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Surrendering/Resigning Ordination

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by ShagNappy, Jun 10, 2022.

  1. ShagNappy

    ShagNappy Member

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    Ordained SBC and wishing to resign it. Has nothing to do with recent events or anything like that. It was somewhat foisted on me and I let my fleshly desires over rule me and accepted the ordination and went through the process. The church no longer exists. Seems there should be more to it than tearing it up and tossing it in the trashcan.

    Any guidance is appreciated.
     
  2. AustinC

    AustinC Well-Known Member

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    If God never called you to be a shepherd, there is no shame in that. God has given you gifts that you enjoy. Fellowship in the body of Christ. Exercise your gifts to the glory of God and live in the joy of Christ's grace poured out for you. What you're talking about is merely a paper from men. It is secondary to living in communion with saints and enjoying the gifts God has given you to His glory.
    Don't worry about that paper.

    1 Peter 4:8-11

    Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
     
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  3. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    As you stated, the church no longer exists. Being techancial, the SBC did not ordain you. Your ordination was approved by a SBC affiliated church.

    Have you sat down and talked to your current pastor about it?
    Is it possible that there may be a future for in in ministry - and not just as a pastor.
    There are many possibilities out there. You may be just the right person for a ministry.
     
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  4. ShagNappy

    ShagNappy Member

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    Planning on speaking with him tonight. I have been dealing with COVID the last two weeks and am finally clear to be around the older folks of the church. I was actually a missionary to children in public housing which is what led to the ordination. The same Preacher that closed the church, closed the ministry I was with. On top of everything my current church is Free Will Baptist. I plan to give my ordination certificate to my Pastor tonight and make it known I am no longer ordained.

     
  5. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    .
    Is that a problem? FWIW - I was a pastor of a FW Bap church for a while - and yes, the folks know the differences of our beleifs.

    . On top of everything my current church is Free Will Baptist[/QUOTE].
    I plan to give my ordination certificate to my Pastor tonight and make it known I am no longer ordained.[/QUOTE]
    I dont think it is that simple
    I trust you will have a good session with your pastor.


    and being involved with a children's ministry is so important
    I trust you will continue that!
     
  6. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    If one is ordained by a local Baptist church, that was an "action" of the church (vote to ordain). YOU can reject it, throw it away, etc, but it does not go away until the church votes to rescind its previous action.

    In today's mindset, this is not a big deal. For $25 ANYONE can be "ordained". Laughable (and tragic). So such a "credential" has little meaning. My advice is to file away the certificate (piece of paper) and never consider it again. No one ever need know you were at one time ordained unless YOU tell them. It is YOUR decision
     
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  7. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    It all depends. In the associations around here, a church CAN ordain a pastor. It if frowned upon. Church licenses a preacher. Association holds an ordination board after licensing. Board decides whether to ordain or not.
     
  8. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Then it is NOT a true Baptist church!
     
  9. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    Then that is almost every church in the Associations around here. From my understanding, that how it's handled in most of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
     
  10. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    The "convention" authority pushed in the SBC was one of the reasons Edward T. Hiscox (a NORTHERN Baptist) wrote the Standard Manual for Baptist Churches (not to be confused with the updated the New Hiscox Manual endorsed by the liberals.

    Local Churches held the authority of ordain and ask surrender of ordination of pastors, watching carefully over life and doctrine. Liturgical churches give ordination when person graduates from seminary, with their diploma. The denomination controls who is considered ordained and able to administer sacraments. Baptists have always been hyper-local church, with regional/city associations for some programs (schools, camps, local missions, welfare that are too expansive for a single congregation) and every three years to meet in a triennial convention of all these small associations to formulate hard doctrinal matters, establish foreign mission agendas, etc. 90% of $$$ was on local level; 10% on area association; and of the association allotment, to national matters.

    Sadly, the whole program fell apart with radical abolitionists in the north who opposed missionaries with slaves taking them to the foreign fields. Remember, MANY states allowed slavery (don't think of it as "Suthron" issue). Schools were controlled by regional/state associations so there was allowance - go to a school in Massachusetts v Alabama depending on position on slave-holding. In1845, the festering issue came to a head and a national 'Southern Baptist Convention' was established - more conservative, very Calvinistic, and not infringing on individual or state association in the slave-holding matter. A Northern Baptist counterpart quickly developed.

    Both national groups developed a denominational structure where many of the rights and practices of the local churches and associations were usurped. In some cases "ordination" was such an issue, along with endorsement for chaplaincy (hospital, prison, military), missionaries, etc
     
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