John Lennie is a gentle, respected Christian man who has a positive testimony both in the church and in the world. Several years ago the president of John's company asked him to drive to a local hotel and pick up a woman who was visiting from out of town that needed a ride to an upcoming meeting. John related that this woman has a reputation for dressing provocatively and flirting with married men.

When asked to give her a ride, John suggested they call a cab or send a female member of the team. But the president insisted, "No, John, I've asked you to go; now please do as I asked." But John protested that he couldn't do it. "Why?" the president inquired. John explained that it was against his value system. He had a personal rule that he didn't ride alone in a car with a woman other than his wife.

The president challenged him, "I guess we're not No. 1 with you anymore, John." He responded frankly, "Well to be honest, you never were No. 1. In fact you're not even No. 2. The Lord is first and my family is second in my list of priorities."

That confrontation led to John Lennie losing his job. But God honored his courageous stand and eventually provided him with even better employment. If you knew John Lennie, you might be tempted to say, "He could have gone ahead and transported that woman; he's such a man of integrity that no one would have thought a thing about it." But that's why! His consistent life of purity over the years has made him above reproach.

Since so many Christian leaders have fallen into immorality it seems wise for church overseers to chisel out some basic guidelines to encourage purity in leadership. Although we need to avoid legalism, some reasonable parameters such as the following can help communicate what is appropriate and expected in most situations:

1. A church leader should not travel alone in a car with a member of the opposite sex, other than a spouse, except in cases of dire emergency.
2. When dining with a member of the opposite sex, make it at least a threesome.
3. Counseling members of the opposite sex should be limited to no more than three sessions and should never be done at night or any time that another adult is not in an adjacent room.
4. Never enter the home of a member of the opposite sex when no one else is present. (The very sick or elderly are an exemption.)
5. Since most affairs begin with conversation, avoid suggestive comments and any discussion of intimate subjects with members of the opposite sex. All conversation is to be above reproach. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29).
6. Avoid inappropriate touching or suggestive hugging of members of the opposite sex. Use wise judgment to discern what is proper.

These guidelines may seem rigid to some, however, the Apostle Paul wrote, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving" (Ephesians 5:3-4).