No one has ever taught me what makes up a great staff member or overseer of ministry. When I was interviewing at a church in Oklahoma they gave three requirements: 1) Seminary Education 2) Five years of Ministry Experience 3) Must be married…Jesus, couldn’t get a job at that church!
Here are the requirements for a great staff member or pastor:
1 Timothy 3:1 “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
I was never taught this! Not even in seminary and I believe we have been sold a lie as church leaders. I want to dissect a few of these MUST HAVES for ministry.
#1 – One Wife
There is no greater picture of your walk, commitment, discipline, and passion for Jesus demonstrated than in your marriage. Marriage is a picture of your salvation. If your marriage is red hot, your walk with God is red hot. The opposite is also true…cold equals colder.
#2 – Hospitable
I rarely spent time in my pastors homes. We have, as pastors, the mentality that having guests in our home removes our effectiveness. I don’t know the balance, but The Scripture is saying we must be “fond of guest”. Cindy and I love having others in our home for intimate moments of fellowship.
#3 – Able to Teach
Every leader must be able to present God’s Truth. Don’t misunderstand this as preaching, but an apt to teach. Leaders must lead with their ability to “sell” God’s vision for the mission.
#4 – Not Quarrelsome
More harm is done from within the walls of The Church to harm the message of Christ than outside the walls. There are so many church leaders that kill the Gospel and it’s power in a community by throwing people under the bus. Pastors may be top on the guilt list of this sin.
#5 – Children obey Him
The level of leadership found in a man is shown in his children. I am not saying perfection, but respectfully. The pastor deacon kid jokes are an abomination to Christ Church. I know there are specific cases of uniqueness, but overall the parent must have leadership of the home to have leadership in his ministry.
Which ones would you have chosen for the top areas untaught by the church? Let me know. I love your comments!
The requirements for a STAFF MEMBER OR PASTOR… “Husband of one wife”, so that would have to be a man that only qualifies for the position of “staff member or PASTOR”. How does this not contradict the blog on “Women Pastors”?
I think this puts God in a box. It’s the old argument that only straight men can be church leaders. Women are excluded. This is one of the main reasons for me leaving the Baptist Church. It also says not given to drunkenness so drinking a little is okay. Plus alcohol has only been banned in the Baptist church for only around 80 years. If you look at who Jesus used to spread his message it was not the goody church people. In fact he could stand them. I say we do not know the mind of God and can not know who he can use and there should be no discrimination in the church. Jesus used prostitutes, tax collectors, etc.. I think it is very naive to say God can only use straight married males as his messenger that puts limits from humans on God. If you read some of the books “edited” out of what we know as the Bible you will see there were certainly women disciples and women leaders.
i love being on staff at my church…
not to say there isn’t conflict… however, its readily resolved and we all are good friends…
we laugh, trust, share and spend…
I love it…
Thomas I think we need to be very careful about picking and choosing what we believe God is saying through His word. Sin is sin, and if you take the time to REALLY study the Word you will get all the answers that you are looking for. God is very clear on His stance with homosexuality and on women LEADING from the pulpit. Women may teach but not when men are in audience and there are many reasons for this. I think the main problem in America is that men no longer lead; spiritually or in the home; and we have decided that is more important to be politically correct in our churches instead of teaching and preaching the Word which states that sin is sin!. Jesus said He was offensive because He was radical in what He taught and He promised us that we would be hated for what we believed as well….if we walked in His footsteps. We have a strong glimpse of the mind of God in His Word so I believe we can understand very clearly what He expects from us. Thomas take time to really study the word and I believe you will be blessed and changed forever!
Jane I have studied and I am changed forever. I was once a Baptist that believed a narrow and discriminating way.
Just because I am not coming to the same conclusions after reading the scriptures as you, you feel what I maybe getting is wrong? Discrimination in the church is wrong. This idea that women are to be silent and not in leadership roles is wrong. It is just another way people take scriptures out of context. Open up your mind to the possibilities of God that is waaay out of your comfort zone.
You mentioned homosexuality and you also said sin is sin. If you feel homosexuality is a sin and no sin is worse than another this would mean gay Pastors are okay right? Or is a Pastors job reserved for only straight sinners? Please don’t use the old abomination argument either unless you never eat shellfish or wear blended fabrics. I believe the part that says we are ALL made in His image.
You said you have a strong glimpse into the mind of God. There is no way any of us can know the mind of God. Especially when we put limits on our minds and draw conclusions. We should never say God can use this person but not this one because I don’t agree with the way he looks or his lifestyle.
Maybe you can be changed forever. Filter out what some MEN preachers have told you as women’s role in the church. Open up to the idea that ALL are created in His image. God can and will use anyone for his kingdom and maybe use someone you don’t agree with just to freak you out and get you thinking.