ordination
Tomorrow morning, early, (lloyd and todd don’t be late) the pastors and elders of WRC will convene to begin the questioning of Lloyd and Todd our church planting interns to determine whether we will ordain them to the ministry.
Some people pass this off as meaningless and perhaps a formality. I do not. I believe this is serious business. A man needs to be called to the ministry and if called set apart for the work of the ministry. And according to Paul this is a noble calling and has some pretty stringent qualifications.
The elders of WRC have set aside guidelines for the process and qualifications of those men to be ordained. The questioning goes something like this.
1. Salvation and Calling: We want to know first that this man is a believer. Not just in GOD, but in Jesus. Is Jesus the only way to salvation? What is salvation? How does the candicate know he is called? What is being called?
2. Doctrine: What does the candidate believe? Does it line up with WRC theology? God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Church, Salvation, Satan/Evil, Hell, Spiritual Warfare. You’d be surprised. There are a lot of things that are acceptable but there are some that would not be. I know some guys that do not believe in a literal hell. Now me, I’m not going to approve that guy to be sent from WRC. But I might approve a guy that doesn’t believe in eternal salvation, as I tell some of my Methodist brothers, I believe they are sealed even if they don’t.
3. Personal Walk. This is another important area to me. I am probably most judgemental of pastors that fall. I want to know how they are protecting themselves. Do they know their besetting sin (don’t worry I don’t ask what it is) and where Satan is most likely to tempt them the most. Who are they accountable to? How do they treat their wife and children? Important stuff, the pastor is also a model. He needs to live as one.
4. Philosophy of Ministry: Why the church? What is evangelism? Discipleship? What do you want people to know and do? What is leadership? What is the church? Where is the church?
The Ordinati0n Council will not be a torturous experience for these guys, but I expect we will stump them somewhere along the way. I remember my council almost 25 guys were present. Lots of questions about women in ministry and would I ordain a woman. (by the way, I probably would, but WRC has a stance against it and I will live according to the guidance of our elders) Do I believe in a real Devil? 3 hours I was drilled. Had to recall scripture to back up what I believed. But you know what when I knelt and that line of men drew around me and laid hands on me, that was a special experience, because some godly men affirmed my calling. I didn’t get ordained on line to do weddings. They in essence said, “son you’re ready for ministry.” That was special.
Tomorrow will be special.
