>> Leadership Requirements
Resource: 1 Timothy 3. With notes from Maxwell Leadership Bible (NKJV) and Agathos Notes added.
1. Blameless (v.2) - Question: Am I quick to improve those areas that can damage my integrity?
Agathos Note: If the World has a legitimate claim against me (personal life, business practices, public behavior at odds with Agathos principles), then I am not qualified for leadership. The legitimacy of a claim should be explored if there is a dispute over whether a claim is legitimate. If my character has grown such that my behavior has changed, then I may be qualified in six months for changes in culturally normal misbehavior, or two years for unethical or immoral behavior not accepted in society. The reason for the general distinction is that culture does drive behavior, and violations normal for a culture should be considered normal - though still sinful - and those that even culture itself does not drive show a greater willingness to step outside not just Biblical standards, but even cultural standards, to do what is wrong. Where between six months and two years, or at the extremes, a leader falls is largely a judgment call by leadership.
2. Husband of One Wife (v.2) - Question: Am I loving my wife as Christ loved the church?
Agathos Note: Women were ordained as deaconesses at least into the 500s AD. Following this, we modify: Am I being the spouse that God calls me to be? (Regardless of whether my spouse responds by being the spouse God calls her/him to be?). If someone is divorced, then following the Blameless principle, a divorced spouse may be disqualified for leadership positions for six months to two years, depending upon the means by which the divorce was obtained. If Agathos principles were followed, likely six months. If not, then two years or more. If there has not been repentance for the divorce, an apology to children (and ex-spouse where appropriate), then the time count does not begin.
3. Temperate, Sober-Minded, of Good Behavior (v.2). - Question: Am I a master of myself, that I may be a servant to many?
Agathos Note: Do I exercise Will Power over my Mind, Emotions, Actions, Senses and Body? Do I subject my Will to my Spirit (Will to Others, Others to Principles, Principles to Religion) and God (Religion to God)?
4. Hospitable (v.2). Question: Do I exhibit a warm and welcoming spirit?
Agathos Note: Do I encourage others? Can I have a conversation with just about anyone? If I have a difference of opinion with others, do I seek to understand first? Can I express the position of those who disagree with me to the satisfaction of the people who disagree with me?
5. Able to Teach (v 2). Question: Do I consistently help others learn and become better disciples?
Agathos Note: Can I explain things simply, logically, and profoundly? Do I gain mastery of practical aspects of what I know? Am I respectful of differences of opinion? Am I willing to answer questions without judging the person asking? Am I wiling to answer “I do not know” and seek the answer for the person with the question?
6. Not Given to Wine (v.3). Question: Am I sober, watchful and diligent so that I do not damage those who watch me?
Agathos Note: Do I refrain from all drinking while underage, refrain from drunkeness at any age, from any chemical addiction or other addictions or habits that interfere with my responsibilities? Following the Blameless Principle, falling in these areas may result in a disqualification from leadership for six months to two years.
7. Not Violent, Not Quarrelsome (v.3). Question: Do I have an approachable disposition that brings peace and healing?
Agathos Note: The more capable I am of violence, the more important it is to have such a character that others are safer in my presence rather than in more danger. Not Violent means I use violence only when violence is necessary, and that I never have the desire to use violence (think Police Officers, Military Troops, and Martial Artists). I do not want to hurt people, even if I am prepared to do so in the line of duty or to protect my family, myself or others. Not Quarrelsome means I do not argue for the sake of arguing, nor disagree for the sake of contrariness, and that I always keep the issue the issue, and that when I disagree, I seek to understand first, I define ambiguous terms, and then I seek to be understood. It does not mean I must drop an issue just because of disagreement, but it does mean that if I am going to disagree, I do so agreeably, reasonably, and focused on clarity and, if possible, resolution. I also agree to disagree agreeably if we cannot resolve the issue, understanding that many things are a matter of temperament, perspective, and accept that the reasoning of others may lead to different conclusions. It also means I concede valid points, accept valid interpretations, and do not withdraw just because I seem to be “losing” - understanding that one “wins” by being right at the end, even if that means I find that I was wrong at the beginning. Relationships almost always trump issues, so we must understand first, define terms, then seek to be understood, and we must avoid judgment and avoid condemnation.
8. Not Greedy, Not Covetous (v.3). Question: Do I allow my leadership to be controlled by the rich?
Agathos Note: Do I compromise our Core Principles, Critical Beliefs, Key Beliefs or Positions for the sake of numbers, tithes and offerings, prestige, or popularity? Do I allow the rich, powerful, or someone who can otherwise benefit me to influence the way in which I lead? Do I seek to gain without producing and providing an equivalent value first? Do I seek to have just because others have? Am I willing to take, obtain or receive things I should not have, cannot properly manage in my life, or for which I am undeserving? Am I worthy of what I want?
9. Rules His Own House Well (v.4-5). Question: Do I manage my own family before I try to manage the church?
Agathos Note: Do I do my roles in home well? If married with children: Am I spouse before parent and a parent before minister? Whether or not my spouse or family respond to me, do I continue to do the right things for the right reasons as part of my service to and praise for my God? Do I know my basic home responsibilities and fulfill them to the best of my ability? Do I govern my home and my family by the same principles? Do I model a relationship with God and Godly character to my family? Do I live by the Principles I expect my family to follow? If I lead in ministry by the same principles I use at home, would that produce a healthy ministry with maturing disciples?
10. Not a Novice (v.6). Question: Am I a seasoned, solid example for both insiders and outsiders?
Agathos Note: Spiritual Maturity requires time, but time by itself is not enough. Understanding novice Christianity as likened to a White Belt, one moves forward by a combination of time and regular, consistent, purposeful activity that produces maturity. At a minimum, leadership should be seasoned in part by
1. reading the Bible all the way through cover to cover at least once (the Holy Spirit cannot “bring to your remembrance” Scripture you have never once read),
2. be reading the Bible regularly (5-7 days a week),
3. be praying regularly (5-7 days a week),
4. having been discipled,
5. by listening/watching to personal/spiritual growth material,
6. by reading personal/spiritual growth material, and
7. by walking in cooperation with a vision/purpose consistent with Agathos.
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
comments by Pastor Scot Conway
I don’t think anyone has a problem with women in leadership in general. Generally, all people accept the idea of women leading in women’s ministry and in children’s ministry. When women are leading mixed groups and, in particular, leading men, issues often develop, and, certainly, some disagree with the idea of women as pastors, and many disagree with the idea of women as Senior Pastor.
There is some evidence that women were appointed to the position of deaconess (a position normally at the “ordination” level) for at least the first five hundred or six hundred years of Christianity, and that even some of the women in the New Testament acted in the role of Prophetess (which would be considered a very high office), and as teachers and leaders, even over men. I interpret the “women shall not usurp authority over a man” as “wife” and “husband” and note the “usurp” - in that it is not a wife’s role to take it from her husband. Thus, I believe, that if we are reasonably convinced that God has called a woman to leadership in an ordained position, then we will be open to the possibility that God has, indeed, made such a call.
Since there is some indication that God wishes men to be the primary leaders, the standards for female leadership will be equal to a man’s, but, perhaps, be met with more scrutiny since women as leaders creates additional complications since a married woman is to be submitted to her husband at home. Also, a husband is to be the spiritual leader in the home, which causes additional complications. If a woman were a Senior Pastor, as an example, it would seem that her husband must be such a man that he could lead a woman who can lead hundreds, even a thousand, and be a spiritual leader to a Senior Pastor. If he were a Bishop, it may be possible, but what if that is not the case? On the other hand, leading from a place of submission to authority might be easier for a woman, a wife in particular, by her understanding of leading her children from a place of submission to a husband.
Admittedly, I would be more skeptical of a woman who felt called to be a Senior Pastor, but I remain open to the possibility that God would call a woman to that role. In fact, I could see it in a place dominated by feminist thought, since an Agathos Woman would still teach Royal Knighthood, masculine virtue, and masculine leadership - and in areas in which a man making such proclamations may come under constant fire for such things - God may place a woman in that position so that the women will receive the message of masculine strength. I think men could follow a woman who respected and lifted up masculinity just as male knights and soldiers followed Joan of Arc. If a woman were teaching on male sexuality, for instance, I think women could receive it more easily, and men would feel more free to admit to it.
We shall see if it appears God is going to appoint a woman to such a position. While I think we should remain open, I also think that women should be understanding of the additional complications and the need for greater certainty of the call, thus, the need for greater confirmation by the Holy Spirit and solid evidence that her husband, provided she is married, is her spiritual leader and the leader at home. If she is single, then I think this complicates things even more, and I would seek an even higher level of confirmation, which, I would expect, a single women would be understanding of the need for this level of careful consideration - since if she is such a spiritual leader and such a leader in general, it may be difficult for her to ever find a husband who could lead her. On the other hand, I am also a big believer in unleashing the potential of women in general, and husbands just need to step up their game to lead women with unleashed potential.
