This morning, we will have an ordination of Douglas Jones to the ministry, right after our reading of Scripture. Doug has been an elder in our church for many years, and so this ordination calls for a little explanation. Our local church polity follows the pattern of Calvin’s Geneva, and is called the “four-office view.” This refers to the office of deacon, which is an office of service. The other three offices are offices which share the rule of the church, and are the offices of minister, teacher, and ruling (or parish) elder.
All three of these offices cooperate together in the rule of the church, but they are not just one office. For example, a man who is elected as a parish elder could not, if the elders just decided, simply be moved over to the ministry. The ministers and teachers share in the rule, but their vocation is broader than that of the parish elders, and such a move calls for a separate ordination.
Now Doug has faithfully served us for a number of years as a teacher, but in the last few years has been doing more and more ministerial and pastoral work, in counseling and in preaching the Word. In the CREC, before someone is called to the ministry, the local church has to take into consideration the recommendation of presbytery. Doug has taken a series of biblical and theological exams, culminating in an oral exam this last October at presbytery. As result, the examination committee enthusiastically recommended to our session that he be ordained to the ministry, which our session is now acting on.
Not all ministers have the same apportionment in their duties. I usually preach and teach, and administer the sacraments, in addition to counseling. Mike Lawyer, also a minister, does quite a bit of pastoral counseling. Doug will be doing some of both, but feels a special call to mercy ministries, which you will be hearing about, Lord willing, as opportunities develop and unfold.
As we come to ordain Doug to the ministry, please be in prayer for him, and for our entire congregation, as we are seeking to grow up into a mature polity, one that honors God by following His Word carefully.