I can’t understand what they were thinking when they appointed him.
They weren't! To hear then tell it men are appointed by Holy Spirit. I know a guy who not so long ago was informed that he would not ever be appointed because one of the requirements was to be a husband of ONE WIFE, and he had been married twice. He was therefore the husband of TWO WIVES, although not at the same time.
To refresh our memories, in the event we may have forgotten, there is NO HOLY SPIRIT directing these men.