Refusing Leadership

[Reformed]

"Bob" is qualified to be an elder and/or deacon and has been asked by his church to assume one of those offices. He is the husband of one wife; his children are obedient; he is apt to teach, and he is not a drunkard or dishonest. However, Bob is not desirous of leadership. He is perfectly happy to be a follower. What do we make of Bob? Because Bob is not desirous, some say he really is not qualified. Some say that he is sinning by elevating his personal comfort over the needs of the body of Christ. What say you?

 

[Saved-By-Grace]

"Bob" is qualified to be an elder and/or deacon and has been asked by his church to assume one of those offices. He is the husband of one wife; his children are obedient; he is apt to teach, and he is not a drunkard or dishonest. However, Bob is not desirous of leadership. He is perfectly happy to be a follower. What do we make of Bob? Because Bob is not desirous, some say he really is not qualified. Some say that he is sinning by elevating his personal comfort over the needs of the body of Christ. What say you?

Has Bob received a calling from the Lord to enter this very important Office at Church? If no, then he is right; if yes, then he is disobeying the Lord. Even if the Church might think that he is right for this Office, it is what the Lord determines and Bob's own conviction from the Lord, that really counts.

 

[Deacon]

...and has been asked by his church...

Yes, he's been called.

Some men recognize personal shortcomings that they feel limits them from serving.
Over time occasionally these shortcomings may be addressed

Some men don't have the time. My church meets weekly at 6:30 AM. - I arrive at work early and can't make the meetings. Our professions limit our availability.

Some men feel that they have risen to the level of their competency and don't desire to stretch themselves, "fear of failure".

Some men have too much on their plate, work, kids, home, activities,,,, church leadership would be one to many things on their plate.

Others don't see church leadership as a desirable position. Do churches honor those in leadership of does the congregation make comments about how bad the leadership is?

Rob

 

[Reformed]

Yes, he's been called.

Some men recognize personal shortcomings that they feel limits them from serving.
Over time occasionally these shortcomings may be addressed

Some men don't have the time. My church meets weekly at 6:30 AM. - I arrive at work early and can't make the meetings. Our professions limit our availability.

Some men feel that they have risen to the level of their competency and don't desire to stretch themselves, "fear of failure".

Some men have too much on their plate, work, kids, home, activities,,,, church leadership would be one to many things on their plate.

Others don't see church leadership as a desirable position. Do churches honor those in leadership of does the congregation make comments about how bad the leadership is?

Rob

Rob,

Good questions and comments.

For the purpose of clarification, Bob has the time to serve. His refusal is simply a lack of desire. He just does not want to do it because he does not want to invest the time or have the responsibility. And yes, the OP is based on a real-life situation that I know about.

 

[Thomas V]

1 Timothy 3:1 “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.”


1. Situational qualifications.

A desire to serve (1 Timothy 3:1). A posture of readiness and eagerness is contagious in any setting—including the noble task of spiritual overseeing. Simply because someone is qualified to serve due to godly character does not mean he feels called or desires to serve in such a role. Sometimes there are outside factors and underlying forces—big and small, good and bad—that a affect a person’s desire to be involved. Elders who serve halfheartedly or begrudgingly do a disservice to the local body of Christ.

One key question an existing elder team can ask a potential elder is “Are you willing and able to serve as an elder in our church?” One potential elder we approached who was willing, but because he had to travel out of state three to four times a month for business, he did not believe he could fulfill the role faithfully and would be neglecting the leadership of his family at home. He respectfully declined in order to serve faithfully in these other areas of responsibility. Though he was wise and well respected for his faith, and our church would have benefited from his leadership as an elder, he made a wise decision.


Eldership and the Mission of God Equipping Teams for Faithful Church Leadership Alan Hirsch

 

[Aaron]

"Bob" is qualified to be an elder and/or deacon and has been asked by his church to assume one of those offices. He is the husband of one wife; his children are obedient; he is apt to teach, and he is not a drunkard or dishonest. However, Bob is not desirous of leadership. He is perfectly happy to be a follower. What do we make of Bob? Because Bob is not desirous, some say he really is not qualified. Some say that he is sinning by elevating his personal comfort over the needs of the body of Christ. What say you?

I say leave Bob alone.

 

[Reformed]

I say leave Bob alone.

Which is what I say. However, the real-life "Bob" received a lot of pressure from church leadership over this before leadership selected another candidate. Not everyone wants the burdens of leadership. Yes. Some men have selfish reasons for not serving. They may value time on the golf course or in their woodshop more. Others have schedule conflicts or family obligations that prevent them from serving. Regardless, if a man voices his opposition to serving, leadership should see that as a qualification that is missing and move on. Of course, IMHO.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Which is what I say. However, the real-life "Bob" received a lot of pressure from church leadership over this before leadership selected another candidate. Not everyone wants the burdens of leadership. Yes. Some men have selfish reasons for not serving. They may value time on the golf course or in their woodshop more. Others have schedule conflicts or family obligations that prevent them from serving. Regardless, if a man voices his opposition to serving, leadership should see that as a qualification that is missing and move on. Of course, IMHO.

If "Bob" was truly called by God, he would be willing (Psalm 110:3). His reluctance is a manifestation that however qualified he may seem to be, God hasn't called him.

 

[Yeshua1]

"Bob" is qualified to be an elder and/or deacon and has been asked by his church to assume one of those offices. He is the husband of one wife; his children are obedient; he is apt to teach, and he is not a drunkard or dishonest. However, Bob is not desirous of leadership. He is perfectly happy to be a follower. What do we make of Bob? Because Bob is not desirous, some say he really is not qualified. Some say that he is sinning by elevating his personal comfort over the needs of the body of Christ. What say you?

Is earnest desiring though one of the spiritual qualifications Paul listed? Based upon your list, would seem as being an almost poster boy recruit to Eldership!

 

[Reformed]

Is earnest desiring though one of the spiritual qualifications Paul listed? Based upon your list, would seem as being an almost poster boy recruit to Eldership!

"Bob" was all that and a bag of chips. He just did not want to serve as an elder. Too much of a time investment. He was in a perfect place in his life to accept the call. He had no distractions or schedule conflicts. He just did not want to do it. His reasons for not wanting to be an elder were not noble. He readily admits that the office would cut into his personal time and that was something he did not want to give up. Since he did not aspire to the office, he was not qualified. Should he have aspired to the office? That is a different question.

 

[Salty]

If "Bob" was truly called by God, he would be willing (Psalm 110:3). His reluctance is a manifestation that however qualified he may seem to be, God hasn't called him.

Jonah was truly called by God - Hmmm- wonder how that turned out.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Jonah was truly called by God - Hmmm- wonder how that turned out.

Well I suppose that is the other side of the coin.
If God wants Bob to serve, then he'll serve; just like Jonah did.
But it is God who will have to make Bob willing.. The church leadership pressurizing the guy won't help.

 

[Yeshua1]

"Bob" was all that and a bag of chips. He just did not want to serve as an elder. Too much of a time investment. He was in a perfect place in his life to accept the call. He had no distractions or schedule conflicts. He just did not want to do it. His reasons for not wanting to be an elder were not noble. He readily admits that the office would cut into his personal time and that was something he did not want to give up. Since he did not aspire to the office, he was not qualified. Should he have aspired to the office? That is a different question.

he was qualified to be used in that capacity , but he took himself out of the running it seems!

 

[TCassidy]

he was qualified to be used in that capacity

How do you know that? The pastors/elders/deacons may have thought he was qualified, but maybe there was something in his past they were not aware of which he considered a disqualification so he declined to serve in a capacity he believed he was disqualified from.

 

[Yeshua1]

How do you know that? The pastors/elders/deacons may have thought he was qualified, but maybe there was something in his past they were not aware of which he considered a disqualification so he declined to serve in a capacity he believed he was disqualified from.

I was just using the material listed and given to us, as it appears that he met the qualifications, except for not desiring to act as a mature believer and accept the calling of the Lord as an Elder.

 

[TCassidy]

it appears that he met the qualifications

Appearances can be deceiving.

except for not desiring to act as a mature believer

So, recognizing he is not qualified for the position makes him an immature believer?

accept the calling of the Lord as an Elder.

Where does it say anything about the calling of the Lord? It says the leadership called him. I really wish you would pay attention to what is being discussed.

 

[Yeshua1]

Appearances can be deceiving.

So, recognizing he is not qualified for the position makes him an immature believer?

Where does it say anything about the calling of the Lord? It says the leadership called him. I really wish you would pay attention to what is being discussed.

My understanding is that the person knew what the Lord was offering him to do, but he was swlfish and refused to allow God to use Him as an Elder, as thta would cut into his free time.
And are not Elders in a sense called of the Lord, as the church confirms that evidence?

 

[Deacon]

"Bob" was all that and a bag of chips. He just did not want to serve as an elder. Too much of a time investment. He was in a perfect place in his life to accept the call. He had no distractions or schedule conflicts. He just did not want to do it. His reasons for not wanting to be an elder were not noble. He readily admits that the office would cut into his personal time and that was something he did not want to give up. Since he did not aspire to the office, he was not qualified. Should he have aspired to the office? That is a different question.

So here is another approach.
One of the tasks of a church is to train up leadership.
Equip the member to serve Christ and each other.
The training process in the church I attend includes having members serve in various leadership tasks.
Among other tasks, Elders (and others) lead family prayer each week for a month and lead communion monthly.

Include Bob in the line up,

• Train him to be an elder by including him in various roles.
• Seek out his advice utilizing the expertise in areas that are uniquely his own if applicable.
• Step by step lead him into eldership.

Instead of taking one big step toward eldership, have him take many little ones.

Rob

 

[TCassidy]

My understanding is that the person knew what the Lord was offering him to do, but he was swlfish and refused to allow God to use Him as an Elder, as thta would cut into his free time.

And where did you get that "understanding?" The OP says noting about the Lord offering him the leadership position. It was the elders doing so. And where does it say his refusing (for his own reasons) was an act of selfishness?

And are not Elders in a sense called of the Lord, as the church confirms that evidence?

Elders are not God. They don't give new revelation. And the only one who can know God's calling is the one He is calling. You can't know my calling. I can't know your calling. The elders can't know the man's calling. Only the man can know that.

 

[Yeshua1]

And where did you get that "understanding?" The OP says noting about the Lord offering him the leadership position. It was the elders doing so. And where does it say his refusing (for his own reasons) was an act of selfishness?

Elders are not God. They don't give new revelation. And the only one who can know God's calling is the one He is calling. You can't know my calling. I can't know your calling. The elders can't know the man's calling. Only the man can know that.

Being ordained is when the church accepts/confirms that the person has the call of God upon Him as the pastor, correct?