Perhaps the most widely acclaimed criteria for selecting leaders is the spiritual qualities found in 1 Timothy, Titus and 1 Peter. By spiritual qualities the researcher means self-controlled, hospitable, able to teach, not a recent convert and so forth. Although churches are quick to proclaim adherence to these biblically defined spiritual qualifications in the selection and recruitment of leaders, they are often circumvented for expediency. Or worse yet they are massaged to fit the need and loosely applied to the process.
Personal qualities suffer a similar fate.
Character flaws are often ignored when the need for leaders is critical and the capabilities of prospective leaders are so attractive. By personal qualities the researcher means those character traits associated with effective leadership such as integrity, godliness, compassion, and so forth. For the purposes of this study the researcher will address spiritual qualities and personal qualities separately. The researcher has reviewed spiritual qualifications from a biblical perspective in chapter 2. Contemporary literature adds to the biblical perspective covered earlier and examines the topic from a human perspective.