When the apostle Paul wrote to Titus he told him that he had left him in Crete, directing him to set in order what remained and appoint elders in every city, Titus 1:5.

Immediately following this, the apostle wrote that men who would qualify must be among other things, the husband of one wife and have believing children. He must also be above reproach, or blameless, a lover of good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled and proficient in handling the word of God. There were also qualifiers regarding things an elder must not be; rebellious, quick-tempered, addicted to wine, likely to quarrel, or greedy. Candidates were to be found whose lives were characterized by these standards.

We might get the idea from a cursory reading of the letter that Titus, newly armed with this commission and instructions, would now go from congregation to congregation simply pointing out some men on his own, saying, “You, you, you and you are now going to be elders”, but I really doubt that is how it would have worked.

How long Titus had been in Crete is difficult if not impossible to determine. It does not seem likely to me, however, that he would have been there long enough to have become so thoroughly familiar with the members of each congregation on the island that he would have been able on his own to hand-pick the most qualified men for the job.

I believe that individual congregations themselves would have known best, who among them was fit under the given qualifications, to serve. Furthermore, they would certainly have been the ones who would know which of the men among them they would want to have “watching over their souls”, as Hebrews 13:17 puts it.

There was somewhat of a pattern given in Acts 6:1-6 for the selection of men to serve in a specific ministry. There, the apostles directed the congregation to search among themselves and find men who met the qualifications which they set down. When the church had found such men, they were brought before the apostles and ordained to the work. I am supposing that a similar thing was done in Crete under Titus’ guidance.

There are multiple passages teaching us what shepherds of the Lord’s church are to do, and qualifications that help us identify men fit to serve. Exactly how these men are selected and appointed, however, seems to be left to the church.

So, Choctaw brethren! Please be considering the New Testament’s teachings concerning the qualifications and function of shepherds and be looking out amongst yourselves men whom you’d like to see working in that capacity.

Our present shepherds are overburdened and in need of help in their ministry to us. We must rise to the occasion and do as Titus was directed, appointing those qualified to this most important of all works.