This overview is drawn from the Constitution and Bylaws of Northside Baptist Church, Inc., of Valdosta, Georgia (hereafter “NBC”), as it pertains to the Management Team (hereafter “MT”). It is not intended, however, to replace the specific language of the Constitution approved by the Church.
It is impossible for vocational ministers to do all the work of mentoring, recruiting, providing pastoral care, and governing the church, and so they must delegate some of their responsibilities to vital lay leadership groups. With this in mind, the members of the MT are to extend the function of bishops/overseers by exercising oversight in the management and governance of the church. Strictly speaking, the biblical qualifications for the bishop/overseer found in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 apply to the elder/presbyter, pastor/shepherd, and bishop/overseer, but since the members of the MT are to serve “the body of Christ” as lay extensions of this church leader. these characteristics (shown below in the New King James translation) need to be present in their lives as well.
I Tim. 3:1-7
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Titus 1:5-9
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you–if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
As we look at these two passages, we see that the following Scriptural standards should be exemplified in the lives of those who are on the MT:
1. “Blameless” (Timothy); “blameless as a steward of God” (Titus)
A MT member must not be vulnerable to attack on the grounds of moral or doctrinal issues. Members of the Church and community should be able to point to a MT member as an example of one who fulfills the duties of a Christian and supports the mission and vision of his/her Church.
2. “Husband of one wife” (Timothy & Titus)
When our Church adopted a new Constitution and Bylaws (June 26, 2011), it was decided that the primary ones to take the initiative in managing, governing, leading, and directing the affairs of our Church would be the members of our MT. As such, these members would fulfill the lay duties of the overseer/bishop whose qualifications are listed in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. During the time of transition to this new structure, the members of the Finance Committee, Personnel Committee, and Trustees were the initial ones who comprised our MT. Since there is neither male or female in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28), and because there are examples of women serving in managing, governing, and directing roles in both the Old and New Testaments, and since it has always been the practice of NBC to have men and women serving on these entities as listed above, the Church chose to continue this practice with the members of the MT. It is within this context that we interpret the thrust of this biblical requirement as being concerned primarily with the fact that a member of the MT should be faithful, loving, and loyal to his/her spouse. As such, he/she should also be a model of sexual purity with his/her spouse.
3. “Temperate” (Timothy)
A temperate person is one who keeps careful watch on his/her conduct, guarding against sin in any form. For this reason, a MT member must be aware of his/her strengths and weaknesses. This balanced, or tempered, view of himself/herself makes him/her more qualified to take a rational, composed view of the affairs of the Church.
4. “Sober-minded” (Timothy & Titus)
Building on a temperate view of themselves and the affairs of the Church, a sober-minded person will have a solid understanding of the issues when participating in decision-making. They will be persons of learning, seeking to gain knowledge and understanding, so that they will not make hasty judgments. This attitude of learning will lead them to ask probing questions and make dispassionate decisions, further enhancing their effectiveness in office.
5. “Of good behavior” (Timothy)
Just as he/she is to be blameless, a MT member should communicate order, decency, and correctness in his/her appearance, conduct, and speech. A person of sober mind (internal behavior) will also be a person of sober conduct (external behavior).
6. “Hospitable” (Timothy & Titus)
A hospitable MT member is, literally, a “lover of strangers,” ready to receive others into his/her home, and give aid to those who need it.
7. “Able to teach” (Timothy)/“holding fast the faithful word” (Titus)/“able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (Titus)
A member of the MT should not only be wise, but should also be ready and able to communicate such wisdom to others through responsible instruction. The ability to teach, however, is not enough. Because all effective leaders are learners, a MT member must first of all be a learner himself/herself, so that he/she is able to teach from the overflow of his/her own studies, and those studies must be founded on the Bible (i.e., “the faithful word” and “sound doctrine”). The wisdom of a MT member allows him/her to be completely transparent before others, including his/her fellow team members. Thus he/she has no hidden agenda behind his/her comments or questions, which frees the entire team to participate in Spirit-led decision making.
8. “Not given to wine” (Timothy & Titus)
When this phrase is considered in light of the more complete revelation of God as recorded in all of Scripture, the interpretation which the MT subscribes to is as follows: Especially in their role as spiritual mentors, it is our belief that the Lord intends for MT members to abstain from a beverage which has the ability to intoxicate.
9. “Not violent” (Timothy & Titus)/“Not quarrelsome” (Timothy)
MT members are to be peaceable, and not those whose personality traits lead them to be quarrelsome, disruptive, or divisive. They are physically and emotionally able to control their reaction to other people or ideas, enabling them to employ good conflict resolution skills. In church governance, disputes will occasionally arise, and a MT member must be ready to deal with those situations gently but directly. Once again, we see “temperance” and “sobermindedness” dictating outward behavior, ensuring that all things by the MT are done in good order.
10. “Not greedy for money” (Timothy & Titus)/“As a steward of God” (Titus)/“Not covetous” (Timothy)
MT members must not be covetous or greedy in the manner in which they earn, spend, and save their money, in the management of church funds, or in bringing their tithes and offerings to their local Church.
11. “Gentle” (Timothy)
MT members are to display a kind demeanor. They are to be patient and willing to learn from others, not presuming that they have the answer to all questions or situations. They are meek in their dependence on the wisdom of God, and open to all sources of godly insight.
12. “One who rules their own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence” (Timothy)/“having faithful children” (Titus)
MT members should manage their home and exercise control over their children to the best of their ability. As a spiritual leader of the Church, and because they are a key role model to other Church members, a MT member must fulfill this requirement in his/her private life.
13. “Not a novice” (Timothy)
MT members should not be a new convert, but tested and proven to be a mature, growing Christian. The Greek word literally means, “one newly planted.” Just as a new plant may have difficulty standing up to a storm, a new Christian may lack the life experience that enables him/her to persevere in difficult situations. Leadership is often a key ability exhibited by those who are “not novices,” and qualified MT members are no exceptions. As a tested, growing Christian, a MT member will be able to provide leadership as he/she draws on his/her biblical maturity as well as the discernment and wisdom God provides.
14. “A good testimony among those who are outside” (Timothy)
The standing of a MT member in the non-Christian community (“those outside”) should be beyond reproach, even by those whose moral values may fall far short of the biblical ideal. The misguided view of non-Christians that the church is a place of hypocrisy must never be based on the conduct of a MT member.
15. “Not self-willed” (Titus)
A self-willed MT member would be determined to have his/her own way in every matter, which would lead to disruption and divisiveness. Just as a temperate person is aware of his/her strengths and weaknesses, a MT member must not set his/her own judgment as superior to all others. He/she will instead take a balanced approach to decision-making and avoid always taking the lead in discussions or debates. This flexible approach to decision-making means a MT member also has the ability to reconsider decisions in light of new facts or evidence that might suggest a different course of action. A self-willed MT member might find it difficult to yield to new styles or methods when those are in conflict with his/her personal preferences.
16. “Not quick tempered” (Titus)
When disagreements occur, the MT members must exercise self-control. The Bible does not prohibit anger, but it does prohibit the inappropriate expression of anger. A MT member must be a model in this regard, both in public exchanges and in private meetings.
17. “A lover of what is good” (Titus)
Love seeks what is best for another, whether it be an individual or the Church as a whole. In fulfilling his/her responsibility, a MT member will seek to embrace the best, for the good of the Church. This requires a MT member to maintain a broad perspective of the overall needs of the Church by seeking the best course of action when many good options exist. This also means that an individual MT member may have to defer to the collective wisdom of the entire MT when unanimity does not occur on a particular issue.
18. “Just” (Titus)
A just MT member will exhibit integrity in dealings with all people. He/she will seek justice in each situation, desiring the best for the Church as a whole.
19. “Holy” (Titus)
God calls Christians “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (I Peter 2:9). As such, we are sanctified, or set apart, for service to God, and MT members function as a model in this regard. Such holiness is evident in the choices a MT member makes in his/her use of time, participation in worship services and evangelistic efforts, as well as other actions that encourage believers to seek God’s will and obey.
20. “Self-controlled” (Titus)
In all things, MT members are to maintain a God-honoring personal discipline in public and private, being careful to consider their motives before offering their thought or choosing a particular course of action. They keep a tight rein on their emotions and their tongues, so as not to exacerbate problems or inflame emotionally-charged situations. This frees them to focus on what the Holy Spirit is seeking to communicate in a given situation. It also allows them to act as a model for other Church members.
Beyond these biblical requirements, the members of the MT of NBC believe that our Lord Jesus Christ, and every member of this Church, may expect each member of the MT to serve as a model in the following areas by: