Biblical Leadership Qualifications
Welcome from Claire and Robin, John, Brianne, and Hadley!
God calls churches to operate as equals under Christ, not hierarchies under men.
Jesus, our Lord and King, gave up His divine rights for a time, taking a servant mindset to show God’s character and sacrificial love (Philippians 2:5-8).
Members of a gathered church are called to teach each other how to follow Christ’s example, encourage each other, help each other do good things, and show what Christ’s love looks like.
“Let the message about Christ fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.” — Colossians 3:16
“And let us consider how to spur each other to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”— Hebrews 10:24
“For we are God’s poem (workmanship,) created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” — Ephesians 2:10
Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16
“Love one another, for love comes from God.” — 1 John 4:7
See more on the purpose of Church and local churches.
To help local church communities do these things, God intends that some members serve as overseers (elders) and helpers (deacons)( 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1).
These are service functions, not titles, careers, or power positions
Following the New Testament’s instructions for church administration, we have these functions and a plural leadership model.
Our leadership functions are voluntary (not salaried), service-minded, and accountable for keeping New Testament leadership requirements.
Biblical leadership criteria
The New Testament endorses only two leadership functions for Christ’s Church.
Elders (Acts 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1: 5-11, Philippians 1:1, 1 Peter 5:1-14).
Deacons (1 Timothy 3:8–13, Acts 6:1-15, Philippians 1:1 Romans 16:1).
Both are plurality functions.
The Biblical criteria for these functions are three (Titus 1:5-11, 1 Timothy 3:1-13):
Proven character of maturity, self-control, and overall Christlikeness instead of greed or lack of restraint.
Ability (and willingness) to teach the Bible accurately.
History of Good stewardship of anything in their care, treating people and things respectfully and as God’s instead of their own.
Elders and deacons are meant to help ensure that church essentials happen:
God and Jesus are honored.
Members are heard and appreciated.
Members have space to share their talents in the group: teaching, singing, counseling, administering, planning fellowship or service activities, etc.
Accurate teaching happens.
Fellowship, mutual encouragement, and meeting of needs are happening.
Leaders are serving Jesus and others, not themselves.
“All parts of the body working together smoothly, with each caring about the other.” — 1 Corinthians 12:25
Christlike character, the ability to teach truth, and a history of selfless caregiving (stewardship) are essential for ensuring that local churches do what Christ intends.
These essential criteria are sometimes ignored.
While serving as a pastor within the Southern Baptist Convention, I observed repeatedly that church committees hired “for pay” pastors and tended to do so for the wrong reasons.
During those 15 years, I had chances to meet pastoral church committees and sit in on their sessions. Not one asked any candidates for examples of Christlike character or ability to teach accurately. All of them asked how they would grow the church’s finances, size, or esteem.
This experience is part of what motivated me to build a back-to-BASICS Christ-followers community.
Robin Redick
BASICS follows the Bible’s leadership criteria.
Following New Testament guidelines, we have two servant-leader functions.
Both are voluntary (not for pay), plural, and designated by how they serve.
Pastoring elders (presbuteros, episkopos) serve as administrators, mentors, teachers, and planners.
Helpers (diakonos) serve as prayer leaders, worship leaders, care leaders, and planners.
Decisions are made by group prayer, Bible study, and consensus.
Why voluntary?
Asking our leaders to serve voluntarily (including our founders) helps to ensure that self-seeking “hired hand “professional types will not be interested in us.
“I (Jesus) am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. A hired hand is not the shepherd and feels no responsibility for the sheep. When a wolf (or any trouble) comes, he abandons the sheep and runs away… he flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” – John 10:12-13
The issue we are addressing is not that the Bible disallows elders to receive anything. It’s that what was meant to be modest (the disciples lived on very little) has become extravagant in too many churches.
“We labored and toiled, working night and day, so we would not be a burden to any of you. We had the right not to work, but we wanted to set an example for you to imitate. — 2 Thessalonians 3:8-9
It also keeps our focus correct.
History has proven (so many times) that when pastors are paid according to the size of their churches (and this happens when small groups of prideful, influencer members want big, fancy, exclusive churches and are willing to pay CEO salaries to have them), decision-making tends to prioritize finance above the spiritual health of most members.
“I, Robin, worked alongside multiple pastors (and committee leaders) who allowed this to happen. I will never forget one pastor saying, when giving was down, “I will do whatever is needed to cover the financial shortfall of my salary”.
Why plural leadership?
Maintaining plurality serves two purposes.
1. It’s what the Bible instructs. Every New Testament passage about Elders cites them as plural and equals.
Peter and Paul led the charge of establishing churches among Jews and Gentiles, but they never used titles or assumed “top leader” positions.
Peter addresses other elders as peers and in the plural.
“A word to you who are elders in the churches. I appeal as a fellow elder . . . shepherd (care for) the flock of God’s that is under your care” — 1 Peter 5:1-3
Paul's instruction to Titus in Titus 1:5 is to “appoint multiple elders in every church”. He never uses, in any of his writings, language that implies himself to be above anyone.
Other passages that clarify plural leadership include Acts 14:23; 15:2; 20:17, 28; Phil 1:1; 1 Thess 5:12; 1 Tim 31:7; Titus 1:5-9 and Heb 13:7, 17.
2. It helps to combat our human slant toward selfishness. Plurality and mutual accountability make it harder for any selfish person to come in, take control of things, and turn BASICS into just another unbiblical for-business church or social club.
“My own experience, alongside countless reports of immoral impropriety cover-ups “for the good of our church”, has shown that big salaries and unaccountable positions corrupt too easily for them to be part of church gatherings.”
What about “Senior Pastor?”
For two important reasons, BASIC has no “Senior Pastor”, “Lead Pastor, or any one leader with authority over everyone else.
First, Jesus called Himself the only lead shepherd.
“The scribes and the Pharisees put themselves in the chair of Moses… They put heavy burdens on others but don’t lift a finger. They do all their deeds for show…They love the places of honor and the chief seats…
…But do not be called Rabbi/Pastor; for One is your Teacher/Master, and you are all brothers and sisters… Do not call yourself leader; for One is your Leader, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” – Matthew 23:1-11
Second, “Senior Pastor” is never used in the New Testament.
No passage in the New Testament calls for a Senior Pastor, Lead Pastor, or any CEO-type leader.
Peter, often viewed as the leader of the Jerusalem church, cited himself as an equal to all other elders. He encouraged them to serve others, not themselves.
“A word you who are elders in the churches. I appeal as a fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ…I appeal to you. Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lead by lording over people but by your good example.” – 1 Peter 5:1-4
During an encounter with a man who could not walk, the man begged Peter for money. Peter replied with this:
“I do not have silver or gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” – Acts 3:4-6
Peter did not serve Jesus for money, comfort, or fame. He never used the titles of bishop or pastor. Neither did Paul nor did any of the disciples.
Only one New Testament passage mentions any person assuming top leadership of a church body. It was written as a warning against being deceived by or following bad influence.
“This is John, the elder (and disciple)… I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first (philoprōteuōn, to have preeminence), does not accept what we say. When I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, unjustly accusing us with malicious words; and not satisfied with this, he even refuses to welcome the brothers (the traveling disciples). When people do help them, he puts them out of the church. Beloved, don’t imitate this evil example. Follow only what is good.” – John 1:1, 9-11
The use of “pastor” as an office was invented by Irenaeus, a Greek bishop of the second century.
It is a misuse of the word poimein (shepherd), used to reference Jesus, the “Good Shepherd (John 10:11).
In Ephesians 4:l1, shepherding is listed as an action, not a title. Pastoring (caregiving) and teaching (educating) are two prescribed actions of elders.
People who use “Pastor” as a job title for pursuing wealth, power, esteem, or comfort (any or all of these) are putting themselves in Jesus’s place and in Moses’ seat. They are doing wrong, whether purposefully or simply misguided.
At BASICS, our servant elders and helpers work together to carry out the purposes of local churches.
If you are looking for a back-to-basics approach to growing with Jesus, let’s connect!