Ordination

Romans 1:1 says, "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God..." Paul says of himself he is first a servant of Christ Jesus, something all Christians are. He then adds that not only is he a servant or slave of Jesus, but he has also been called. He has been called to be an apostle (a sent one). He was set apart for the gospel.

These two elements, the call and being set apart, are a big part of what we now call ordination. Ordination is a way of the church confirming the call to ministry for a pastor. It is also a way for the church to set him/her apart for service. Some say that ordination has no real Biblical basis, and yet Paul states he has both been called and set apart. In Acts 13:2 the Lord said that the church in Antioch should set apart Paul and Barnabas. They had hands placed on them and were sent out.

Is this not the same thing that happens in an ordination service? I believe so.

The reason I post this is because last Monday night I was interviewed for ordination. I will be getting ordained in June 2008 at our district conference. Exciting and humbling at the same time.