Ministry Resources
Ordination Service and Guidelines for Ordination for the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ)
II. General information and background
A. Policies and Criteria for the Order of Ministry of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has given additional
expression to its theological understanding of ministry through
its statement, "Policies and Criteria for the Order of
Ministry." This statement was first adopted by the General
Assembly in 1971, and amended in subsequent Assemblies. Following
are some key paragraphs from this statement that begin to identify
some of the procedures for the service of ordination.
- The Ministry of Jesus Christ — Within
the church the fundamental ministry is that of Jesus Christ,
whose servanthood, offered to God on behalf of humanity, defines
and gives character to all ministry expressed in His name.
("Policies and Criteria for the Order of Ministry,"
I.A.)
- The Corporate Ministry — As head
of His body, the Church, Christ calls upon His people to participate
in His ministry, and thus to make known in the life of the
world the reality of God as Creator, Lord of History, Judge,
Savior, Parent. By baptism, all Christians are inducted into
the corporate ministry of God's people and by sharing in it
fulfill their own calling as servants of Christ. ("Policies
and Criteria for the Order of Ministry," I.B.)
- The Order of Ministry — Within the
ministry of the whole people of God there is, and has been
from the beginning, a representative ministry called of God
and authorized by the church. While all Christians share in
the corporate ministry, the term minister particularly describes
a person to whom the church entrusts representative responsibility.
Through the centuries this Order of Ministry, in various offices,
has been responsible to lead in transmitting the Christian
tradition from one generation to another, translating and
interpreting the Scriptures, proclaiming the gospel of Christ,
administering the sacraments, serving to maintain a company
of Christians in continuity with the life and faith of the
Apostles, and acting as pioneers and leaders in the church's
reconciling mission in the world. ("Policies and Criteria
for the Order of Ministry," I.C.)
- Authorization to Ordain on Behalf of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) — Within these
policies and criteria, established by the General Assembly
of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the regions
and their related congregations share responsibility of ordination.
Specifically assigned to the regions is the responsibility
to establish procedures and evaluate applicants, admit them
to candidacy, care for their nurture, authorize ordination,
and supervise the act of ordination. ("Policies and Criteria
for the Order of ministry)," III.B.)
- The Act of Ordination
- The act of ordination shall be under the authorization and
guidance of the region.
- The candidate shall be recommended for ordination by a recognized
congregation or congregations of the Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ), including one in which membership is held.
- Representatives of the recommending congregation or congregations,
the region, and, if possible, the general and ecumenical church
ordinarily shall participate in the act of ordination.
- The service shall ordinarily take place in the congregation.
- The certificate of ordination shall be issued by the region
and signed by appropriate officials of the church and participants
in the ceremony. ("Policies and Criteria for the Order
of Ministry," III.D.)
B. The Character of the Ordination Service
The service of ordination is an act of the whole Church rather
than of an individual. The service celebrates the setting apart
of a person for representative Christian ministry. It is a service
of praise and thanksgiving for the gifts of ministry. It includes
solemn covenants, the laying on of hands, prayer invoking the
Holy Spirit, and the celebration of the Lord's Supper.
The service gives witness to God's continuing care for the
world through the Church and its leadership. It is a time to
give witness to our wholeness in God and the unity of the Church.
Representatives of congregations, the region, the general and
ecumenical church ordinarily participate in the service.
The service deserves the utmost care and preparation in order
to give glory to God and to uphold the sacred calling of the
office of the ministry.
Chapter III >
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