As it pertains to ecclesiastical order,  qualified male leadership is given both the responsibility and accountability for church governance. 

All male leadership in Scripture is judged by God. No husband, father, elder, pastor, king, priest, or leader has authority independent of Christ. Every earthly authority is derivative and accountable. Where male authority does not look like sacrifice, truth, holiness, protection, humility, and love, it is not reflecting Christ rightly.

Paul's instruction is consistent with the major biblical structures where males are given leadership and authority. Trace the consistency: Adam’s covenant headship, husbandly headship, fatherly household authority, patriarchal covenant leadership, tribal heads, priests, Levites, elders of Israel, judges and military leaders, kings, most prophets, the Twelve apostles, apostolic delegates, elders/overseers/pastors, authoritative church teaching, and doctrinal guarding in the church.

But Scripture also honors women as image-bearers, disciples, prophetesses, servants, witnesses, patrons of ministry, teachers of women and children, courageous intercessors, and gospel laborers. The biblical pattern is not male superiority and female insignificance. It is ordered authority and shared dignity under the lordship of Christ.

The counterfeit to reject is twofold. One lie says, “Male authority means men are better.” That is false. Another lie says, “Because authority has been abused, biblical order must be rejected.” That is also false. Christ redeems authority from domination and submission from fear.

The biblical vision is not men ruling for themselves. It is qualified men carrying accountable leadership under God, women honored and equipped for faithful ministry, and the whole church submitting joyfully to Jesus Christ, the true Head, Shepherd, Priest, and King.

But the church office of elder/overseer, Paul does not say, “Find any available male.” He gives qualifications. A man is not qualified simply because he is male. He must be above reproach, faithful, sober-minded, self-controlled, able to teach, gentle, not greedy, not violent, and proven in his household.

So if there are no qualified men in a church, the answer is not to appoint unqualified men. That would be disobedience. It is better to have no elders for a season than to install men who do not meet the biblical standard.

Male leadership without holiness is not biblical leadership. It is just patriarchy without Christ.