Foundations of Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG07

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F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

* Can women be elders of the church? What if there are women who match the biblical qualifications for spiritual maturity but no men who correspond to the standard–are we to place the men in positions, even if they are not spiritually qualified to lead? * How old must a person be in order to become a candidate for elder? Is there an age minimum that should be recognized in this process? * How would you know if God is calling you to such a position? Paul seems to give a sense in 1 Timothy 3.1 that one may aspire to the office : “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” What place does spiritual ambition to serve play in the selection of qualified elders for leadership? * In your view, how young in Christ is simply too young to be considered for a place on the council or board of elders? Explain your answer. * Read 1 Timothy 5.17: “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” What does this text teach about both the willingness and ability of elders to preach and teach in order to be an elder in the church? Explain your answer. The OT image of elders consulting “in the gate,” a symbolic phrase for exercising judgment regarding the affairs of the city and/or village, is a common image in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible. In deep contrast today, many urban neighborhoods are virtually matriarchal in structure and authority. In the wake of the near complete collapse of many urban families, and the dramatic absence of men to rule and lead the children and families that remain, women have necessarily assumed the position of heads of households, bread winners, and leaders of their homes and neighborhoods. Furthermore, often the most reliable and competent leaders in urban neighborhoods are women who have hesitantly but boldly stepped in to be “sisters in the gates.” Under the conditions of the absence of men and the corresponding raising up of competent, godly women in a community, what are the biblical prohibitions against women in positions of Christian leadership? Does Paul’s injunction in 1 Timothy 2.12 “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet” make it practically impossible for a woman to serve on a council of elders? Sisters in the Gate

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