The church is the Bride of Christ, precious in God’s sight and central to His plan of redemption. Jesus, as the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22–23; Colossians 1:18), promised to guide and sustain His people until the day He gathers them to Himself. Until then, He has entrusted the care of His Bride to shepherds—pastors, elders, and overseers—called to lead with humility, integrity, and unwavering commitment to His Word. The ordination process is not merely a tradition, but a biblically-grounded step in affirming a man’s call to ministry.
Note: The parameters set forth below may be placed on anyone in an “overseer” role, which includes deacons. For the purpose of this writing, the term “pastor” will be used.
A High and Holy Calling
Pastoral ministry begins with a divine call, not human ambition. As Paul writes, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1). This calling demands that a pastor meets specific biblical qualifications, including being above reproach, faithful to his wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, and gentle, among other qualifications (1 Timothy 3:2–7).
Titus reiterates these qualifications, emphasizing that an overseer must hold firmly to “give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). God calls ordinary men, redeemed by His grace, to shepherd His people. This call is not based on human merit, but on God’s sovereignty and the man’s submission to the Holy Spirit’s work in his life (1 Peter 5:1–3).
The Role of the Church in Ordination
While God initiates the call on a man’s life, the local church plays a vital role in affirming it. Scripture establishes a pattern of recognizing and appointing leaders through the collective discernment of the church. In Acts 13:2–3, the Holy Spirit directed the church in Antioch to set apart Barnabas and Saul for ministry. The church fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, commissioning them for the work God had called them to do. Similarly, Paul instructed Titus to “appoint elders in every town as I directed you” (Titus 1:5), highlighting the importance of structured and intentional affirmation.
Ordination serves as a public acknowledgment of God’s call, gifting, and preparation of a man for ministry. It ensures that those stepping into pastoral roles have been tested and affirmed according to biblical standards.
A Biblically-Grounded Process of Ordination
The ordination process reflects the principles laid out in Scripture for preparing and affirming church leaders. Each step is rooted in biblical teaching:
- Application and Licensing
After submitting an application, the local church is the first place where a man’s sense of calling is tested. Licensing serves as a provisional acknowledgment of a man’s calling and provides time for him to prove his character and gifting (1 Timothy 5:22, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands”). It allows the church to observe his faithfulness in smaller responsibilities before entrusting him with greater ones (Luke 16:10).
- Mentorship
Mentoring of pastoral candidates is consistent with Paul’s model of discipleship. He instructed Timothy to “entrust [what you have learned] to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). When a candidate spends time meeting with other godly men who currently hold the role of pastor, he will gain wise counsel from those who have come before him. Mentorship helps ensure candidates are equipped for the variety of responsibilities included in pastoral ministry, including teaching, leadership, shepherding, and administration (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2).
- Theological Study and Reflection
A pastor must be able to “rightly handle the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). In addition to studying Scripture itself, studying scripturally-based literature on leadership and pastoral qualifications helps a pastoral candidate formulate an accurate and deeply thought through view of the office of pastor. A candidate will then be able to clearly articulate his scriptural understanding of the qualifications of a pastor. This aligns with the biblical mandate for leaders to be grounded in Scripture and equipped to teach sound doctrine (Titus 1:9).
- Family and Personal Health
Scripture ties a pastor’s leadership in the church to his ability to lead his own family well (1 Timothy 3:4–5). Counseling and mentorship for the candidate and his wife should reflect the pastoral role as a family calling, ensuring the couple is spiritually and emotionally prepared to serve together.
- Ordination Council
The examination by an ordination council mirrors the process seen in Acts 15, where church leaders gathered to discuss doctrinal matters and affirm the direction of the church. This step ensures candidates are doctrinally sound and able to shepherd effectively (Acts 20:28).
Why Ordination Matters
Ordination is more than a ceremony—it is a covenant between the pastor, the church, and God. It publicly recognizes a man’s call to shepherd, his alignment with biblical qualifications, and the church’s affirmation of his readiness to lead. This process protects the integrity of pastoral ministry, ensuring that the church puts leaders in place who are called, prepared, and affirmed according to God’s design.
Paul’s charge to Timothy captures the gravity of pastoral ministry: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). The ordination process equips and affirms pastors to fulfill this charge with faithfulness and diligence.
As a church, we must pray for God to raise up faithful shepherds and commit to supporting a structured ordination process. God is a God of order, and this solemn process ensures our pastors are biblically qualified and spiritually prepared to lead.
