The meaning of ordination in the context of the general ministry of the Church has been influenced by many biblical ideas and emphasis in different churches. Within the church community, there are persons whose gifts, evidence of God’s grace, and promise of future usefulness are affirmed by the community, and who respond to God’s call by offering themselves in leadership as ordained ministers. Ordination to [apostolic] ministry is a gift from God to the church. In ordination, the church affirms and continues the apostolic ministry through persons empowered by the Holy Spirit. Therefore the church tries to use these gifts and talents by setting apart those called into the ministry. The gifts and the calling are tested by the community at which the individual is going to serve. Not the self called self sent style. (See my article on Ordination)
Servant leaders are called to be effective in meeting the needs of their followers. Hence they are expected to perform at their best. The standard set forth to accessing leadership helps pastoral leaders to focus away from self-serving, domineering leadership and makes those being served to think harder about how to respect value and motivate people reporting to them. I would call this supervised ministry. Although developed in a secular world it is amazing how the same works for religious organization like most hierarchical churches. A minister is a servant leader - this is because he or she leads the followers.
Personally I admire the principles of servant leadership. It is the image of SERVANT with its slave-like connotation- that is problematic and misleading. It is my understanding that servant leadership requires the practice of certain disciplines (habits we practice to please the Lord). These disciplines are key elements of "abiding in Christ.”
Paul, the apostle, exhorted the Ephesians elders in his farewell address: "Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son" (Acts 20:28). Pastoral ministry is far more than a matter of overseeing programs or supervising an organization. Pastors serve as shepherds overseeing the spiritual progress of persons of sacred worth. If membership in the church is vitally related to the operation of God's grace and our human response of repentance, then pastoral leaders within the church ministry serve as co-workers with God. They are partners of the Holy Spirit in offering a listening and sensitive heart, counseling, guiding, encouraging, and offering spiritual direction to those in whom God's grace is working for salvation. The work of a shepherd involves both compassionate support and correction offered with love and winsomeness.
These duties, responsibilities (and others not mentioned here) are delineated under a fourfold ministry of the Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service.
The biblical understanding of the pastor as overseer of the church, defines the pastor as the administrative officer of the local church given responsibility to administer the provisions of the Discipline, Doctrine and other teachings of the individual church The appointed pastor in charge has the duty and responsibility to exercise responsible pastoral judgment in determining who may be received into membership of a local church. This applies to most churches that have pastoral leadership model in place. I mean this is consistent with all the churches that follow the biblical image of pastor as overseer.
Servant leaders are called to be effective in meeting the needs of their followers. Hence they are expected to perform at their best. The standard set forth to accessing leadership helps pastoral leaders to focus away from self-serving, domineering leadership and makes those being served to think harder about how to respect value and motivate people reporting to them. I would call this supervised ministry. Although developed in a secular world it is amazing how the same works for religious organization like most hierarchical churches. A minister is a servant leader - this is because he or she leads the followers.
Personally I admire the principles of servant leadership. It is the image of SERVANT with its slave-like connotation- that is problematic and misleading. It is my understanding that servant leadership requires the practice of certain disciplines (habits we practice to please the Lord). These disciplines are key elements of "abiding in Christ.”
Paul, the apostle, exhorted the Ephesians elders in his farewell address: "Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son" (Acts 20:28). Pastoral ministry is far more than a matter of overseeing programs or supervising an organization. Pastors serve as shepherds overseeing the spiritual progress of persons of sacred worth. If membership in the church is vitally related to the operation of God's grace and our human response of repentance, then pastoral leaders within the church ministry serve as co-workers with God. They are partners of the Holy Spirit in offering a listening and sensitive heart, counseling, guiding, encouraging, and offering spiritual direction to those in whom God's grace is working for salvation. The work of a shepherd involves both compassionate support and correction offered with love and winsomeness.
These duties, responsibilities (and others not mentioned here) are delineated under a fourfold ministry of the Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service.
The biblical understanding of the pastor as overseer of the church, defines the pastor as the administrative officer of the local church given responsibility to administer the provisions of the Discipline, Doctrine and other teachings of the individual church The appointed pastor in charge has the duty and responsibility to exercise responsible pastoral judgment in determining who may be received into membership of a local church. This applies to most churches that have pastoral leadership model in place. I mean this is consistent with all the churches that follow the biblical image of pastor as overseer.
