Requirements for a church leader

[Ross]

What biblical requirements exist for a leader, pastor, teacher, priest, overseer, or whatever you wish to name them in a Christian congregation, church, gathering or community?

[1213]

What biblical requirements exist for a leader, pastor, teacher, priest, overseer, or whatever you wish to name them in a Christian congregation, church, gathering or community?

Faithful is the Word: If anyone reaches out to overseership, he desires a good work. Then it behooves the overseer to be blameless, husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, well-ordered, hospitable, apt at teaching; not a drinker, not a contentious one, not greedy of ill gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not loving money; ruling his own house well, having children in subjection with all respect. But if anyone does not know to rule his own house, how will he care for a church of God? He should not be a novice, lest being puffed up he may fall into the Devil's judgment. But he must also have a good witness from those outside, that he not fall into reproach and into a snare of the Devil. Likewise, deacons to be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy of ill gain,
1 Tim. 3:1-8

For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments, and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi, Rabbi' by men. But don't you be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matt. 23:4-12

[Ross]

What biblical requirements exist for a leader, pastor, teacher, priest, overseer, or whatever you wish to name them in a Christian congregation, church, gathering or community?

Faithful is the Word: If anyone reaches out to overseership, he desires a good work. Then it behooves the overseer to be blameless, husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, well-ordered, hospitable, apt at teaching; not a drinker, not a contentious one, not greedy of ill gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not loving money; ruling his own house well, having children in subjection with all respect. But if anyone does not know to rule his own house, how will he care for a church of God? He should not be a novice, lest being puffed up he may fall into the Devil's judgment. But he must also have a good witness from those outside, that he not fall into reproach and into a snare of the Devil. Likewise, deacons to be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy of ill gain,
1 Tim. 3:1-8

For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments, and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi, Rabbi' by men. But don't you be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matt. 23:4-12

Thank you for your answer. While most of the above would be obvious requirements; I am particularly interested in:

"husband of one wife.... having children in subjection with all respect."

Would this necessitate a married male who has children?

[1213]

...
"husband of one wife.... having children in subjection with all respect."

Would this necessitate a married male who has children?

I don't think it is absolutely necessary for a priest to be a married man, but I think it indicates that the idea that priests are not allowed to have wife is wrong.

[Ross]

...
"husband of one wife.... having children in subjection with all respect."

Would this necessitate a married male who has children?

I don't think it is absolutely necessary for a priest to be a married man, but I think it indicates that the idea that priests are not allowed to have wife is wrong.

I think it indicates that the idea that priests are not allowed to have wife is wrong.

I would agree that the scripture substantiates that.

I don't think it is absolutely necessary for a priest to be a married man,

Can you or anyone else provide scriptural evidence that "a married male.. who has children" is not a Biblical requirement, in view of the clarity of the verses?

[bjs1]

...
"husband of one wife.... having children in subjection with all respect."

Would this necessitate a married male who has children?

I don't think it is absolutely necessary for a priest to be a married man, but I think it indicates that the idea that priests are not allowed to have wife is wrong.

I think it indicates that the idea that priests are not allowed to have wife is wrong.

I would agree that the scripture substantiates that.

I don't think it is absolutely necessary for a priest to be a married man,

Can you or anyone else provide scriptural evidence that "a married male.. who has children" is not a Biblical requirement, in view of the clarity of the verses?

Neither Jesus, our Lord, nor Paul, who wrote the passage, were married.

[1213]

Can you or anyone else provide scriptural evidence that "a married male.. who has children" is not a Biblical requirement, in view of the clarity of the verses?

For example Paul didn't have a wife.

[Ross]

Can you or anyone else provide scriptural evidence that "a married male.. who has children" is not a Biblical requirement, in view of the clarity of the verses?

For example Paul didn't have a wife.

Thanks to you and bjs1 for that, which would clear up that marriage and children were/are not a requirement.
What then about women? Can they scripturally be pastors or priests?

[Mae von H]

...
"husband of one wife.... having children in subjection with all respect."

Would this necessitate a married male who has children?

I don't think it is absolutely necessary for a priest to be a married man, but I think it indicates that the idea that priests are not allowed to have wife is wrong.

I think it indicates that the idea that priests are not allowed to have wife is wrong.

I would agree that the scripture substantiates that.

I don't think it is absolutely necessary for a priest to be a married man,

Can you or anyone else provide scriptural evidence that "a married male.. who has children" is not a Biblical requirement, in view of the clarity of the verses?

Paul wasn’t married. He certainly had God’s approval so it doesn’t get better than that.

[Mae von H]

What biblical requirements exist for a leader, pastor, teacher, priest, overseer, or whatever you wish to name them in a Christian congregation, church, gathering or community?

Faithful is the Word: If anyone reaches out to overseership, he desires a good work. Then it behooves the overseer to be blameless, husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, well-ordered, hospitable, apt at teaching; not a drinker, not a contentious one, not greedy of ill gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not loving money; ruling his own house well, having children in subjection with all respect. But if anyone does not know to rule his own house, how will he care for a church of God? He should not be a novice, lest being puffed up he may fall into the Devil's judgment. But he must also have a good witness from those outside, that he not fall into reproach and into a snare of the Devil. Likewise, deacons to be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy of ill gain,
1 Tim. 3:1-8

For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments, and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi, Rabbi' by men. But don't you be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matt. 23:4-12

Thank you for your answer. While most of the above would be obvious requirements; I am particularly interested in:

"husband of one wife.... having children in subjection with all respect."

Would this necessitate a married male who has children?

I find the requirement that his children, including teenagers, are not rebellious more compelling than whether he’s married. A number of our “elders” have children who are atheists. If they cannot communicate the faith to their children, who observe them living out the faith, why does the church think they’ll do better with others? Maybe they DON’T live it out at all….