Introduction
What kind of leaders do we want? There has been a lot of publicity recently about selecting a new leader for the Conservative party. What kind of leader will they choose? Will they go for (relatively speaking) youth and vision or age and experience? It has been interesting to note how the fortunes of the 5 original contenders have waxed and waned. What kind of leaders do we look for in the Church? Here are some examples from recent ads. In the Church Times
In the process of handing on leadership of the churches to his chosen successors Paul is keen to advise both Timothy and Titus as to what type of co-leaders they should be looking for – elders and deacons. Before looking at these in detail firstly a word about terminology. Whilst it is true that from earliest times the church recognised three “orders”: Bishops, Priests and Deacons, in the New Testament there are only two: elders and deacons. Now without wishing to confuse matters elders are also known as overseers, presbyters or bishops! The source of this basic division between overseers and deacons can be traced to Acts 6 where the apostles appoint deacons to deal with practicalities so that they can focus on prayer and the ministry of the word. Acts6:1-4. It would seem that this broad division of labour persisted at least until the end of the apostolic era.
Starting then with overseers we note firstly that Paul says this is a noble task. In fact he introduces this whole section with a phrase characterisitic of the Pastoral epistles and not found elsewhere in the N.T. “This is a trustworthy saying” (a Mars bar to the person who finds the other four)! By comparing this with the other “trustworthy sayings” you will see how seriously Paul takes the call to leadership within the church. It is not just a job, it is indeed a noble calling.
Looking then at the qualities that should be looked for in such a person I have summarised them in one word: respectable, which I then want to break down into it’s constituent parts, respect and able.
This word has taken on a new gloss in today’s parlance – like gay and wicked – but the underlying meaning is obvious here. A leader must be someone who is respected within his own family v.4, within the church and within the wider communityv.7. This respect is gained by godliness of life.
It is interesting to contrast the abilities listed here by Paul with those found in today’s ads, there are in fact only two: the ability to teach v.2 and to manage his own family well. I have never seen the latter competency listed in today’s ads – it would probably contravene some law or other.
There is much overlap here and the same underlying principle of respect. The main difference is the reference to wives or deaconesses in v.11. The Greek simply says women. There is much argument about this but my own feeling is that it does refer to women deacons as if it did refer to wives one would have thought that the higher profile overseers wives would get a mention.
Paul is keen to emphasise these qualities of leaders because he is passionate about the Church. He calls it “God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth”v.15. (Another 3point sermon!). In other words the church is the visible expression of God’s truth here on earth and if we are in any doubt about the nature of that truth Paul concludes the passage with a hymn to Jesus.
What kind of leaders do we want in the church? Ones who reflect the life of their risen Lord.