What is Ordination to Ministry?

Just because one believes he is called and gifted, does not necessarily make it so. The gentleman could be self-deluded.  One important concept in the selection process to church office is that of emergence. In other words, qualified and gifted men will emerge or rise to the top and be recognized by God’s people and leaders (Acts 6; 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:1). Scripture tells us that there is both the subjective and the objective call of a man to office.

Once the man has emerged out of the local church, existing elders should  formally recognize him and then ordain him to ministry (1 Tim. 4:14). The man comes legitimately to the office, not on his own accord, but by the appointment to serve (Acts 13:1-3; 14:23; Ti. 1:5).

Ordination is an act that sets a man apart to the office. It is the church’s solemn affirmation of and its public witness to his qualification, gifts, and calling.

Biblical ordination is important to the purity and sound governance of God’s Church because the person so ordained is ordained to a position established by God for His church.

1. The elder in official capacity comes as a shepherd appointed to the office by Christ.

2. He receives the mandate to minister under God with crucial duties

(a)   as a servant (Matt. 20:25; Lk. 22:26)

(b)  with care (1 Tim. 3:5)

(c)  watching over their souls (Heb. 13:17)

(d)  through love (Jn. 21:16).

3.  He will also minister in Christ’s name by

(a)  showing compassion for the distressed (Matt. 9:36; Mk. 6:34; Jas. 5:14),

(b)  as one willing to lay down his life for them (Jn. 10:11ff).

4. He will guard the church (Acts 20:28)

5. He must serve it with diligence (Rom. 12:8; 1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17; 2 Tim. 2:15)

6. He must do so as a good example (1 Pet. 5:3).

So, this godly office created by Christ (2 Cor. 3:9; 4:6) must be perpetuated with sound, godly, and faithful men who are gifted, called, and qualified (1 Tim. 1:11; 3:1-7; 4:14). It must be perpetuated through the laying on of hands by ordained elders of the church (Acts 6:6; 13:3; 14:23; 19:6; 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:6)