A Call to the Ministry Every keen Christian man should consider of Ordinands) and others to check out a Wallace Benn whether God might be calling him to the candidate’s suitability, and indeed the ministry, and for the vast majority it will be question of suitability is asked right at the The opening question in the Book of ‘no’. It has been helpfully said: “Don’t go into beginning of the service mentioned above. Common Prayer Ordering of (or the ministry unless you have to!” That is, if One might question the suitability of some of Presbyters) asks: “Do you think in your heart, you could do something else in the service of the assessors in some places that have been that you be truly called, according to the will the Lord, do it! But if you cannot escape the appointed by some to do this job, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the order of this gentle nagging voice of God about it, then but on the whole the system is helpful as it , to the Order and Ministry pursue it prayerfully. seeks to discern a true call. of Priesthood?” The candidate answers: “I think it”. What about the opinion of others? Is God’s Providential timing significant? It is of the utmost importance to believe in That personal conviction of course needs Other factors need to be taken into your heart that God has called you into the checking out with others. One of the most consideration as well. God’s providential ministry. Nothing less will keep you at it encouraging prompts in guidance is if a timing and over-ruling in our lives needs to during a tough time other than a deep number of respected people independently be considered. What point are our children conviction of that call, and therefore of suggest to you that you should consider the at in their education? Is it possible at this God’s faithful commitment to enable you ordained ministry. Also, most importantly if time, or soon, to move and begin training for and see you through. you are married, does it have the support of ministry? What other family or job a godly wife, as well as the encouragement circumstances do I need to prayerfully How does that conviction come about? of your local minister and other trusted consider? Are you converted to Christ? Have you seen Christian friends? It needs all that to prevent Also, Scriptural support by way of fulfilling your need of Christ’s atoning death for you? us from well intentioned delusion the God given qualifications revealed in the Have you responded in repentance and faith, . Bible for a minister are essential. More of and now out of gratitude for what the Lord Where does the wider church come in? that in a moment. But wonderfully often a in grace has done for you, do you want to The wider dimension beyond a personal call, call to the ministry is written large on a serve Him? All Christian service begins here. and the encouragement of trusted Christian person’s heart by a verse or passage A particular growing conviction about a call friends, is seen in Titus whom Paul sends to encouraging us to go ahead. In my own call to ordained ministry will normally be the Crete to “appoint elders (presbyters) in every to the ministry I found Jeremiah 7:2 very result of daily prayerful consideration and town” (Titus 1:5) It is right therefore for a encouraging! seeking God’s will over a period of time. to appoint a DDO (Diocesan Director What exactly is the ministry to which we are But the one indispensable gift in the list of you must first previously have been ordained being called? gifts for different churches in the New a . This is a helpful reminder that all Many people have very different Testament is that each church must have a ministry must come from a servant hearted expectations of clergy! Many church teacher or teachers. And those ministers attitude that sees ministry as service (not a wardens ask the wrong questions of a must be Gospel people committed to the career path) to our Lord, who “came not to potential Vicar, seeking often to simply Apostolic Gospel and to the total be served but to serve, and to give his life as compensate for the shortcomings of the last trustworthiness of the Holy Scriptures that a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). It is also a one, rather than asking what kind of reveals God’s saving plan. They need to have huge privilege and sometimes a tough task. leadership is it that God requires in his a heart for the lost too, and a desire to do But God’s Church, for its health and well- church. the work of an evangelist (IITim,4:5) being, needs the right people to respond to Fortunately, God has not left us in any God’s call. Might that be you? doubt. Firstly, the New Testament in How do I test out my call? passages like Acts 20, Ephesians 4, I & II So, any person beginning to believe God is Footnote: Timothy, Titus and Hebrews 13 make it plain calling him to the above ministry should be At the present time of writing, the question that a presbyter/elder/overseer is to model given opportunities in their home church to might well be asked: Christian values and lifestyle in his personal teach and preach on some occasions to test ‘Why be ordained in the Church of England?’ life and family life. While all Christians are out their calling as teaching pastors. This To which the answer is: As long as the door called to holy living, a Christian leader needs preaching/teaching emphasis is written large for the of classical evangelicals is to model that standard and be a good in our Ordination services. The Ordinand is open, why go elsewhere? We must not hand example. Secondly, the above passages being called to the ministry of the Word first over our Biblically based church to liberals make it plain that he is to “preach the Word” and foremost. And to the ministry of the who lead people away from authentic (II Tim 4:2) and “he must hold firm to the Sacraments also as Christ given visual aids to Apostolic New Testament Christianity. trustworthy Word as taught, so that he may the Gospel, and when rightly received with But if you stay in the Church of England, be able to give instruction in sound (healthy) faith, they encourage and confirm us in that make sure you are trained at a Bible doctrine and also rebuke those who faith. believing College that develops your faith contradict it’ (Titus 1:9). He is to be a pastor, rather than undermines it! or under-shepherd of the flock of Christ who Could it be me? cares for Christ’s own by loving and feeding It is a very high calling then, not to be them (Acts 20:27,28). For that he will need undertaken lightly! Before you are ordained people skills and the ability to take a lead. as a presbyter/ in an Anglican church,