A brief overview and common questions about CATG's series: Men, Women, & the Mission of God.
ELDERS & DEACONS
Qualifications for Elders
1 Timothy 3:1-7
"The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil."
Qualifications for Deacons
1 Timothy 3:8-13
"8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus."
More on Qualifications for Elders & Deacons
In 2024, we went through a series on Men, Women, and the Mission of God - a series that included an overview of the Biblical offices of both Elders and Deacons. If you want to learn more about these offices, the differences between them, and who is called to serve in these ways, you can either check out the 7 part series, linked below, or read our long-form document discussing this and other issues that have to do with men and women in the church.
If you want a short review of where we landed in this process, including some common FAQ's, you can check out the single, short video below, that is also the 8th in the YouTube playlist.
