Claim. A church leader functions as a regional high priest whose authority rests on visible self-sacrifice — last to lie down, last to finish praying, willing to forgo food and shelter — because in worship the leader and God must become one for any offering to be received.
Elaboration. SMM gives a stringent leader profile: “A leader should not be the first to lie down no matter how tired he may be. He should lie down only after everyone else has lain down. He should be the last to finish praying. Even in his life of faith, he should offer devotion without food, clothes, and shelter. Such is the position of a leader. If he can live that way, he will not perish” (3.1. Church leaders must practice a public life, 33-169, 1970.8.11). The priesthood analogy is explicit: “A church leader is like the high priest of that region. You must pray for the people even if you lose sleep… In an offering, the high priest and God must become one for there to be a response” (ibid, 9-80, 1960.4.12). The criterion of selection is internal direction: “I see whether their mind is public or personal” (ibid, 31-260, 1970.6.4). Leadership is therefore not office but daily proof; comfort and personal accounting disqualify automatically.
See also. worship-leader