21. The Deans of the Monastery
If the community is larger, choose brothers of good repute and holy conversatio, and appoint them as deans. 2 Let them show care for their deaneries in everything according to the commandments of God and the teachings of their abbot.
3 Let such people be chosen as deans with whom the abbot may safely share his burden. 4 And they should not be chosen according to seniority, but according to the merit of their lives and their learning and their wisdom.
5 If perhaps any of these deans is found blameworthy, having become swollen with pride, let him be corrected once, and again, and a third time, but if he is unwilling to change, remove him, 6 and put in his place another who is worthy.
7 We also require the same for the prior.
