony ●18. believing children ▲19. not self-willed ▲20. not quick-tempered ▲21. lover of good ▲22. just ▲23. holy ▲

24. self-controlled ▲25. hold fast the Word ▲26. able to exhort ▲

DEACONS1 Timothy 3:8-12

1. reverent2. not double-tongued3. not given to much wine4. not greedy for money5. holding the faith with a

clear conscience6. tested7. found blameless8. husband of one wife9. rule children and

household well

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DO YOUQUALIFY?

WWould you qualifyfor a position of

leadership in yourchurch? Why, or why not? If not, what needs to change, and what ispreventing you from making those changes?

Have you taken the firststep toward qualifying forleadership? Do you knowthe Leader, the Head of thechurch, Jesus Christ, in apersonal way? Have yourecognized that the rightkind of church is made upof people who haveaccepted His free gift offorgiveness of sin and whonow have assurance ofheaven in the life to come?(Jn. 14:1-6; Eph. 2:8-9). Ifyou have never put yourpersonal trust in Christ foryour salvation, there’s nobetter time than right now.Then determine to grow inknowledge of God and in

Christlikeness in your daily life.

Perhaps you’ve been abeliever for some time butyou know you wouldn’tqualify for leadershipbecause of some sin in your life or because youhave failed to mature as abeliever. Remember thatGod wants you to live agodly life, even if you’re nota leader (1 Pet. 1:13–2:12).Choose right now to followChrist and be a personworth following.

Or perhaps you are aleader in your church. Areyou qualified? If not, areyou willing to change or to step down from yourposition? Are you and yourchurch willing to rewrite thechurch constitution to makeit biblical regarding theselection of church leaders?

A congregation will followits leaders. Are your leadersfollowing Christ? Are youwilling to follow Him and toshow others the way?

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