Some people appoint Elders who are "not quite ready" but with the hope they will "grow into it". Bad idea. You are right, it's a high bar. The remedy to the problem is to work with young men and ever challenge them to grow. Teach them to have a goal where they want to be in 20 years.
I've started preaching through the Beatitudes once a month, and the idea about not lowering the bar was one of the first things we discussed.
That's a great text for it. "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees..."
Some people appoint Elders who are "not quite ready" but with the hope they will "grow into it". Bad idea. You are right, it's a high bar. The remedy to the problem is to work with young men and ever challenge them to grow. Teach them to have a goal where they want to be in 20 years.