Does divorce disqualify a man from being an elder?<\/a> If an elder commits adultery, does this disqualify him? It appears, after considering the tenor of the whole of Scripture, that he needs to resign. His opinion is meaningless now. Based on the issue in total, he needs to be removed, as well.<\/p>\nAny assistance is appreciated.<\/p>\n
Thank you,<\/p>\n\t
Answer:<\/h2>\n
Adultery is no different than any other sin. If an elder is guilty of continually lying, drunkenness, or sexual sins, then he cannot serve as an example to the church (Hebrews 13:7). Nor can anyone who remains in sin remain as a member of the church (I Corinthians 6:9-10). Thus, a man cannot serve as an elder in a church to which he is no longer a member.<\/p>\n
However, elders are people. Like every Christian, they will stumble at times into sin (I John 1:8,10). Hopefully, elders will fall into sin less often because of their experience, but it is unreasonable to expect any elder to never sin. Like every other Christian, if they turn from their sins they can be forgiven (II Corinthians 7:10-11). When sin is forgiven it is left in the past. A forgiven sin does not make a man disqualified to serve as an elder.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Hi brother, Regarding the article Does divorce disqualify a man from being an elder? If an elder commits adultery, does this disqualify him? It appears, after considering the tenor of the whole of Scripture, that he needs to resign. His opinion is meaningless now. Based on the issue in total, he needs to be…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[66,123],"class_list":["post-21069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-adultery","tag-elders"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15678,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-divorce-disqualify-a-man-from-being-an-elder\/","url_meta":{"origin":21069,"position":0},"title":"Does divorce disqualify a man from being an elder?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 5, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Does divorce disqualify a man from being an elder? Is adultery covenant-breaking? Answer: Adultery does break the covenant or \"law\" between a man and a woman. \"Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31598,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-should-an-elder-do-if-no-other-elders-left-in-the-congregation\/","url_meta":{"origin":21069,"position":1},"title":"What should an elder do if no other elders left in the congregation?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 3, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: If you have three elders in the church and two elders resigned, what is the function of the elder who is left? He still has a continuing desire to shepherd the flock and the rest of the congregation has no grievance with him. Answer: A man can preach without\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19244,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-happens-when-one-of-a-congregations-two-elders-moves\/","url_meta":{"origin":21069,"position":2},"title":"What happens when one of a congregation’s two elders moves?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: When one elder relocates to another district and there is no one to replace him, who leads the church? Is it the remaining one elder? Please explain to me with clear scripture references because we have this problem at our congregation. Answer: A congregation with only one man qualified\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":56051,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-elder-businessman-model\/","url_meta":{"origin":21069,"position":3},"title":"The Elder-Businessman Model","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 22, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jefferson David Tant via\u00a0Biblical Insights, Vol. 11, No. 6, June 2011 We know the Bible is clear about appointing elders to shepherd the flock (Acts 14:23). We know Paul left Titus in Crete with the charge to \"appoint elders in every city\" (Titus 1:7). 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And if for some reason a preacher sins, such as adultery, they would\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41588,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-an-elder-an-elder-for-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":21069,"position":5},"title":"Is an elder an elder for life?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: A brother in our area is claiming to be \"an elder for life\" even though he has moved from one congregation to another and has not\u00a0been a serving elder in either. 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