Ordination Page 1 of 2 A-30

Ordination is the rite by which people Christians to follow Jesus fully and • Priest in administering the rites of to perform ordained ministry. With whom God and the church have called faithfully, some members of the church the church, including the sacraments ministerial standing, an ordained to ordained ministry are set apart by are “ordained to preach and teach the of baptism and communion. minister is a voting member of his or prayer and the laying on of hands. It is a gospel, to administer the sacraments • Pastor in caring for and comforting her association and conference and can recognition of a particular calling from and the rites of the Church, and to people in their personal and corporate be a participant in the denomination's God and its acceptance by an exercise pastoral care and leadership” lives, in joy and sorrow and in pension and health insurance programs. individual. Ordination gives initial (United Church of Christ Constitution, building leadership within the When an ordained minister no longer authorization to perform duties and Article V). congregation. has a church-related ministry, her or his exercise the prerogatives of ordained Throughout church history, people ministerial standing is terminated, ministry. In the United Church of Christ experienced their calls to ministry in the • Teacher in instructing and unless a leave of absence is requested. ordination is carried out by an following ways: enlightening others in the meaning All authorizations for ordained ministry of faith and the traditions of the faith. association in cooperation with a local • The call to be a Christian is the call are subject to periodic review and church. to discipleship-- to hearing and doing • Prophet in preaching, interpreting disciplinary action by the association the word of God. Baptism is the and leading others toward corporate and may be removed for cause. History and answer to this call, whether accepted response to the word of God in the by the recipient or by adults on behalf Bible. Skills and Attributes Background of a child. • Administrator in managing and To ordain is to order or shape. God • The secret call is the inner leading the organization of the Needed ordained creation, bringing it into being experience that causes a person to church. The Manual on Ministry: and then pronouncing it good. In Jesus feel summoned by God to serve in a Perspectives and Procedures for of Nazareth, God reordered and re- particular way. Common Practices Ecclesiastical Authorization of ordained all of creation and infused it • The providential call is an invitation Ministry lists a series of criteria for Ordination in the United Church of ordination. They include a general with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is or direction which comes through Christ is meant to provide people present in all of creation and every life. having been given the necessary liberal education, skills, faith committed to the nurture and up- affirmations and personal qualities. Churches are communities ordained by talents and God-given direction to building of local churches and the the Holy Spirit to be signs of, and fulfill the demands of ministry. Among these skills, faith affirmations denomination. Men and women are and personal qualities are: witnesses to, the restoring work of God • The ecclesiastical or church call is ordained for church-related ministries. in Jesus Christ. All Christians are extended by a part of, or the entire, They become pastors to local churches; • Sense of responsibility. ordained into a life, both personal and community of faith for a person to do staff in associations, conferences and • Ability to communicate. corporate, that carries the power of specific ministry in a particular time national bodies; administrators and • Open, affirming style. Jesus Christ for the sake of the whole and place. Ordination is the response chaplains in health care institutions; • Skill in preaching and worship world. to this call. military chaplains; teachers in church- leadership. Because the church is ordained to Our United Church of Christ related colleges and seminaries; and order its life so that it marshals its gifts forbearers put great emphasis on ministers in other church-related • Maturity for the maximum faithfulness to the education. Accordingly, the United settings. reign of God, from among its ranks it • Commitment to the mission of the Church of Christ values a learned As long as ordained ministers are church. calls certain men and women to special ministry. This usually means that engaged in church-related ministry, • Commitment to service in and on service. These are sisters and brothers ordained ministers have a college and a they hold ministerial standing as behalf of the United Church of Christ. who in their personal lives exhibit a seminary degree. The education is to ordained ministers of the United Church compelling love of God and the help the ordained minister as he or she of Christ. Ministerial standing is the • A sense of having been called by God Christian community. serves as: authorization granted by an association to ordained ministry While all of us are called as Ordination Page 2 of 2 A-30

or its equivalent; a master of and plans with the candidate how the related ministry for only a short Responsibilities divinity degree, or its equivalent, candidate's ordination paper will be time? Procedures and perspectives for from a theological seminary shared with the delegates to the • Many of those the United Church ordination are outlined in Manual on approved by Local Church ecclesiastical council. If ordination is Ministry for use by association com- of Christ approves for ordination Ministries (through the Parish Life approved following the ecclesiastical have difficulty finding a call in mittees on the ministry. (Order from and Leadership Ministry Team), or council's examination of the United Church of Christ Resources. congregations which perceive them notification that such a degree will candidate, the association instructs its as “different” in some way. What Telephone, toll-free, 800-537-3394.) be granted prior to ordination; committee on the ministry to proceed The manual describes responsibilities can be done to overcome these documentation of ability, skills, with plans for the ordination service. preconceived attitudes? of the candidate for ordination, the knowledge and training for The association, candidate, local candidate's local church and the ordained ministry. church and other calling body, if any, association or conference. Questions • At least four letters of reference, participate in planning the ordination A candidate for ordination asks the • How can you find out more about including one from the seminary, service. official board of his or her church to the way your association makes one from the student in care In a service of worship surrounded recommend to the association decisions on ordination? committee on the ministry that the advisor, and one from an ordained by family, friends and other ordained candidate be ordained. Usually the minister in the United Church of ministers, the candidate makes a • What qualities do you think are student is in care of the association, Christ. commitment to serve the church, most important for people who are share the gospel, pray regularly, ordained? so the request for ordination is not • A Ministerial Profile prepared by search and share the scriptures and • What is ministerial standing and unexpected. The candidate requesting the candidate. ordination usually provides the lead a compassionate, truthful and how is it conferred? following for the association • A statement of where the candidate loving life of devotion through the • What is the responsibility of an committee on the ministry: is in the process of seeking a call. church. Then by prayer and the laying ordained United Church of Christ on of hands, the person is ordained. • A three-part ordination paper The candidate meets with the minister to other ordained dealing with the person's association committee on the ministry colleagues and to the United theological perspective and grasp to be examined. The ordination exam- Issues Facing Church of Christ? of the historic Christian faith; ination determines the candidate's the Church understanding of the history, abilities; reasons for seeking ordained ministry; educational and theological theological roots, polity and • Local churches have the right to practice of the United Church of attainments; knowledge of the ordain individual members as

Christ; and the person's faith history, polity and practices of the deacons, elders, trustees, pilgrimage and understanding of United Church of Christ; growth in moderators or any special office ministry. Christian faith and experience; within the life of the local church. personal qualities; and preparation These ordinations are valid only in • A sermon by the candidate. and fitness for the call the person is the local church where they are considering or the type of ministry conferred, and only for the • Verification of membership and the person is seeking. specified position. Ordination can participation in a local church of the United Church of Christ. If the committee is satisfied that be repeated for the same person for a different office, or in a different © 2005 Parish Life and Leadership • Verification of current student in the person meets the requirements for Ministry Team of Local Church ordination, it recommends the person congregation. What does ordination care relationship. mean then? Ministries, a Covenanted Ministry of to the association. The association the United Church of Christ • Certification of educational attain- committee on the ministry then • Should ordination be "for life" even ment, including a bachelor's degree arranges for an ecclesiastical council if the person serves in a church-