Have a Good Rep

1 Timothy 3:7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Ensuring a "good reputation" means we must look at the candidate's past. The usual modern interpretation for this is to judge how the man's character will reflect on the church. But note that Paul warns that one whose past is soiled is subject to fall again. So the directive seems not so much to protect the church, although certainly a consideration, as it is to protect the person and though him the church.