Qualifications and Competencies of an Elder
Scripture is specific and helpful when evaluating the life of elders and elder candidates. Titus 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Peter 5:1-3; Acts 20:17-37 are key passages that detail the life of an elder. These passages, and the others included below, can be explored by considering both the qualifications as well as the competencies of an elder.
Areas of Qualification
Above Reproach (Titus 1:6, 7; 1 Tim 3:2)
This is the overarching, summarizing characteristic. You will find a similar (but not identical) list in 1 Timothy. Titus repeats “being above reproach” as the first requirement. The other items on the list explain what above reproach means. If we combine the two lists, as well as 1 Peter, we find 17 qualities of an elder. An elder then is one who lives above reproach in these 17 areas.
1. Husband Devoted to Wife - (Titus 1:6; 1 Tim 3:2)
This is a major qualification in light of the marriage of Christ and the church (Eph. 5:22 ff.). The elders in the church lead by example. They exhibit Christ’s love for His church, His bride, by their love, devotedness and exclusive faithfulness to their wife. This does not disqualify a single man (widower, divorced, never-married) from being an elder. After all, Jesus was single and Paul was single, but it is the exception. As men we are called to be sexually pure! Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 5:27-28: “You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” . Both in thought and action, sexual intimacy is reserved for, and to be fully enjoyed within marriage.
2. Children in Submission - Not a Perfect Father, but Successful (Titus 1:6; 1 Tim 3:4-5)
Equally important is the pastor leading his family. 1 Timothy 3:5 explains, “if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church.” The first flock for a elder is his own family as a dad. If this flock is not in order, the larger flock will suffer. Paul instructs, “fathers not to provoke [their] children to anger, but [to] bring them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). As the head of the house, it is the father’s responsibility to insure the training and discipline of children is done in love and with great care. This does not exclude a man from eldership if he has no children.
3. Faithful Steward - Manager for God (Titus 1:7)
Here, the term used is overseer (Greek episkopos). It is not another office, but a functional title of the elder. It is what he does. He is a steward, a manager of God’s resources and Jesus’ flock. A steward is one who acts on behalf of another as his or her agent. In the case of God, we act as His stewards, doing what we ought with what is His. Stewardship is not just money, but everything God has given us: our talents, our time, our resources, our homes, our families, our children, our relationship, and our bodies. Everything we have is a gift from God and belongs to Him. We are stewards of His stuff. Thus, an elder will be one who manages his own family well by taking responsibility for, and providing leadership in, these areas.
4. Humble - Not Arrogant (Titus 1:7)
An elder must constantly demonstrate the gospel by admitting wrong, assuming responsibility, and restoring relationships. Arrogance is being only concerned with oneself. Humility is freedom from pride or arrogance. An elder is not concerned with title and sees his role of leading from a place below, lifting up the Bride of Christ, rather than above. Elders are willing to take on any task that will serve and lead others to God. Philippians 2:5-7 says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
5. Gentle - Not Quick-Tempered (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3)
An elder is one who is gentle and meek. Meekness means power that is under control. Jesus was the greatest man who ever lived, and a man who did not avoid conflict. He cracked the whip in the temple and flipped over the table of the moneychangers. He endured a severe beating at the hands of professional torturers and then hung on a Roman cross. Jesus was a strong, tough man. But he was not violent. He was gentle and kind. Children ran to him. Women followed him. elders lovingly, humbly submit their strength to God for his use. They do not throw their weight around, or try to control or manipulate or intimidate people. elders give their lives away for the sake of others. James 1:19-20, says“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”
6. Moderate - Not a Drunkard (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3)
This is not just overindulgence in alcohol, but is idiomatic for any behavior that fuels addictive responses. There are many other things we can be addicted to: food, sex, television, video games, exercise, studying or education etc. The question to consider is whether or not the elder is being controlled by something other than the Holy Spirit. An elder will look to Jesus as his only source of satisfaction and fulfillment in life.
7. Peaceful - Not Violent (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3)
Elders are not the kind of men who start arguments or pick fights. They pursue peace. They speak the truth, but they do it in love, working for restoration, not division. elders should be easy to work with. This is especially true in matters of doctrine or theology. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 says, “And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” Thus, an elder is one who speaks the truth in love in such a way that it sounds like good news that is restorative, not divisive
8. Financial Integrity - Not Greedy for Gain (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3; 1 Peter 5:3)
A elder is to be upright in his financial dealings and not accused of pursuing money over the kingdom of God. Not a lover of money, but financially content, upright, and generous with what God has given him to steward. The idea is to be content with what you have; to see that God is the only One who can satisfy and that He is the provider. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
9. Hospitable- (Titus 1:8; 1 Tim 3:2)
This word refers to kindness to strangers. Do you have not-yet-believers in your life that you are regularly serving and including? An elder’s home is to be open for others to enjoy, rather than a refuge to escape others. Whether it’s your neighbors or people from your community, people should know that they have the ability to stop by. An elder should be inviting people into his home on a regular basis. Your home is the best context for you to build relationships because others are already familiar with the intimate comfort of a home.
10. Lover of Good - Not by Compulsion (Titus 1:8)
An elder genuinely loves what is good. He does not just think he should love good. An elder is one who loves what God loves and gives his life towards those things. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
11. Self-Controlled - Disciplined (Titus 1:8; 1 Tim 3:2)
Self-control is a characterization of every area of an elder’s life. He is disciplined in his diet, time, mouth, exercise, relationships, sex, and money. He is consistently training in righteousness to be able to run the race set before him. elders need to be people who are strong in the strength of the Lord, balanced, consistent, and steady. They should not be up and down and all the time. elders are emotionally stable men who are able to maintain discipline in their lives, with consistency.
12. Upright - Worth Following (Titus 1:8)
He is upright in his relationships and in how he treats others. An elder’s life should be worth following. An elder shares his life freely with others so that his life can serve as an example for others to follow. People should regularly be coming to elders saying, “I’ve seen how you live, and I know you are trustworthy. Could you help me out?”
13. Holy - No One Can Speak Against His Character (Titus 1:8)
The opposite is unholy and that is not helpful when counseling others. An elder is one who is dedicated or consecrated to God and whose life is an example of a sacred calling. It is a life devoted wholeheartedly to Jesus externally and internally. This does not mean that elders are perfect. Everyone has areas of their life where God has given them the grace to grow, and everyone has areas of their life where they need more growth. An elder’s life is one that is marked with holiness so that no one can speak against his character.
14. Able to Teach - Defender of the Faith and Communicator (Titus 1:9; 1 Tim 3:2)
All of the other qualifications are character qualities. This is the only ability-based requirement. He is to be able to teach sound doctrine, not just be able to communicate in an excellent manner. His teaching can instruct one or two, to twenty, to a hundred or to a thousand. Most of the churches in Crete were house churches. The elders were to defend the faith once delivered to the saints against the numerous false teachers that arose. An elder then must be one who others seek out for spiritual advice and is recognized as a reliable source of Biblical truth.
15. Spiritually Mature - Not New to the Faith (1 Tim 3:6)
Positions of authority without spiritual maturity lead to the trap of pride. When pride grows in a man sin abounds. 1 Timothy 3:6 says, “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. A pastor must first be a convert.” Maturity also does not mean one’s age, but it is one’s life that speaks as evidence of the work that God has done in one’s heart. It is a life that has learned how to rely on God as the one who is doing the work. It is understanding who you are now in Christ because of what he has done and a life that reflects that over time. Not just for a short burst.
16. Respectable - Respected by Outsiders (1 Tim 3:7)
1 Timothy 3:7 says, “an elder must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” That does not mean that all will like him or even appreciate him. It means that there is no criminal, moral, or ethical offense held against him.
17. Example to the Flock - A Pattern of Faithfulness (1 Peter 5:3)
We need models in our life to emulate. elders are examples of Biblical patterns of living in areas such as sexuality, time management, marriage, parenting, worship, relationships and all other ways. An elder should be someone your sons could pattern their life after and the kind of man your daughter should marry. In other words, an elder is someone that you would feel comfortable caring for your family if you were to pass on.
Areas of Competency
1. Shepherding:
The idea of shepherding is an inclusive term to address the ways in which a disciple cares for people within the community of faith. He may care for the family by praying for the sick (James 5:13-15), by teaching sound doctrine and refuting false teaching (Titus 1:9, Eph 4:11, 1 Tim 3:2, 1 Tim 5:17, Acts 20:17-31), by calling unrepentant Christians back into fellowship with God and the believing community (Matt 18:15-17) and by faithfully leading and managing people on mission (1 Tim 5:17, 1 Tim 3:4-5).
2. Serving:
An elder is not someone who is a helper that does a lot of work for the church – that is a role of a deacon. Instead, an elder is someone who serves within his giftedness to make disciples who in turn can help others to maturity and deploy them as leaders who reproduce disciples (Eph 4:11-16, 2 Tim 2:1-2). If someone is not using their gifts to build up the body, he is not someone who can be considered for eldership candidacy. Scripture is clear that the hard work of elders should be obvious & recognized (1 Thes 5:12).
3. Modeling:
It is clear that elders are to live exemplary lives (Heb 13:7, 1 Tim 3:2). Living an exemplary life means more than just purity in action. It means modeling. When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he said, “We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. “(1 Thess 2:8) According to this passage, modeling primarily done in two ways:
Sharing the Gospel (Mission) – Men who desire the office of elder should be men whose lives embody the Gospel Mission. That is, that these are men committed to proclaiming and calling others to the Good News of Christ’s substitutionary atonement that reconciles us to God and committed to training up new missionaries to take the gospel forward into new areas of influence (2 Tim 2:2).
Sharing Their Lives (Community) – Men who aspire to be elders should also embody a commitment to living the gospel within community. That is, that they order their lives around building up the community through shepherding, teaching and generous living and they stimulate others to be committed to the gospel and community as the primary way we reach our city and our world (1 Peter 5:1-2).
4. Multiplication
Missional communities cannot multiply unless new leaders have been raised up, equipped and affirmed to be sent out. Elders ensure that Missional communities are being equipping toward multiplication. The same is true for larger gatherings of the church. Saturation of the city will not be accomplished without the multiplication of new church plants. Therefore, an elder is one who is equipping new elders to plant new gatherings of the church in other locations. This competency in multiplication will include but not be limited to:
A. Coaching and Discipling Leaders - Their care and leadership will expand beyond their own Missional Community to the coaching and discipleship of those leaders that have been sent out to begin new groups.
B. Shepherding - Another form of beginning to elder is to shepherd former apprentices and new leaders coaching them through shepherding issues. Those who not only shepherd their own group well, but are able to disciple and shepherd other leaders will already be functioning in many ways as elders who are able to do all the areas of discipleship necessary to qualify for consideration for that office.
5. Teaching
Elders can be identified in their ability to dialogue, teach, and explain the Scriptures in a way disciples can understand and obey. This happens in the context of relationships, leading missional communities, leading DNA groups, and in preaching on Sundays. While this is a function and part of the role of all elders, some have a unique gifting in this area. Our desire is to give elders-in-training opportunities to serve in this way and to grow in their gifting and abilities.
6. Lifestyle of an Elder
The elders in a church set the precedent for what faithful pastoral leadership is in that church. Therefore, elders must not only have the character, which qualifies him to lead God’s people, but also the competency to accomplish the duties Jesus, our Senior Pastor, has assigned to elders. While elders, deacons, and members share the load of being the church, the elder team takes responsibility for the benefit of the entire body by serving in these ways:
Prayer and Scripture study (Acts 6:4)
Ruling/leading the church (1 Timothy 5:17)
Managing the church (1 Timothy 3:4–5)
Caring for people in the church (1 Peter 5:2–5)
Giving account to God for the church (Hebrews 13:17)
Living exemplary lives (Hebrews 13:7)
Rightly using the authority God has given them (Acts 20:28)
Teaching the Bible correctly (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:2)
Preaching (1 Timothy 5:17)
Praying for the sick (James 5:13–15)
Teaching sound doctrine and refuting false teachings (Titus 1:9)
Working hard (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
Rightly using money and power (1 Peter 5:1–3)
Protecting the church from false teachers (Acts 20:17–31)
Disciplining unrepentant Christians (Matthew 18:15–17)