Reading: Ecuministry Ordinations (Video Slides)

Ecuministry Ordinations

Henry Reyenga

For Who?

Are you:

Just taking a few classes

Justice Individuals taking Classes

Already Ordained Locally or Denominationally?

Not Sure?

Are you someone who seeks ordination as a minister?

Ordination Brought Reproducibility to the New Leader Cultivation Stucture

Within one hundred years of the resurrection, leaders were recognized as ordained. This recognition answered the questions: How are future Christian leaders of the Church going to be noticed from other Christians who are not called into service? How will the community know those who are set apart into ministry? 

Most people expect some marker that tells us that someone is prepared and qualified to act as a leader. This question came up in the book of Timothy when the apostle Paul talked about the reproducible qualifications of the office of Elder and Deacon. 

The Apostle Paul saw ordination as an office bearer as a good thing!  

1 Timothy 3:1   The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. ESV

Shallow Ordinations

These types of ordinations are usually legal in most places in the USA. These ordinations, however, are considered shallow in most circles. Why?

1. There is no independent verification that the ordination candidate walks with God or possesses the internal calling and the external calling. 

2. There is no community of Christians or Christian leaders who commend these leaders. The apostle Paul commended Phoebe as a deacon, Phoebe did not commend herself. Roman 16:1

3. There is no biblical training system that prepares Christian leaders. And there is no one way to independently verify that someone actually did prepare for ministry. 

4. Since these ordinations are mere transactions, a small percentage of these ordinations have occurred in local churches by existing ordained leaders.

Many Hoops to Ordination

On the other side of the coin, most denominations have long and complicated paths to ordination that stop the ordination of many called Christian leaders. I was ordained in the Christian Reformed Church in 1988 as a Minister of the Word. To qualify as a candidate for ordination in this denomination, I had to get my bachelor degree from a US Department of Education college. Then, with good grades, I could be accepted into Calvin Seminary. I received my Masters of Divinity at Calvin. After graduating from Calvin Seminary, I was still not ordained. I went through preaching tests, a psychological test, church examinations at regional gatherings called "Classis" meetings. Somehow, I had to get a calling from a local Christian Reformed church that was willing to provide me with a paid position.

Ordinations on the Spot

Many independent or charismatic churches do not have a consistent pattern for the ordaining of leaders. Many churches require no formal ministry training. The strength of this model is that more Christian leaders are able to be ordained into the ministry. The weakness is that without some important process in place, many ordained leaders are ordained before the due process. The apostle Paul warns  "Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure." 1 Timothy. 5:22 NIV 

Different Ordination Ranks

It appears that those with a seminary education and ordination have a higher ranking as clergy. This clergy ordination seems to garner more respect. A large number in every society believe this way for a number of reasons:

1. Those that have done formal ministry training are perceived to know more about the Bible and ministry-related topics.

2. Most want to put the care of their souls into the hands of trained and qualified people.

3. Many people have met people who were ordained online who had no training. The lack of training is noticed and the ordination is not trusted. 

4. People intuitively want their leaders to study the subject of their leadership. 

Other Characteristics of Current “Clergy” Ordinations

1. Completed training in their area of leadership.

2. That training was highly regarded with quality professors and teachers.

3. The individual was in connection with existing church leadership for accountability.

4. A process of recommendations from others confirmed the ordained candidates internal and external calling.

5. Some directory includes this person's name and what they have accomplished.

6. They have been ordained at a local church with the laying on of hands.

CLI Includes All these Elements

All these processes are present as you study at Christian Leaders Institute. You begin your studies examining your calling for ministry. You learn who you are and what God has called you to do. You find a local mentor community to help you. You plug into a local church. When you are ordained, you are ordained in a local church setting as a deacon minister. 

Since CLI is free and generosity supported, one does not need to go into debt to be fully trained and duly ordained. 

Upgraded Local Leaders Ordination

Local Ordinations of Local Elders and Deacons is common through out Christendom.

You begin your studies examining your calling for ministry. You learn who you are and what God has called you to do. You find a local mentor community to help you. You plug into a local church. When you are ordained, you are ordained in a local church setting as a deacon minister. 

Since CLI is free and generosity supported, one does not need to go into debt to be fully trained and duly ordained.  

Local Ordained Leaders Are Not Respected As Much

Most traditions have one thing in common. Local ordained Elders and Deacons are usually not expected to receive any formal ministry training. Because ministry training is lacking, the general public and many in the churches where they were ordained do not take these ordinations very seriously. No credible International ordination directory will list them. 

The office bearers that receive the formal training are the pastors who go to seminary or Bible college. The exception to this is in the Charismatic tradition where the pastor who planted a church and it grows is given great authority. Many times they themselves realize that they need formal ministry training.  

Christian Leaders Institute Brings Formal Ministry Training to Anyone!

Most ordination systems have local ordinations that lack one piece. That one piece is high-quality ministry training. Christian Leaders Institute provides that one piece that works with most local ordination systems.  Christian Leaders Institute can assist called Christian leaders into an ordination where they are ordained as local leaders and have all the ordination standing needed to be highly respected. 

Christian Leaders Institute Brings Formal Ministry Training to Anyone!

This means local pastors can mobilize their local leaders, who will be more effective. This also means that called Christian leaders have an effective series of steps that give them a highly respected ordination that includes local leaders, ministry training at Christian Leaders Institute, and international recognition at Christian Leaders Alliance. 

Ecuministry

Non-denominational

Denominational

Pentecostal

Baptist

Congregational

Ancient:

Local Ministry Cultivated

The local church is raising up the next generation of Christian leaders. Revival-seeking ministers are looking for those who will join the team to proclaim Christ. Many times this means recruiting believers in their churches to use their gifts for ministry. Some of these believers may sense the call to ministry. These upcoming leaders need mentoring and coaching in how to serve in their local churches and communities.

The Christian Leaders Alliance desires to help those seeking ordination and the church leaders who desire to support this process. The ordination program is locally focused to help pastors to mobilize local leaders to help in their local communities.

Local Ecuministry Ordination Touch Points

The Christian Leaders Alliance is “ecuministry” focused. We coined a new word. The word "ecumenical" has the following definition: “The adjective ecumenical refers to something universal, or something that has a wide, general application. In the world of Christianity, it refers to a universal ordination that has wide application.”  Vocabulary.com

The word "ministry" is a verb, noun, and an adjective in English. These words center around “the work the religious leader does in serving a congregation or local community.”

Local Ecuministry Ordination Touch Points

Another word closely related is coined as “ecuminister.” We define this term as referring to “a Christian leader who is ordained to do ministry in a wide range of settings in Christendom.”

While the Christian Leaders Alliance comes from a biblical perspective, we are careful to center on ministry training that does not focus on the differences between the strands of Christianity. Instead, the curriculum is to be beneficial for ministry leaders throughout Christendom.

Local Deacon Minister Ordination

After students finish their first two classes, they have an opportunity to pursue this Local Ecuministry Ordination. Students can enroll in a one credit-hour class that goes over what a deacon minister ordination means.

They are taught ministry. They must receive three recommendations from endorsers:

• One recommendation from their spouse (if married) or another family member
• One from their local pastor/mentor
• One from a person in their community

Review of the Christian Leaders Alliance Steps for Ordination as a Minister

• Enrollment for Ministry Training at Christian Leaders Institute
• Take the Getting Started Class (4 Credits) and the Christian Basics (3 Credits)
• Take the Deacon Minister Course (1 Credit)
• Take more ministry training depending on the ministry role you are preparing for
• Commissioning to a specialized Ordained Ministry