Bible Studies
The Selection and Appointment of Overseers
Series: The Selection and Appointment of OverseersIntroduction:
1. A few weeks ago, as a representative of the eldership, I presented an outline of plans for the next five years for this congregation. 2. Among those plans was the selection and appointment of additional men to serve as overseers of the congregation. 3. It was proposed, as the current eldership gave consideration to these plans, that attention be given to studying about the nature of the work of overseeing, the related qualifications identified in Scripture, and the overall process of selecting and appointing qualified men. 4. Needless to say, the work of selecting and appointing is a grave task and must be approached with the utmost soberness realizing that the consequences of our decisions are far reaching. Nevertheless, the Lord challenges us with such tasks, granting us the wisdom and instruction we need to do His will through the things revealed to us in Scripture. And therefore to the Scriptures we must turn. 5. This is the first lesson in a series designed to consider these things. 6. This evening I want to consider the process of selection and appointment. Later we will consider the nature of the work, look at the terms used to describe the work, survey the particular qualifications identified in 1 Tim. 3 and Titus 1. 7. Actually we are beginning at the end when we talk about how to select and appoint men. But this is where many go first when giving consideration to appointment. Actually of greater logical significance is the nature of the work, what the work is and how the qualifications “fit” with the work. 8. But in order to alleviate some anxiety first we will address the subject of selection and appointment. 9. The major questions that we want to address:a. Whose responsibility is it to select overseers?
b. Whose responsibility is it to appoint them?
c. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in making men elders?
d. How can we actually select and appoint qualified men?
Discussion:
I. Whose responsibility is it to select overseers?A. There is not a great deal said in the Scriptures about the who and how of selecting elders. J. W. McGarvey said, “Those who are willing to be guided by the slightest indications of the will of God in preference to their own judgment, will find sufficient to satisfy them” (The Eldership, p. 71).
B. There is only one example in the biblical record dealing with the selection of church officers: Acts 6:1-6.
1. Observe that the apostles did not regard it as their responsibility to make the selection.
2. The congregation was to select from among them.
C. No passage gives the responsibility to an evangelist to make the selection.
D. It is not the responsibility of any one person.
E. It is not the responsibility of an existing eldership.
F. It is not the responsibility of the majority, or of the minority.
G. All of this may be reflective of the nature of biblical leadership.
1. Being led spiritually involves us in placing our trust in those that lead us. How appropriate then that we select our leaders and they not be “forced” upon us by some hierarchy.
2. Indeed the leadership of Scripture, modeled after the example of Christ, is a leadership of service, not of authoritarianism (Matt. 20:20-28).
3. This is a fear that many have when consideration is given to appointing leaders. They fear that if they appoint leaders that they will be dominated and taken advantage of.
4. This is the very thing that the appointment of the leaders in Acts 6 is responding to.
5. Fear of who is going to “be in control” and “who has the power” inhibits the accomplishment of God’s plan.
a. If men approach the eldership from the carnal perspective of “Now I get to be in control. Now I can get what I want,” they are not qualified. If we approach their appointment from this perspective we miss the point.
b. Leadership in the Lord’s church is not about selfishly dominating others. It is about giving oneself up for the benefit of others. The selection and appointment process must be approached from this perspective or it will be a failure.
c. The will of God is the objective, not the will of men.
II. There is a distinction to be recognized between selecting and appointing special servants. Objection: “This is a reference to the selection of deacons, not elders.” Correct, but it is the only pattern regarding the selection of church officers and therefore becomes the precedent for selection of both overseers and deacons.A. In Acts 6:1-6 the congregation “selected,” the apostles “put them in charge” of the task.
B. In Acts 14:23 Barnabas and Paul “appointed elders for them in every church.”
C. In Titus 1:5 Titus, an evangelist, was to “appoint elders in every city.”
D. These three passages use the following three Greek terms.
1. Acts 6:3—episkeptomai (select, look out); kathistemi (put in charge, appoint).
2. Acts 14:23—cheirotoneo (appointed, ordained).
3. Titus 1:5—kathistemi (appoint, ordain).
E. Kathistemi and cheirotoneo are about the same in meaning, as the English translations testify.
1. In these texts it is apostles and evangelists that appoint.
2. As I understand it, the significance of these individuals doing the appointing comes as result of these being the teachers that have instructed the congregation regarding the qualifications of the men. It is not as a result of them having “power over” the congregation.
a. The teacher teaches. The teaching comes from God.
b. The congregation selects on the basis of the teaching (come from God).
c. The teacher(s) appoint. This confirms for the congregation that they have operated according to the teaching. Thus there is a unity and good feeling about the work done when the congregation selects and the teacher(s) appoint.
d. Apostles, evangelists, shepherds may be these teachers.
3. God is the authority in this system. Not the teachers and not the individual whims of the people doing the selecting.
III. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in making overseers?A. The Holy Spirit makes overseers (Acts 20:28).
B. How does he do this?
1. Communicates the will of God.
a. Gives the qualifications for Christians. Every overseer must be a Christian. He has purified his soul in obedience to the truth revealed by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet. 1:22).
b. Gives the qualifications of overseers.
c. Instructs us regarding their selection and appointment.
2. The Holy Spirit makes overseers by operating in men’s lives so that they become spiritually mature and attain to the qualifications.
C. The Holy Spirit does not make men overseers who are unqualified. Unqualified men may be appointed, but this stems from our contribution to the process.
IV. How can we select and appoint overseers?A. No method specified in Scripture.
1. A method is authorized, but no particular method is specified.
2. A matter of using good judgment.
B. The traditional method and its weaknesses.
1. The traditional method is to put the names of potential elders before the congregation. Then allow opportunity for objections to be raised. It is an inherently negative approach.
2. First we go public at the beginning by assuming they are qualified by putting their names before the congregation. Second, the person who allows his name to be put before the congregation assumes he is qualified. Then we ask if there is anyone who feels the candidate unqualified. (May be patterned after our political system.)
a. How does the candidate feel if someone believes him unqualified?
b. How does the individual feel that believes the candidate unqualified?
c. If there is an objection it is difficult to raise. You go against the thinking of the candidate and those who put his name before the congregation.
d. An unnecessary embarrassing situation is created for everyone involved. It is a situation where feelings are likely to be hurt, where the congregation’s judgments are discouraged rather than encouraged and where the likelihood of appointing unqualified men is increased.
C. Sheet handed out to each member.
1. Each member makes recommendations of who they believe to be qualified.
2. Information assessed on a percentage basis. John Smith has 60% of the congregation recommending him. James has 90%. Joe has 10%.
3. Each man recommended is contacted and the results communicated. Those with minimal support recognize that it is unwise for them to attempt to serve. Thus, they submit to the wishes of the congregation.
4. Those highly recommended and willing to serve presented to the congregation. Any being unable to submit to their leadership should bring that to the individual involved and to the teachers of the qualifications for consideration.
D. After the selection process is completed the teachers of the qualifications may appoint or set those the congregation has selected in office. Cf. to chief justice swearing in the President after the people have made their selection.
V. The difficulty.A. Given the magnitude of the responsibilities of overseers and the high standards prescribed by God we have a tendency to think, “Nobody is qualified.”
B. If an individual beats his wife, despises his children and is a hypocrite we have no trouble eliminating him from consideration.
C. If an individual is sinlessly perfect we have no problem in appointing him.
D. All candidates fall in between these two extremes.
1. If Paul had been married and had demonstrated his ability to manage his children well would we consider him qualified?
2. But what about . . .
a. Arrogance (2 Cor. 12:7)?
b. His past: blasphemer, persecutor, violent aggressor (1 Tim. 1:13)?
c. Sharp disagreement with Barnabas and separation (Acts 15:39)?
d. Constant struggle with sin (Rom. 7:14ff)?
3. God considered him qualified as an apostle.
4. Sinlessness and perfection are not qualifications. Everyone can be objected to in some way.
Conclusion:
1. Selection and appointment is not easy. 2. Is it any wonder that as the first century church approached such decision making that they fasted and prayed?
