The New Ministers Manual
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The New Ministers Manual Paul W. Powell Unless otherwise identified, scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, King James Version. Scripture identified from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright the Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,1975,1977. Copyright 1994 Paul W. Powell All Rights Reserved ii Dedicated to The Students of Truett Seminary and all other young people on whom the mantle of ministry will fall iii iv PREFACE Thomas Jefferson once described the presidency as “a splendid misery.” I think that is an apt description of the ministry. I know of no calling that is more rewarding, and at the same time, more demanding than being a minister. The modern minister faces a multitude of tasks that are both exciting and exacting. He must conduct funerals and weddings, often on the same day. He must be a scholar, a public speaker, an educator, a financier, a CEO, a personnel manager, a shepherd and a personal counselor. While still a student at Baylor University I became pastor of an open country church. I soon found myself confronted with many things I had seen and even been a part of in my home church, but to which I paid little attention until I was called on to do them myself. In the next 34 years I pastored churches of all sizes, my last church having more than 7,000 members. As I became pastor of larger churches I would ask young ministers to assist me in funerals, weddings, baptisms, so they could learn firsthand what to do. What I have recorded in this book are some of the things I tried to teach them. I offer them now in print to other young ministers as a guide and an example. v I was encouraged to write this book by my long-time friend and fellow laborer, Curtis Crofton. We were friends before he came to serve on a local church staff with me. When I president of the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, I asked him to become a part of that ministry. As he worked with seminary students to enroll them in the retirement and insurance programs, he sensed the need for this kind of help. It was first at his encouragement and then that of Frank Schwall, who directed the Member Services Division for the Annuity Board, that I began this work. Now I am now Dean of Truett Theological Seminary, a part of Baylor University, Waco, Texas. In this new role, I am in constant contact with young people who are beginning where I began 47 years ago. It is for them and other like them that I offer this book. What I recount in this book is simply my way of baptizing, administering the Lord’s Supper, doing weddings and funerals, and conducting ordinations. They are my way, not the way. In time you will find your way. In the meantime, if what I have written is of help, then it has accomplished its purpose. Paul W. Powell July 16, 2001 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS I The Wedding The Wedding Preliminaries ............................................................. 2 Order of the Wedding Service ......................................................... 3 A Wedding Ceremony ..................................................................... 5 Variations for Wedding Ceremonies ............................................... 9 Wedding Records .......................................................................... 15 II The Funeral Importance of the Funeral Service ................................................ 20 What to Do When Somebody Dies ............................................... 21 Preparation of the Funeral Sermon ............................................... 23 Order of Service for a Funeral ...................................................... 31 Another Type of Funeral Service .................................................. 32 What to Do at the Cemetery .......................................................... 32 Suggested Funeral Sermon Texts .................................................. 34 Selected Poetry for Funerals ......................................................... 35 Funeral Record .............................................................................. 44 Funeral Sermons ........................................................................... 48 Funeral Sermon for a Christian .............................................. 48 Funeral Sermon for a Non-Christian...................................... 52 Funeral Sermon for a Child.................................................... 56 III The Ordinance of Baptism Importance of the Ordinances ....................................................... 62 Baptism ........................................................................................ 63 By Immersion ........................................................................ 66 For Believers .......................................................................... 66 As Symbol .............................................................................. 67 Baptizing People from Other Denominations ........................ 67 The Baptismal Committee ..................................................... 68 How to Baptize ...................................................................... 68 Alternate Baptismal Vows...................................................... 70 Variations in Baptizing........................................................... 71 Baptize Outside ...................................................................... 71 Let the Children See............................................................... 71 IV The Ordinance of The Lord’s Supper Understanding the Lord’s Supper ................................................. 74 Order of the Lord’s Supper ........................................................... 74 vii Variations in the Lord’s Supper ..................................................... 76 VOrdination The Importance of Ordination....................................................... 82 The Ordination of Ministers .......................................................... 84 Ordination Council ................................................................ 84 Order of Business of the Ordination Council ........................ 84 The Ordination Service .......................................................... 85 Alternate Order ...................................................................... 86 Charge to the Minister ................................................................... 87 Charge to the Church .................................................................... 92 The Ordination of Deacons ........................................................... 96 Decon Ordination Sermon ............................................................ 98 viii I The Wedding 2 The Wedding THE WEDDING PRELIMINARIES The marriage ceremony is one of the most sacred of all rituals a minister conducts. It is never merely a social event, but is always a rite in which two persons pledge themselves to each other under the blessings of God and are united by him in holy wedlock. At the outset of his ministry, Jesus attended a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and he chose that occasion to perform his first miracle. Since Jesus considered weddings significantly important enough to attend, it should be the desire of every minister to make every wedding a memorable, beautiful, and meaningful event. To ensure this requires careful planning and adequate preparation. To this end, the minister should arrange for at least two prenuptial conferences with the bride and groom, one to discuss the wedding and the other to discuss the marriage. In the first conference, detailed discussion should be given to church policies governing weddings, appropriate music, favorite scriptures, etc. In the second conference, counsel should be given to the bride and groom about marriage. Subjects such as family finances, the importance of religious faith, in-law relations, personality differences, and the physical side of marriage should be thoroughly discussed. The couple should be reminded that the wedding will last only about 30 minutes. Hopefully, the marriage will last a lifetime. Both need careful and prayerful planning. In small communities and small churches, the minister is often called on to direct the rehearsal. It is preferable for a close friend or a paid consultant to be used. This allows that person to direct both the rehearsal and the wedding. Never surrender the spiritual nature of the wedding service to anyone. You must provide all instructions for the ceremony. Accept the fact that brides and grooms are nervous. Fainting is not unheard of. Rings are sometimes dropped. Vows may be misstated. Even the minister may make a mistake. A whispered word of greeting to the bride and groom at the alter can help them relax. When possible the church should provide a bridal dressing room for the convenience of the wedding party. Everything possible should be done by the church and the minister to make the wedding as memorable as possible. Professional photographers should not make flash photos during the The Wedding 3 ceremony. If there is any doubt, tell them or have the wedding director deliver the order. You cannot control wedding guests who have the annoying habit of popping up from a pew to make their own memorable snapshot even though it is rude and disruptive. Increasingly, couples are having video records of their weddings. The cameras should be tripod mounted and available light is much preferred to spots or floods. We can only hope we do not see wedding guests bringing their camcorders to shoot between the heads of persons in front of