It is an honorable and noble thing to desire or aspire to be an elder in a church. This implies you are a man on a mission, have a high ethic or moral code, and especially know how to keep the main thing the main thing and do not major in minors; i.e., properly focused and trained. Even though there are several criteria or checkpoints in selecting an elder, no one perfectly fits the bill or matches the resume. We all fall short! They are more than believers who just look good on paper!
We all have different strengths and weaknesses, strongpoint or fortes. Elders are appointed (NOT AN INHERITED POSITION OR BIRTHRIGHT) by other elders just like you need to be a disciple to disciple or mentor someone. Since elders are in a position of authority and leadership, they must be accountable and know first what it means to be led. Basically, elders are the exemplars or role models of the body. Nowhere do we see one-man rule or control freaks in the church as acceptable as Paul rebuked Diotrophes for wanting to be Number One always?
Since they should practice what they preach and preach what they practice without hypocrisy or duplicity, the body will emulate them and see them as authority figures, even father figures; hence called sometimes shepherds or overseers. Without being authoritarian or throwing their weight around but being able to lift people up and edify them--that's what it means! No one has the right to "lord it over" the flock!
Sometimes actions speak louder than words and always our lives can be our testimony just as well as what we say. But this doesn't mean they are alone in charge or should challenge their authority. We don't them to ignore us because our lives speak so loud so as give them a reason: "YOUR LIFESTYLE SPEAKS SO LOUD I CANNOT HEAR WHAT YOU SAY!" They realize they have a heavenly calling and mission and not be disobedient to it! They should not neglect their spiritual gifting and be faithful to fulfilling it.
Character counts! They must be highly regarded or thought of even by outsiders. Elders are pious and godly in character and have virtuous conduct by their reputation so outsiders will have nothing negative or bad to say and they will not fall into the trap of the devil. One neglected criterion is that they hold the mystery of the Word with a clear conscience and understand doctrine well enough to not just be versed in it but to have a working knowledge of it and be a student of the Bible, the Word, and be able to teach others doctrine just as they were taught and to equip them the body for the work of ministering themselves.
Elders never stop learning they do not think they have "arrived," even Paul admitted that and realized that the first condition or prerequisite of learning is to admit your ignorance or know that you don't know everything--often the result of learning is more than an awareness of ignorance. Elders are engaged in OJT or on-the-job training and learn also through the school of hard knocks and experience. However, some are always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth because of disobedience. There are two kinds of elders, you might say, and looking at this qualification there are those who have been humbled and those that will be humbled. If you do not want to be humbled or humble you have no business in the ministry or the leadership of the church in that capacity.
Elders must be servants above all, especially as servants to all, for no one is beneath you as a servant. Be willing to get down and dirty with the flock and get to know them. What are we do to the least of Christ's disciples we've done unto him. In sum, no church should "go beyond that which is written" and realize no one is perfect. Soli Deo Gloria!