~ Qualifications of an Elder

Elder - Wikipedia

Qualifications

There are two key passages dealing with the qualifications of elders in the New Testament, 1Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. The qualifications given by the Apostle Paul are as follows:

Blameless as a steward of God, above reproach

Faithful husband to his wife

Temperate, sober, vigilant

Sober-minded, prudent

Of good behaviour, orderly, respectable

Given to hospitality

Able to teach

Not given to wine

Not violent, not pugnacious

Patient, moderate, forbearing, gentle

Uncontentious, not soon angry or quick-tempered

Not covetous, not a lover of money

Rules his own house well, his children are faithful, not accused of rebellion to God

Not a novice or new convert

Has a good rapport or reputation with outsiders

Not self-willed

A lover of what is good

Just, fair

Holy, devout

Self-controlled

Hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught

Churches of Christ

per Wikipedia

Congregations referring to themselves as Churches of Christ believe that local congregations should be led by a plurality of biblically qualified elders. They base this on a conviction that congregations (and Christians in general) should attempt to follow the teachings of the New Testament wherever humanly possible.[27] In accordance with the teachings of the bible the Churches of Christ teach and practice that only males may serve as elders (female elders are not recognized), and must meet Biblical qualifications (generally I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 are the Biblical texts used to determine if a male is qualified to serve as elder).

In this regard, elders are accountable to each other and to God. The evangelist and the elders have the spiritual oversight of the congregation (e.g., withdrawing fellowship from a member who the elders consider to be wayward in doctrine or refuses to abide by the elders' counsel or decision in a matter) as well as administrative oversight (e.g., overseeing the congregation budget).

Key Passages on Elders (Shepherds/overseers)

Acts 14:23
²³Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Acts 20:17
¹⁷From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.

Acts 20:28
²⁸Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

1 Peter 5:1-3
⁵To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: ²Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; ³not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

1 Thes 5:12-13
¹²Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

1Timothy 3:1-7
3: ¹Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. ²Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. ⁵(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

1 Tim 5:17
¹⁷The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Hebrews 13:17
¹⁷Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Titus 1:6-9
⁶An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe[a] and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. ⁷Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁸Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. ⁹He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Titus 1:5
⁵The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

Mid-County and McKnight Sermons on Elders

Qualifications of an Elder
Ben Williams, 1989

Role of an Elder
Ben Williams, 1989

Elders
Dale Robinson, 1993

Work of an Elder
Dale Lundy, 1994

Elders and Deacons
Jeff Kryder, 2003

Some YouTube video on the subject of divorce. Most all indicate it is possible:

Some additional YouTube video on sheppherding:

Below from The Gospel Coalition …
GQualifications of an Elder