Do the wives of the elders have any authority over the other women of the congregation?<\/p>\n
Are there qualifications for the wife of an elder?<\/p>\n
How should it be handled when the wife of an elder repeats hurtful information about a member of the church she learns from her husband to others?<\/p>\n
Thank you.<\/p>\n\t
An elder is a position in the church (Ephesians 4:11). The wife of an elder is not. She is an older woman and should be respected for her wisdom (Titus 2:3-5), but this doesn’t translate into authority over members of the church.<\/p>\n
As a part of the qualifications of elders and deacons is an examination of the qualities displayed by their wives. “Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things<\/em>” (I Timothy 3:11). These are not qualifications for a woman to be an elder’s wife. These are a part of a man’s qualification to be an elder. If his wife is not dignified, is a malicious gossip, is not temperate, or is not faithful, then the man is not qualified to be an elder. It is similar to the qualifications that list the characteristics of an elder’s children. “… if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion<\/em>” (Titus 1:6). If a man cannot encourage his own children to behave well and become a Christian, he isn’t going to do well encouraging other people. The same applies to his leadership within his family and his interactions with his wife.<\/p>\n Preachers are told: “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning<\/em>” (I Timothy 5:19-20). Therefore, gather your evidence. If multiple people have experienced this, encourage them to approach the elders as well. The goal should be to solve the problem, not to get revenge on the gossip. However, if the problem cannot be resolved, then it is the preacher’s duty to bring a public rebuke of the elder and his wife.<\/p>\n\t Thanks for the info.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: Do the wives of the elders have any authority over the other women of the congregation? Are there qualifications for the wife of an elder? How should it be handled when the wife of an elder repeats hurtful information about a member of the church she learns from her husband to others? Thank you.…<\/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,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[123,1573],"class_list":["post-91021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-elders","tag-gossip"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":51404,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-i-timothy-311-refer-to-both-elders-and-deacons-wives\/","url_meta":{"origin":91021,"position":0},"title":"Does I Timothy 3:11 refer to both elders and deacons’ wives?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In I Timothy 3:11, where it says \"Likewise their wives,\" do you think the word \"their\" means both elder and deacons wives? Or is this word a specific reference to deacons' wives? I ask this because in context this verse falls under the qualification of a deacon. Answer: Actually,\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":2007,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-happens-if-an-elders-wife-dies\/","url_meta":{"origin":91021,"position":1},"title":"What happens if an elder’s wife dies?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 26, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: If a man is qualified to serve as an elder but his wife dies before he is installed, can he still become an elder? If an elder's wife dies may he continue to serve? Answer: In looking for qualified men to be elders, we put so much emphasis on\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":8595,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-woman-be-a-pastor\/","url_meta":{"origin":91021,"position":2},"title":"Can a woman be a pastor?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 13, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Can a woman be ordained as a Christian pastor? Answer: The word \"pastor\" is used very loosely in the denominations. Generally, in a denomination a pastor is a preacher. Women are not able to be preachers since God through Paul stated, \"And I do not permit a woman to\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":32774,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-should-be-done-about-a-preacher-whose-wife-no-longer-attends\/","url_meta":{"origin":91021,"position":3},"title":"What should be done about a preacher whose wife no longer attends?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 5, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: We have a minister whose wife no longer attends church services. We have no elders. What should we do, or what should he do? (I Timothy 3:5). Answer: A preacher is not the same duty as an elder, nor does a preacher have the same requirements on him as\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":92122,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-never-met-an-elder-before\/","url_meta":{"origin":91021,"position":4},"title":"I Never Met an Elder Before","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. Belinda, a fine young Christian from Mexico, spent six weeks of last summer with my daughter's family. Her enthusiasm, devoutness, and general spirituality were an inspiration to us all. What a delight to see one so young and so interested in so many things, yet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1501,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-meant-by-an-elder-being-the-husband-of-one-wife\/","url_meta":{"origin":91021,"position":5},"title":"What is meant by an elder being the husband of one wife?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 19, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What does the statement husband of one wife mean in regards to an elder? Answer: \"The husband of one wife\" (I Timothy 3:2;\u00a0Titus 1:6). Only a married man may be an elder. Single men are eliminated as well as men who practice bigamy. 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