After many struggles years ago to have a serious and sustained conversation about the qualifications for elders, I decided there was a better approach to finding qualified people to serve.

I now  encourage everyone to focus first on the function of an elder rather than the qualifications. I am very committed to the qualifications, but have found it much more fruitful to get everyone to agree that the three main things elders are and do encompass a life of prayer, commitment to the Word of God, and proving to be examples to the flock (see Acts 6:4; I Pet. 5:1-3).

These three bring much more clarity as to who is truly qualified!