Bethlen Évkönyv, 1993-1996 (Ligonier)

Dr. Eva M. Fabian: Qualifications, conflicts, compensations

QUALIFICATIONS, CONFLICTS, COMPENSATIONS

Presentation at the Annual Conference of the American Hungarian Reformed Presbyters' Association Ligonier, September 5, 1993

Rev. Dr. Eva M. Fabian

QUALIFICATIONS

A young man wanted to become a surgeon. Unfortunately, the Great Depression blocked the fulfillment of his dreams and woke him up as a butcher. Since the kolbas workshop of his church needed a chairman, his profession qualified him to become an elder.

Scores of similar examples could be listed how our professions, possessions, social positions, special skills have been translated into qualifications for eldership. Unfortunately, no matter how needed and useful they may be, none of them are mentioned in the Bible.

When the Apostle Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders in the churches of Crete, he required these qualifications. “...someone who is blameless, married only once, whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery, and not rebellious. " (Titus 1:6.) From verse seven, however, we find the needed character traits of another principal office bearer of the church. “For a bishop, as God's steward, must be blameless, he must not be arrogant or quick tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled.'' (Titus 1:7-8.)

Do these two list mutually exclude elders from the qualifications listed for bishops and bishops from the requirements for eldership? Would arrogant, quick tempered, addictive, violent, and greedy persons fit to become elders? Would somebody qualify for the bishop’s office whose marriage and family life is less than exemplary?

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