The Spirit and Leadership

... " appointing leaders with a secular or materialistic outlook prevents the Holy Spirit from making spiritual progress in that place."

"The Holy Spirit does not take control of anyone against his or her will.  When people who lack spiritual fitness to cooperate with Him are elected to leadership positions, He quietly withdraws and leaves them to implement their own policies according to their own standards, but without His aid.  The inevitable result is an unspiritual administration."

- J. O. Sanders, in "Spiritual Leadership"