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Early Church Bishops Day 86
Those who are successful in the management of their own household are considered suitable to be a bishop (also called an elder or overseer) or a deacon over a household church or group of them. Paul says that overseers have the care of all the churches. He writes to Timothy, "Now the overseer (bishop) must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled.... He must manage his own family well, and see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?"1 In some Bible versions "family" is substituted for "household."
The qualification for a bishop as, "the husband of one wife," loosely translated as "married only once," seem to be more a warning against immorality and bigamy than against a female bishop or elder. Paul lists the moral and leadership characteristics required of a leader but does not specifically rule out female leaders. He writes similarly of deacons, "A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, and must manage his children and his households well."2
11 Timothy 3.2-5. 21 Timothy 3.12.
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