Can someone explain this to me?

[M. T. Cross]

As I have been reading I have discovered something I never realized in the years I was an SDA.

It seems you have

-Pastors

-Commissioned Ministers

-Ordained Ministers

What are the differences and why the need for these divisions?

[Woody]

Yes. Your observation is correct EC.

It simply is an acknowledgement of different levels of human calling. And they supposedly acknowledge in a human way - the heavenly calling. The last one - "ordained Ministers" is the ultimate acknowledgement of heavenly calling.

Okay there are other side bars than this simple explanation. But I will let others cover those.

[M. T. Cross]

Ok, how does the church go about deciding who was called by God himself?

[SivartM]

Step 1: Is the person a woman?

[Woody]

Ok, how does the church go about deciding who was called by God himself.

By vote

[M. T. Cross]

Oh Sivart - you jumped the gun. That was going to come much later.

Lets say for now no.

Lets say it is a young man that has completed his theology courses and all in university. He is qualified to be a Minister. How does the SDA church decide whether or not to have him as a commissioned Minister or an ordained one.

Also what is the difference between a pastor and a minister?

[M. T. Cross]

Originally Posted By: EmptyCross

Ok, how does the church go about deciding who was called by God himself.

By vote

Who votes? THe conference or the local congregation?

[Woody]

The conference votes.

[M. T. Cross]

What is the criteria?

[Woody]

My goodness EC. You are just full of questions today. lol

[Woody]

There is no established criteria. Well each conference may have their own. But basically it is - does this person appear to have a calling from God?

Some conferences want to see a certain number of baptisms etc.

[M. T. Cross]

Its just very confusing to me.

In say heathen kindreds one becomes a Godhi (man/woman of the gods ) through extensive study and understanding of the religion. It is pretty much understood that if one is willing to put in the work to learn that much they are called by the Gods.

In my religion it is much the same - there is a lot of work involved in earning that kind of position.

But there is not this seperation with such blurry lines between.

[Woody]

You are right. It IS rather blurry. But I suppose no system is perfect.

[M. T. Cross]

Now let me ask this.

So one can be an unordained minister that baptizes people into the church correct?

Can a woman be one of these?

[Woody]

Now let me ask this.

So one can be an unordained minister that baptizes people into the church correct?

Can a woman be one of these?

Yes to all of the above.

[Neil D]

not sure what you are getting at...So, let me put my $0.02 into this pot...

Assuming that young collegette graduate earns his ministerial degree...his next step is to get hired on as an intern....to which he interns for 9-18 months...depending upon the conference and his abilities....Then he goes to Andrews to finish up his credentials [about 1-2 years?] where upon he returns to the conference that hired him, and gets a small church [or if he's popular, gets an associate position at a large church] and then after another year or 5, the conference votes to make him a ordained pastor...because he 'shows evidence' of God's calling...

[Woody]

Now let me ask this.

So one can be an unordained minister that baptizes people into the church correct?

Can a woman be one of these?

As I am sure you know - the Great Gospel Commission calls ALL of us to Baptize. It does not outline a certain type of person or office that can baptize. It calls US to go forth and baptize.

[Woody]

not sure what you are getting at...So, let me put my $0.02 into this pot...

Assuming that young collegette graduate earns his ministerial degree...his next step is to get hired on as an intern....to which he interns for 9-18 months...depending upon the conference and his abilities....Then he goes to Andrews to finish up his credentials [about 1-2 years?] where upon he returns to the conference that hired him, and gets a small church [or if he's popular, gets an associate position at a large church] and then after another year or 5, the conference votes to make him a ordained pastor...because he 'shows evidence' of God's calling...

Agreed HB. That would be one path although Andrews is more like 2 or 3 years in reality.

[M. T. Cross]

HB I am not really getting at anything. Just with all this debate over Womens Ordination in your church, I was curious about these roles being defined more clearly. Its been a long time since I was an adventist and don't remember this aspect of the religion.

[M. T. Cross]

So now let me ask this. Can a women take those courses at Andrews and other schools?

[Woody]

HB I am not really getting at anything. Just with all this debate over Womens Ordination in your church, I was curious about these roles being defined more clearly. Its been a long time since I was an adventist and don't remember this aspect of the religion.

No problem EC. Good questions and discussion.

[Woody]

So now let me ask this. Can a women take those courses at Andrews and other schools?

Yes. Women are increasingly taking the courses. Although many get other jobs such as chaplains.

[Woody]

Originally Posted By: EmptyCross

So now let me ask this. Can a women take those courses at Andrews and other schools?

Yes. Women are increasingly taking the courses. Although many get other jobs such as chaplains.

I should amend this to say that some high ups in our church (to remain nameless) ... feel that one has to have "semen" in order to take the classes. However - these highups are extremists and their views are ignored.

[M. T. Cross]

See this is where it gets confusing to me.

Say a woman that has taken these courses brings a whole bunch of people into the church, they are all baptized and become lifelong dedicated SDA's. Who then was calling to her? Who then was guiding her?

[Woody]

See this is where it gets confusing to me.

Say a woman that has taken these courses brings a whole bunch of people into the church, they are all baptized and become lifelong dedicated SDA's. Who then was calling to her? Who then was guiding her?

One does not have to have a calling to the ministry to baptize.