Weighing Prospective Church Leaders

Mark Roth

In 44+ Biblical Requirements for Church Leaders I did my best to bring together much of what the New Testament says specifically about and to ordained church leaders. Now I have 60 questions for you to consider in the process of selecting new or additional church leadership.

In Hebrews 13:7,17 we are told to obey, submit to, and follow the faith of those who "have the rule" over us. Would I give the name of a man whose track record would cause me to withhold one or more of those?

Also, when I give a name for ordination, I am calling that man to watch for my soul (Hebrews 13:17). Up to this point, what about his life generally and his relationship with me specifically make me think I can count on him to do that as a church leader?

Here you have my 58 additional questions to ponder in the process of weighing prospective church leaders as I try to decide whom to nominate for ordination to church leadership:

1. Is he of proven leadership at home and in church?
2. How is his adherence to rules and laws, codes and regulations?
3. What does he believe about ministerial authority?
4. What does he believe about church membership?
5. Is he a generational upgrade relative to his parents?
6. How does he function under authority?
7. How does he function in authority?
8. Is he humble, meek, lowly, selfless, and unambitious for position?
9. Is he man of prayer?
10. Is he faithful -- to rules, in attendance, in fulfilling offices and assignments?
11. What parts of congregational rules, regulations, and guidelines does he not agree with?
12. What would he add to, subtract from, and modify in the church Discipline?
13. Does he bask in the praise of others, even when it is incorrect or unwarranted?
14. Is silence his response to injustice against another in his presence...if he perceives the target to be an opponent?
15. How well does he listen?
16. Is he reasonable and logical in tense discussions?
17. How's his spine and his skin?
18. How does he handle facts and truth?
19. Is he a student of the Scriptures who turns to them for answers almost reflexively?
20. Is he attentive during church services?
21. Is he attentive during conversations?
22. Is he a reader?
23. How does he react under pressure, under scrutiny, under attack?
24. Is he interested in and does he care about people of all ages?
25. Is he a true team player who can nevertheless buck the team when it is wrong?
26. Does work take him from his family far more than it should?
27. How does he make decisions -- thoroughly with his head or abruptly with his feelings of the moment?
28. Is he steady and stable?
29. Is he secure and stalwart?
30. What rattles him?
31. What angers him?
32. Is he heavenly minded or earthly attached?
33. About what will he compromise?
34. About what will he be unbending?
35. Is he a clear communicator?
36. Is he self-assured without being cocky, arrogant?
37. Is he present, engaged, and involved during men's meetings and members' meetings?
38. Can he disagree without being disagreeable?
39. How does he take criticism, correction, and reproof as well as challenges to his position or authority?
40. Can he stick to his guns without being stubborn?
41. Does he know how to apologize?
42. Does he whine, attack, and turn vindictive when opposed, outvoted, thwarted, or otherwise denied?
43. Is he prone to engage in sarcasm, mockery, in putting down another?
44. Does the success or gift of another threaten him?
45. Does he have a chip on his shoulder or a mean streak in his heart?
46. Is he prone to self-pity?
47. Is he a peacemaker?
48. Does he expect favors for favors given?
49. Is it obvious he recognizes his need to be balanced and rounded out by others?
50. Is he open and transparent?
51. Does he speak bitterly about past and current wrongs against him?
52. Does he have a record of growing in the clear declaration of truth?
53. Does he know how to delegate without being irresponsible and lazy?
54. Does he know how to delegate without being a meddlesome micromanager?
55. Does he protect his turf, his status, and his position?
56. Does he pull rank or engage in power plays?
57. Is he building his own kingdom -- on earth and/or within the machinery of the church?
58. Is he above board in his business dealings?

And to think that's not anywhere near an all-inclusive list!

Who, then, is fit and worthy?

We ask the question as a consequence of at least these two things:

• We all live in the flesh, prone to err and worse.
• Jesus is not entirely free to live His life in us.

Understand God works with each of us where we are. And He does it without compromising on or outright ignoring His own standards. But something is missing on our part if we aren't what He wants us to be.

Recognize that a man can be something (hospitable, for instance) without having achieved maturity in it yet. In such a case, it seems the requirement is met even before the ideal is achieved.

If your church needs to select new or additional leadership, pray much and evaluate justly. May the Lord direct you and may He raise up leaders after His own heart who will shepherd His flock His way.

© Copyright 2019, Mark Roth