When I consider the NT passages pertaining to church leaders, two offices emerge, the elders and deacons. It is clear that there are other words for elders (bishop, overseer), which give a certain vision of that position. On the other hand the deaconate is only described as the deacons.
Overseers must be men. Scripture is clear that women are not to have authority over men in church matters and affairs. There are many people who want to challenge this notion today by calling it archaic and old fashioned, but they would rather hold to the worldly ideal of progression instead of honoring God's word by obeying it. The Bible takes a mallet and slams the feminist portrait of their eldership. It is that clear. Men are to be the leaders in the home and in the church, as they lead their spouses and families to Christ they are to be like Christ to the Church.
Men are to be the overseers of the church, utilizing their gifts to advance the kingdom of God. Leading their people to be more like Christ, curing their souls with the tonic of the gospel. Preaching Christ and Him crucified at everyone, anywhere and everywhere they go. That is their primary role. It is the mission of the church to go into all nations making disciples of Jesus Christ. The fact is that the elders must lead, not in a trustee sense of the word figuring budget needs and what not. Instead, whether it is in prayer meeting, preaching, evangelism, Gospel Classes or Sunday School, small groups, etc, they must make Christ the focus of the church.
