Opinion on Qualifications for Clergy

I have no quarrel with that; I think Jack Hoad consistently used that style in his book as well. But Baptist usually in reference to a minister or a church in the English language is a proper name. Is he merely a believer in a certain polity but not identified with any Baptist church or Baptist organization?

 

I believe he's an endorsed chaplain (CBF I believe), and I think their church financially supports the SBC, the CBF, and the Alliance.

Joshua

 

This, in and of itself, is problemmatic. However, we have beat that horse up before and there is no need to do so now. Suffice it to say that a husband whose wife is a pastor over men is disqualified at a very basic level because his wife is not in submission to Scripture.

For the most part I agree with this. However, the level of spiritual maturity that a pastor's wife should be at does raise her obligations, to the same level as everyone else of that spiritual maturity. It is obviously different from a new believer.

The caveat I would add is that if a pastor's wife is a gossip or a loudmouth, an abrasive woman, that disqualifies her husband. If a church does not do adequate research, the pastor's wife may end up splitting the church. Many men have been driven out of ministry by their wives and many more probably should have been.

My point about approval was not necessarily about a formal process, but rather the fact that the expectation is that every believer be functioning in teh church. The pastor's wife is not given an exception.

 

Larry, I don't think there's a minimum level of spiritual maturity for a pastor's spouse. Religion is not their profession.

Joshua

 

While we're on the subject of pastors' spouses: I know a pastor whose wife is not a member of his church because she has never made a profession of faith. She supports him through her love, attendance, etc., but cannot support him as a sister in Christ. She has been and is faithful as a wife (and mother). They are a somewhat elderly couple, and he has ministered probably 30 or 40 years in this situation. What say ye?

 

RLV - I've seen that as well - even with the occasional interfaith marriage. I suspect that there are more than a few cases we'll never know about where the spouse of a pastor lost their faith years ago but keeps up appearances for the sake of their pastor's career.

As for the case you mentioned, I don't see a problem with it.

Joshua

 

I have knew of a very conservative church that the pastors wife was a member of another church in town. The church grew and had a very successful ministry in the town. Since this was a large church in a large city, there was not really any problem. However I can't imagine in the situation that I am in currently, a small rural area, not having my wife totally supportive and helping in the ministry. I suppose in this case there is an ideal wife situation and a working ministry situation. Would depend on the community and the church IMO.

 

Wasn't it Spurgeon who remarked about ordination when he said something like "What can man do to me that God hasn't already done."

Ordination from man is nothing like the fire God gives.