Ordination Council
Even before the Missional/Missions debate over the call of God and ordinations, Raymond Bailey made the following suggestion: “Perhaps the doctrine of the priesthood of believers could best be demonstrated by doing away with ordination altogether. It may well be that the greater diversity of ministries does not call for more ordinations but for the abolition of the practice as counter-productive to the missions of the church in the modern world” (Raymond Bailey, “Multiple Ministries and Ordination, Review and Expositor 78, no. 4, 1981: 533).
Certainly, there are problems with the way ordinations have been viewed and practiced. Ordination early in church history was considered a sacrament and part of the apostolic succession. John S. Hammett writes about some of the abuses connected to ordination. Hammett mentions E. Glen Hinson who writes that pastors who were ordained “were thought to differ essentially not just functionally from the laity” (Ordination in Christian History. Review and Expositor 78, no. 4, 198: 485). Also “the most famous Baptist of the late nineteenth century, C. H. Spurgeon, refused ordination due to the sacramental understanding common in England” (John S. Hammett. Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches: A Contemporary Ecclesiology. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2005, 206). Spurgeon also did not attend Bible college yet he founded his own Bible college.
Despite the abuses, Hammett believes “there is a biblical basis for recognizing leaders in some way, and a properly understood practice of education could serve some positive purposes.”
The First Positive Result of Ordination
The first positive result of ordination has to do with the United States’ legal system. There are some tax advantages. Also, some states require ordination before a pastor can perform weddings. “Such pragmatic, legal reasons perhaps would not be sufficient to justify ordination in and of themselves, but neither are they unimportant or unworthy of consideration. Thus, the advantages of ordination clearly outweigh the dangers, as long as its meaning is clear and carefully explained” (Hammett, page 208).
The Second Positive Result of Ordination
Hammett sees ordination as part of the church’s corporate affirmation of God’s call in a pastor’s or missionary’s life as evidenced in Acts 13:1-3. There are three evidences of God’s call to preach. The first is a God-given desire to preach (1Timothy 3:1). The next is a God-given ability as stated in 1 Timothy 1:12. The last evidence is the recognition of the church which was the case in Acts 13:1-3 or as Hammett states it, the church’s corporate affirmation of God’s call. The first two questions asked of the candidate to answer by the ordination council is: Give us your salvation testimony and also give us your call to preach. The above three evidences could be your answer to the second question.
In Acts 6:1-6, deacons were ordained when the apostles laid hands on the ones selected by the church. In Acts 13:1-3, the church laid hands on Paul and Barnabas. The word for “appoint” in Acts 6:3 is kathistemi and is also used in Titus 1:5 for Titus appointing “elders in every city.” Kathistemi as well is found “three times in Hebrews for the appointment or ordination of priests (5:1; 7:28; 8:1) and does seem associated with an official type of appointment. The word used in Acts 14:23, cheirotoneo, can mean to choose or elect by raising hands, raising the question of congregational involvement. The context seems to indicate that Paul and Barnabas appointed the elders in this case, but the active role of the congregation elsewhere in Acts argues for at least the concurrence of the congregations” (Hammett, 205).
The laying on of hands is mentioned twice about Timothy’s ordination in 1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6. There is another mention of laying on hands in 1 Timothy 5:22, where Paul warns Timothy not to “lays hands suddenly” on a man. Hammett believes this “is probably a reference to ordination of elders since it is found in a section dealing with elders” (page 205).
The Third Positive Result of Ordination
Hammett sees a third positive result of ordination. Ordination allows the church to recognize church leaders as certain passages call for. Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 commands the church to esteem their pastors. Hebrews 13:17 commands congregations to “obey” their pastors. Ordination sets these men apart so these Scriptures can be followed.
The Fourth Positive Result of Ordination
“A fourth positive result of a careful practice of ordination could be the protection of churches from ill-prepared, unqualified, or heretical pastors” (page 208).
Before the ordination council meets with the candidate, the local church votes and approves the ordination council to examine and ordain the candidate because that local church is already convinced of his call, character, gifts, and doctrine. This is another reason why it is important for the local church to require a regenerated church membership and have congregational rule.
Ordination Council Order of Servic
1. Start with a hymn (optional), Scripture, and prayer led by the host pastor.
2. Election of a moderator who is usually the host pastor as a courtesy.
3. Election of clerk to take minutes.
4. Reading of the church minutes calling for an ordination council.
5. Introduction of the candidate and his wife who leaves after introductions.
6. Everyone present is giving instructions concerning the procedures that will be followed.
7. Candidate gives his testimony about salvation and call to preach.
8. The candidate is questioned about his doctrinal statement which he mailed in advance to all council members. The candidate is questioned about other matters related to the ministry.
9. The candidate is asked to step out of the room.
10. A motion is made to recommend or deny or recommend with qualifications. The second is made which is followed by discussion and vote.
11. The candidate is called back and informed of the decision.
12. Motion to adjourn is made with all in favor standing and going to eat a covered dish meal. Sometimes the ordination service is planned for another time.
13. The ordination service follows immediately or later.