"Please, oh please, find candidates who are wise."

Read this on Christianity Today and I think these are pretty good guidelines.


'At Elmbrook Church, our council selects new elders when a position is vacated. For years, I have advised the council with one plea. "Please, oh please, find candidates who are wise." Passion and vision are important traits, but wisdom points vision in the right direction and keeps passion pushing in the proper places.'

'Wisdom gives leaders the authority to lead because it gives followers a reason to trust.'

'A wise leader, therefore, will reflect a generosity of spirit, a love for mercy, and the ability to forgive.'

'We need leaders who are consistent, stable, and whose personal lives are congruent with their public personas. There needs to be integrity or wholeness to who they are, what they think, and how they act.'

'Wise people know how to remain true to their convictions while desiring to understand divergent points of view. They are willing to adapt their thinking because they realize their own fallibility.

Wisdom dictates that we do not selfishly promote our preferences, but distinguish between issues of style and substance. Wisdom prevents us from feeling threatened by new ideas. When we are wise, we can freely admit how often we succumb to foolishness.'

'You might say, "I don't know if I know anybody in my church who would meet all these criteria." You're not alone. Any wisdom that we do find in ourselves or in other leaders is a work in progress.

Nonetheless, we should never assign leadership roles to people who would be described by Proverbs as "fools." If a person is imprudent, self-absorbed, unmerciful, or given to partiality, he or she should not be assigned a leadership role.

It doesn't matter if that person is the only one willing to chair the committee or if that person has the most passion and zeal. If he or she shows a void of wisdom, then someone else should be assigned.'


Oh Lord, I pray that the leaders will desire to lead, with Your wisdom.