Page 20 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

While not negating the authority of the local church to ordain, the ordination council of peers demonstrates the
need of the local church for interdependence with sister churches. When a person passes such an examination,
it signifies that his peers agree with the ordaining church.

Fact #3: Qualifying Exam

Just as the secular community expects a lawyer to pass a bar exam and a physician a medical exam, so it expects
that persons engaged in professional ministerial services pass some type of qualifying exam.

Fact #4: A setting apart.

Although a pastor always needs to remember that as a person, he is no different from anyone else in his
congregation, the office he holds is unique and important, and it needs to be set apart. It is appropriate to
distinguish the office, if nothing else, through such a procedure as ordination.

Licensing

Licensing is the action of a single congregation and does not require the rigorous examination that is part of the
ordination, nor does it require a special ceremony. In licensing, the church recognizes that a person has specific
ministerial capabilities and in effect, it gives formal approval of that person carrying out certain specified
ministerial functions, like perform weddings and funerals.

Prerequisites for Ordination

1. Appropriate theological training

Generally, the person seeking ordination should have completed theological
education appropriate to the ministry to which he is called.

2. Experience in Active Ministry

In addition to a person’s having completed an educational program appropriate to his calling, he should
have, in most cases, at least a year or two of experience in some form of active ministry. Such experience
will help him ascertain whether or not the ministry is something for which he is really fit.

3. Character Requisites

These character requisites specified for Christian leaders are found in the epistles of Timothy and Titus.
Before even considering ordination, a person should examine those scriptural mandates carefully.

Preparing for Ordination

1. Individual Preparation

The candidate should immerse himself in the study of the Bible, theology, and church polity. He should be
prepared to submit a thorough statement of his theological views and should articulate clearly his own
philosophy of ministry.

Each ordination examination will differ markedly but the person being examined would be wise to prepare
himself to answer questions in these areas:
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