Ordination

Unfortunately most baptists have adopted a Roman Catholic view of ordination. Catholics ordain to their Universal Visible Church. So, most baptists also ordain to the "universal invisible church."

But ordination is not to a mystical all encompassing catholic church.

Ordination is to a specific office within the church (local).

When a man is called to be a pastor of a church that church ordains him to that office by means of the congregation's call. He is ordained to that office and that office only.

When, and if, he leaves that church he is no longer serving in that church's office so he is no longer ordained to that office.

When he is called to an office in a different church the calling of that church body constitutes his ordination to that office.

So, every man installed to a church office is ordained to that office, and every man not serving in a church office is not ordained.

If Christendom would practice biblical ordination we wouldn't have to put up with those "Reverends" who give us all a bad name like "Rev." Al Sharpton, who never served in any local church office, and "Rev." Jesse Jackson who also never served in any local church office.

 

Why the dichotomy? Shouldn't we examine a prospective pastor closely before agreeing to follow his spiritual leadership?

His becoming the pastor ought to be preceded by an in depth examination to insure he conforms to the church's Doctrinal Statement and Philosophy of Ministry.

Whoever the local church appoints to the council.

Of course. His sending church should make sure he is doctrinally sound before commissioning him as a missionary.