ordination - what 's it really mean?

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

When someone is "ordained" as a preacher in the church, what changes? Is it only a change in the person's legal standing - like what a person is legally able to do (i.e., perform marriages), or is there something more that the ordination implies?

And what is the difference between the ordination of ministers and the ordination of elders (like they do in individual churches)? <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[Nan]

To get a full answer you would probably need to consult the church manual - in the sense of what ordination means in the SDA church.

In the New Testament church, ordination seems to mean that the church recognised an individual was set apart for certain duties, as described by Paul in his various epistles. The first 'ordination' would probably be considered as Jesus setting aside the apostles. After Judas left the 12, another person (Matthias) was chosen by lot 'to take over this apostolic ministry' (Acts 1:28).

The act of ordination - prayer and the laying on of hands - is the same for ministers and for elders, and in some churches, for deacons. The commission is different. The ordination is outward recognition that the individual is authorised to perform the duties of the calling. Hopefully that means s/he also has the appropriate relationship with God.

The duties are not all hard and fast, in the absence of an ordained minister the elder can perform many of the tasks - I am not sure about baptism, but certainly conduct the communion service and funerals.

Being able to marry people, at least in this country, requires more than just ordination, there are some government requirements which have to be met. (My husband is a retired minister with ministerial credentials but he has not fulfilled the local requirements to permit him to marry people.)

Does this help, Pam? Thank you for asking another question which makes me reconsider something I have come to take for granted.

[Gail]

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Does this help, Pam? Thank you for asking another question which makes me reconsider something I have come to take for granted.

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I like Pam's questions, too... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Gregory Matthews]

Biblically, ordination is simply the public recognition that a person is being given certain responsibilities, and that God has been asked to help them in their duties.

As to ordained ministers, local elders, deacons, etc. the duties are different.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

[]http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/Rudywoofs/icon_confused.gif[/] Why do newly ordained elders get congratulated? I guess I'm wondering if it is some sort of position that people aspire to, and they are initiated in some manner? What is the laying on of hands mean? Who decides the *worthiness* of individuals? Shouldn't God be asked to help everyone in duties in the church? Why are some chosen and others not? Does God expect more out of someone who has been ordained or is it purely a matter of display for public recognition?

I'm trying to understand because I've been hearing folks talk about how great it is that so and so got ordained. And I keep wondering why it was so great. What's so great about it? <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

sorry....I'm not being very clear... I dont know how else to ask what I'm trying to figure out.. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Gregory Matthews]

Pam, your questions are good. The simple answer is that the SDA Church does not have a well developed theology of ordination. It simply does what it does. It really cannot be said that everyting it does is founded in the Bible.

The Bible tells us that people whe were given certain duties were set apart by the laying on of hands. That is what we do when we ordain. But, the various aspects of what we do are not discussed in the Bible.

So, I end up saying again, we simply do what we do. We do not have a developed theology of ordination. It reality, based upon the Bible, we cannot say with certainty that some of what we do is more (or less) correct than some other practices.

[David Koot]

In regard to the ordination of ministers . . . I recall very clearly what happened in my experience. After some years of pastoral ministry, one evening, as I was sitting on the sofa in my home, a voice said to me, "God has accepted your ministry." A few weeks later, I was called in to meet with the Conference officers, and shortly after that was ordained. I share that in order to illustrate the process: God chooses a man for full-time ministry. The man is given an opportunity to work. God accepts His ministry, and works through the church, somewhere, somehow, to acknowledge His acceptance. If in one place, there is not that willingness, then God opens doors elsewhere in His church for that to happen. (For example, Saul of Tarsus was called by God to full-time ministry. The church at Jerusalem wasn't ready for him, so God spoke through prophets at Antioch to acknowledge His calling of Paul.)

Dave