Paul has purpose. He’s an apostle for the sake of the elect, to build their faith and knowledge of the truth.

We all have the task of building up the body with our gifting. It’s everyone’s job. It’s not the job of the paid staff. Every believer is supposed to be building up the body. That happens through sharing our faith with unbelievers and with encouraging other believers in faith and truth.

But Titus’ specific job, given him by Paul, is to appoint elders. I don’t know if it’s a group of elders for a city, such as “the church in Jerusalem”, or individual elders for the smaller churches meeting in individual’s homes that make up the plurality of elders in a location.

Church leadership is important. We’re supposed to have overseers. Someone is to watch the teaching, protect the purity of the doctrine, and care for the flock.

However, Christ is always to be the head of the church. Leaders, especially teachers, can be provided for by those they teach. That is biblical. But there is a plurality of leadership in the church because there is a plurality of gifting. It’s not one person doing everything. There are pastors. There are teachers. In my husband’s online Romani-language church, he is the teacher, but another man is the pastor. The other man directs the service, makes decisions for the group, and sometimes directs what my husband teaches. He’ll say, “I think we need a lesson on…” There are also prophets, evangelists, and apostles. While these roles can overlap some, it’s good to acknowledge there are different giftings and encourage people to minister in their gifting. For instance, evangelists and apostles need to go out, not stay in the church!

Church leaders need to be above reproach. People shouldn’t be able to make a charge against their character.

They need to be gentle with the flock and strong against the wolves who try to take advantage.

Elders must be able to teach and willing to rebuke.

They need to know the difference between the pure and defiled when both profess to know God.