Qualifications of the Elders/Overseers. Who’s qualified to do the job?

What makes a man an elder? What are the qualifications of an elder? The biblical standards and qualifications are given in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. True elders are men of godliness and spiritual character. They must be mature in the faith. The overarching quality for elders is that they must be ‘blameless.’ The rest of the qualifications elaborate on what it means to be blameless. Blameless means that there is no valid accusation of wrongdoing against him. His life must be an example for people to follow and no overt or flagrant sin mars his life in any area such as outside the church and inside his own family. All the qualifications point to men of godly character.

Scripture prohibits women from serving as elders. First Timothy 2:11-12 says, “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” Women are to be under the authority of elders. God excludes them from teaching men or holding positions of authority over men.