URC Daily Devotion Monday 18th November 2024

1 Timothy 3: 1 – 13

The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher,  not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.  He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way —  for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?  He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.  Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.

Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money; they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons.  Women likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be married only once, and let them manage their children and their households well;  for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Reflection

There’s much to ponder in these early instructions for Christian leaders; the Greek might mean “overseer” and the term “bishop” might not have meant then what we might mean it now.  We live in a world where there are women ministers and bishops.  In the paragraph about deacons it’s possible that “women” might have meant “women deacons”.  However, the focus for today is thinking about leadership criteria in regards to safeguarding.  Contemporary criteria for church leadership might include:

Whoever aspires to leadership in the Church desires a noble task.  Leaders must have no unspent criminal convictions, live a stable life with honest personal relationships, be temperate, sensible, hospitable, be good teachers, not suffer uncontrolled addictions, not be violent or have unresolved issues with anger.  They must be gentle, not argumentative, not be lovers of money and must manage themselves well, being self aware and committed to ongoing supervision to help this awareness grow.  If married they should treat spouses well with love and fidelity.  Any children must be loved and well treated; for if someone does not know how to be in loving relationships how on earth will they succeed in pastoral care?  Leaders must not be recent converts, or they may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil – and the press.  They should be humble and approachable.  They should be willing to be trained for their roles and to undertake refresher training realising they always have much to learn.  Church leaders know how to control their tongues and to hold on fast to the essentials of faith.  They know they are to be accountable to others.  

For a long time the Church has had impossible standards for leaders; now we tend to think of leadership as something akin to a covenant – with responsibilities and rights on both sides.  This is healthier and gives, I think, a more realistic view of leadership and helps us when things go wrong, as they invariably will.

Prayer

Safeguarding God,
help us to nurture those You raise up as leaders,
and to live with mutual accountability,
that Your people might be loved, 
the wounded tended, the vulnerable cared for,
and Your Church be ever safer.  Amen.