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Ordination Questions

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Tom Bryant, Jun 16, 2006.

  1. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    What questions would you ask a man at his ordination council? He is leading a team to plant a church in Hershey, PA.
     
  2. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    What do you believe about Scripture?

    What is your testimony?

    What is the purpose of the Church?

    How important is teaching Biblical Doctrine?

    Is your entire family supportive of this calling (Immediate family, that is)?

    What makes you qualified for this position?

    What is the state of fallen mankind?

    How is a person saved?

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  3. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    Two mandatory questions.

    One regards the hypostatic union...
    Could Christ have sinned?

    The other pertains to this particular calling...
    Do you like chocolate?

    Rob
     
  4. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
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    (1) How do you actively practice the teachings of Christ?

    (2) Give an example of the way you would teach a congregation to follow a teaching of Christ? (For instance, how would you teach your congregation to practice loving their enemies, not worrying, or fasting?)

    (3) Name several ways your life has been transformed in your attitudes and actions toward others.

    (4) What is your method of personal discipleship? Please provide the name(s) of persons whom you have personally discipled.

    (5) What is Christ currently doing in your life, as far as you can tell?
     
  5. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
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    I don't mean to be rude, but is this truly a fact-finding council, or one in which they are essentially 'rubber-stamping' the candidate?

    Every ordination council / service I have known has been something of a 'rubber stamp' situation. The questions were merely a formality and the candidate didn't really have to demonstrate any knowledge of actually living the Christian life, just head knowledge, knowledge of theological systems and theories, and political affiliations and support for the "right causes".

    We already have too many preachers and pastors who don't follow Jesus in any significant way. I don't see why we should ordain any more unless they can demonstrate that they are actively pursuing Christ by living His kind of life as clearly taught and recorded in the gospels. Otherwise we are simply ordaining yet another person who calls Jesus "Lord, Lord", but does not do what He says.
     
  6. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    ARE YOU A CALVINIST OR AN ARMINIAN?:laugh:
     
  7. Brother Bob

    Brother Bob New Member

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    You need to have a good reason for ordaining someone in the first place, hence the few questions. I always ask questions and not so much for the candidate but for those who are in attendance, so they will know, and any future candidate. Of course I ask the candidate if he will follow our articles of faith which are supported by Scripture and any certain Scripture questions that may be in question in the church today.
     
    #7 Brother Bob, Jun 16, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2006
  8. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    Baptistbeliever,
    No, you're not being rude at all. I would not have called for a council of pastors if I didn't already believe the young man was called to full time ministry. This is not a rubber stamp situation. But neither is this a fact finding mission. He has already written out a statement of faith both on paper and in his life and ministry thus far.

    But this is face to face and he will have to defend himself in front of other pastors without notes with only his Bible. It will show whether it's in his head AND heart or just his head alone.

    But your concerns about pastors not really knowing Jesus but knowing about Him is well taken. We ought to guard the ministry as well as the reputation of Christ by making certain that he is God called and living it.
     
  9. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Who thinks this should be bumped
     
  10. DrRandyGrace

    DrRandyGrace New Member

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    It seems a legitimate question. Why should it be bumped?
     
  11. Shortandy

    Shortandy New Member

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    I would ask some questions about the man's family life. Rarely at an ordination council is the candidate drilled about being qualified by 1 Timothy 3. As a matter of fact I think we may ordain some men who are failing at home. That is the first place you should start.
     
  12. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    We always ask publicly about their family in the council, but like every other question we have asked and determined that independently before the council ever meets.

    I do think we have failed at times and have ordained some wrong people, but I think more often the guys fails in this issue after his ordination.
     
  13. John Toppass

    John Toppass Active Member
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    I did not realize if you are not one then you had to be the other.
     
  14. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    I suppose your could be a CALVININIAN or a OR AN ARMINIVINIST
     
  15. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    I would be concerned about doctrine and expect mastery of this so that he (as an elder and missionary) would be able to give an answer to anyone who asks about such.

    I would start, however, by asking him to go thru the list of qualifications/descriptions of an elder (Tit 1, I Tim 3) and explain each and describe how HE fits that. 19 of them, so 19 minutes well spent

    We've had an ordination stop after 20 minutes when the candidate confessed NOT being qualified in a couple areas because of besetting sin!! Joyous time of instruction and help, and a year later he had shown God's grace and the ordination was held!
     
  16. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    Dr. Bob,
    That is a great idea and practice.

    We also use the council as a time for the candidate to discover areas he needs to strengthen himself in. We had a young man who was just starting ministry and he was "ordain-able" but he had some philosophies of ministry while not wrong were a little impractical. (For example, he felt like the church he was starting should be done as a team with no real out front leader who had the final say). As we chatted with him we pointed out that a leader would always emerge.) We ordained him. But a year later, he came back and told us we were correct. We, of course, knew it already :smilewinkgrin:

    Does anyone have any kind of follow up procedure for the newly ordained?
     
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