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How do most churches go about selecting pastors? In the vast majority of cases the church forms some sort of search committee which manages the effort to find and screen pastor candidates. At a high level, the process differs little from a business’s Human Resources department which attempts to attract talented individuals who can contribute positively to the organization.

In most instances, the pastor search team evaluates the ministry resumes of complete strangers. They may get a good lead through a mutual contact who has given the candidate a good reference, but for the most part the church and the pastor candidate have no familiarity with each other. Like interviewing for a secular job in the business world, it is very difficult to gauge a person’s fitness for the role based on a few brief face to face meetings.

The church often seems to have a reluctance for holding pastors accountable. Yet, in 1 Timothy 5:19-21 we have a very clear command to rebuke pastors who persist in sin:

19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 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. (1 Tim. 5:19–21 ESV)

How should the church handle accusations against elders (pastors)? Paul wrote the following to Timothy: 

Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. (1 Tim. 5:19 ESV)

Seems clear enough, right? Obviously this verse is meant to protect pastors from baseless accusations and it follows the Old Testament precept of requiring multiple witnesses to bring a charge (Deut 17:6, 19:15). This seems cut and dry, but it leaves us with some serious questions.

What are we supposed to do when someone accuses a pastor of a serious offense, or even a crime, and there was only one witness? If we apply 1 Timothy 5:19 literally, not only could a church take no action, but they also wouldn’t even be able to hear the accusation. Paul seems to be saying that the charge cannot even be leveled against an elder unless there are multiple witnesses.