ORDINATION STANDARDS AND PROCESS

Extracted and modified from "Recommended Procedures for Ordination, Commissioning and Recognition for the Christian Ministry in the American Baptist Churches" 
 
PREREQUISITES FOR ORDINATION
The most important prerequisite for ordination, the call of God to a specialized ministry, does not yield itself to particular standards which a denomination or local congregation might establish.  this is why the call must be tested by other prerequisites or standards, especially those having to do with licensing as first step toward ordination, meeting educational standards, and a prior call to a specific place of service in which the candidate intends to serve as an ordained minister.  In these three areas it is quite appropriate that the local and wider church establish standards for ordination. 
 
STANDARDS (Track I)
1. Four years of college and three years of seminary are the educational prerequisites for recognition by the American Baptist Churches of candidates. Suitable North American seminaries will be accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.
2.  A functional knowledge of American Baptist history and polity.  This normally can be satisfied by a seminary-level course on both the history and polity of American Baptists or by a rigorous self-study course approved by the candidate's Region.

3. 

   a.  The candidate's professional ethics and intention of cooperation must be affirmed by accepting the Covenant and Code of Ethics of the Ministers Council of the American Baptist Churches

   b.  All persons seeking ordination will have completed a course in professional ethics offered either by a seminary or a region.  This course will consider areas such as professional boundary issues, relationships, confidentiality, ethics in financial matters, and other related issues which can dramatically affect the relationship between pastor and people.

4.  Candidacy assessment.  Ordained ministry involves more than academic attainment, it calls for ongoing pastoral competence, emotional and spiritual maturity, and consistent Christian character.  Therefore, candidates for ordination will complete a comprehensive career and candidacy assessment program sponsored by or in consutation with an American Baptist related Career Development Center within five years prior to examination by the regional department of ministry.

 

PROCESS
THE CANDIDATE

1. The candidate will take the necessary steps for licensing.

2.  After conferring with his/her pastor, the candidate will seek counsel from the region's Department of Professional Ministry as to procedures leading to ordination. (Visit one to the department).

3.  The candidate will be responsible for submitting documents as required by ABC-Nebraska.

4.  The candidate will inform the pastor and the appropriate local church committee concerning his/her readiness to proceed with the ordination process.

5.  The candidate will select a sponsor.  The role of the sponsor is to elicit the candidates's theological stance, the individual's understanding of who he/she is as a person, and the individual's concept of ministry.

THE LOCAL CONGREGATION

1.  The appropriate board or committee of the church to which the candidate belongs will meet with the candidate to gain information as to eligibility for ordination.  If this is the same church that licensed the candidate, then the board or comittee needs only to be informed of the progress toward the readiness for ornination since the time of licensing.

2.  The appropriate committee and the pastor, if they consider the candidate ready for ordination, will recommend that the department of ministry meet with the individual preparatory to the calling  of an ordination council.  The appropriate local church committee will suply the department of ministry with all information at its disposal.

3.  When the Department of Professional Ministry recommends the candidate for ordination, the local church should then vote to call an ordination council.

THE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL MINISTRY

1. On recommendation of the appropriate local church committee, the Department of Ministry will meet with the candidate prior to licensing and again prior to ordination.

2.  The department will ascertain:

     a.  Whether the candidates meets the standards for ordination.

     b.  Whether the candidate understands the nature of an Ordination council and will be prepared to meet with one;

     c.  Whether the candidate has given proper attention to the preparation, writing and delivery of statements to be presented to the council regarding

          (1)  Choice of vocation and call to the ministry.

          (2)  Christian experience,

          (3)  Academic and field preparation, and

          (4) General comprehension of Christian doctrine and practice, including an understanding of

               a)  God

               b) Christ

               c)  and the Holy Spirit

               d) the purpose and place of the church in todays world

               e)  an understanding of the ordinances as practiced in American Baptist Churches

               f)  personal commitment to the ABC

               g)  the role of the minister

               h)  the relationship of the local congregation to the American Baptist Churches and its ecumenical witness

               i)  and a reflection on how the ABC-Nebraska process of Churches Helping Churches applies to the candidate's ministry.

3.  The department, if it judges it appropriate, will recommend that th ecandidate's church call an ordination council.

4.  The department will make it clear to the candidate and the candidate's church that a date for the proposed ordination service will not be set until after the ordination council has met and voted to recommend the candidate for ordination.

 

STANDARDS (Track II)

Track II allows for the substitution of up to 6 years of professional ministry experience for 3 years of the educational requirement under certain conditions.  Items 2-4 of Track I continue to apply.

STANDARDS (Track III)

Track III provides a process for ordination for those who qualify under one of the following requirements.

1.  Satisfactory comletion of seminary or comparable equivalent for ordination in another country or

2.  Satisfactory completion of a lay pastor program from a U.S. seminary or an ABC Region.

3.  Completion of at least seven years of pastoral service as a pastor/lay minister of a church with at least three of those years in the region of the ordaining church.