Charges Against Elders (1 Timothy 5:19-21)

By matthewbroadway

I want to encourage you to be careful, transparent, and fair when dealing with charges against elders, whether those charges are against yourself, fellow elders, or other church leaders.

Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.

What do you do if a church member accuses you of being lazy, saying your sermons are sloppy, you’re unprepared, or you’re not visiting as much as you ought to be? What if someone accuses a fellow elder of adultery? Or what if someone accuses another church leader, like a Sunday School teacher or a deacon, of gossip?

Here are three admonitions to keep in mind this week:

Be Careful

Be careful what you do with these matters. Verse 19 says, “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.”

If there’s one accuser, consider it and move on. You don’t need to stop everything to launch a big investigation for a single raised concern. But if there are multiple people with evidence, that needs serious consideration.

If an individual submits a concern, don’t just dismiss it; take it seriously and consider where you might have room to grow. But if it’s a widespread concern with clear evidence, like genuinely neglecting visits to a hospitalized member, that is a serious issue that your accountability structure (whether fellow elders, deacons, or the church board) needs to take seriously.

Be Transparent

Verse 20 says, “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.”

Persisting in sin means continuing in it. If an elder is committing adultery, this sin should not be dealt with secretively or in hiding; it requires a public rebuke. That is something our denomination in particular is fairly allergic to, but the Bible instructs us to do it.

If a church leader persists in sin, it must be dealt with publicly because it affects the whole church. The church should have a healthy fear of ongoing, unrepentant sin and see it as completely unacceptable. If members see leaders getting away with persistent sin, they are more likely to slip into it themselves.

Publicly rebuking a leader protects the congregation.

Be Fair

Verse 21 says, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.”

If a church leader is accused of gossip and multiple people confirm they are constantly spreading negativity, that needs to be dealt with, but dealt with fairly. Whether the accused is a close friend or a thorn in your side, do not prejudge or show partiality. Look at the evidence without bias.

I fear our biggest issue isn’t that we deal with these things poorly, but that we try not to deal with them at all. Scripture calls us to address them. As uncomfortable as it is, a healthy church must have an immune system for sin, especially within leadership.

Having multiple witnesses prevents “the tail from wagging the dog,” where one vocal, negative person causes a board to turn everything upside down over personal preferences and whims.

Handling matters transparently prevents us from keeping private what should be dealt with openly. While we shouldn’t be slanderous and should guard reputations where appropriate, a pastor sinning in a way that affects the whole church must be addressed before the gathered church membership (such as in a special members’ meeting, rather than a Sunday morning service).

Finally, being fair protects against knee-jerk reactions based on personal relationships, keeping us from either overlooking a friend’s sin or coming down too harshly on someone we are at odds with.

Teach your church leaders these qualities so they are prepared and protected in the future. Part of your work is preparing them for whoever comes next. And if you are currently dealing with sin in leadership, let these qualities guide you. God’s Word is deeply practical, and it speaks directly to these situations.