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A male Jehovah's Witness who wishes to reach out for the responsibility of 'elder' in a congregation must try to meet all of the scriptural qualifications.

He should appear to his peers to be "irreprehensible, a husband of one wife, moderate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach, not a drunken brawler, not a smiter, but reasonable, not belligerent, not a lover of money, a man presiding over his own household in a fine manner, having children in subjection with all seriousness; (if indeed any man does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he take care of God's congregation?) not a newly converted man, for fear that he might get puffed up [with pride] and fall into the judgment passed upon the Devil. Moreover, he should also have a fine testimony from people on the outside, in order that he might not fall into reproach and a snare of the Devil. (1 Timothy 3:2-7)

Once an individual appears to meet these requirements, a recommendation can be made by the existing congregation elders to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses through the traveling overseer. The elders who make recommendations and those who do the appointing bear a serious responsibility before God. (1 Timothy 3:1-10, 12, 13; Titus 1:5-9) Hence, they offer prayer for the aid of God's spirit and seek guidance from his inspired Word. (Acts 6:2-4, 6; 14:23)

Once an elder is appointed by the Governing Body or it's representatives, the elder must take care to continue to qualify for the responsibility. If he fails to continue to measure up to his requirements his privileges can be taken away.

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14y ago

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