Independent Baptist Ordination
Biblical Criteria for Ordaining Independent Baptist Preachers
How should independent Baptist churches ordain Baptist preachers? What biblical criteria should guide ordination in independent Baptist churches?
Independent Baptist churches are independent. That may come across as a rather obvious statement, but it is also very significant to the issue of ordination. More mainline, organized denominations have well-established, clear-cut procedures and policies for ordination. By contrast, independent Baptist churches have ordination policies and procedures that run the gamut.
How should independent Baptist churches ordain preachers and pastors? And what should aspiring Baptist pastors do to prepare for ordination?
Pastors, Elders, Preachers, Bishops - What's in a Name?
In the New Testament, the terms "pastor," "bishop," and "elder" are used interchangeably, indicating that there was little distinction in the early church. The one exception to this seems to be with the office of bishop. It would appear that, as the churches in each city grew, multiple congregations and meeting places were required. This necessitated a plurality of elders, and one senior pastor (probably the "bishop") to manage things.
It is clear, however, by these names that a pastor is to shepherd (the actual meaning of "pastor") and lead the church. And senior pastors in larger churches have an even greater responsibility of oversight.
Pastors: Men Only?
A strict reading of the New Testament shows that the pastoral office is limited to men. The apostle Paul told Timothy: "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence." (I Timothy 2:12)
This passage has caused enormous controversy, particularly in modern times. Nevertheless, evangelicals and fundamentalists believe in the authority of the Bible and the need to subordinate their personal feelings and desires to the Word of God. Consequently, virtually all conservative, evangelical churches (including and perhaps especially independent Baptist churches) limit the pastoral office to men. Whether this is appropriate or sexist will be the subject of a future article.
Biblical Qualifications
According to the apostle Paul, a person desiring the office of "bishop" and/or seeking the pastorate must meet the following qualifications (drawn from I Timothy 3):
- A desire to serve - a pastor should be called by God and should want to serve (this is reinforced by the apostle Peter in his first epistle)
- Blameless - calls to mind Pilate's verdict on Jesus: "I find no fault in this man."
- Husband of one wife - no polygamists or bigamists allowed
- Temperate - self-disciplined
- Sober-minded - contemplative and not given to irrational or irresponsible thinking / behavior
- Good behavior - self-explanatory
- Hospitable - friendly, compassionate, and welcoming
- Able to teach - kind of an obvious one
- Not given to wine - a modern day application would involve any form of substance abuse (liquor, drugs, etc)
- Not violent - wife-beaters need not apply, nor should anyone that is abusive
- Not greedy for money - this disqualifies a great deal of TV preachers out there!
- Gentle and not quarrelsome - there goes Fred Phelps and quite a few more firebrand, judgmental ultra-fundamentalists!
- Not covetous - includes previous admonition against greed, but also encompasses other kinds of covetousness (such as looking at other men's wives, etc.)
- One who rules his own house well - if the pastor can't take care of his own family or properly raise his own kids, he's not qualified
- Not a "novice" - the pastor should be spiritually and emotionally mature and at least a little seasoned and educated
- Solid testimony and reputation
Preparing for Ordination
Once a church has identified an individual who feels called by God to pastoral service and who has met the above qualifications, the ordination process should begin. That process should include a time of preparation and training, coupled with close mentorship and examination.
Independent Baptist churches prize their independence, but this lack of accountability should not be abused. Paul warns against using our "liberty in Christ" to cause others to stumble. A wrongfully ordained pastor can and will cause many Christians to stumble!
No independent Baptist church should ordain a man who does not meet the above biblical criteria for pastoral service. And no person should seek ordination that hasn't met these qualifications.
