Godly Ordained Offices in the Church

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Today we are going to discuss and review from scripture the various aspects of the ministry. I think now is a good time to do this.... why?...SO THAT, you might seriously pray for God's blessing and guidance on who will take over the next generation of ministry. Knowing what is important to God in this area of your lives should add detail and specificity to your prayers and help you pray in accordance with His will rather than your own.

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Godly Ordained Offices and Responsibilities
Today we are going to discuss and review from scripture the various aspects of the ministry. I think now is a good time to do this.... why?...SO THAT, you might seriously pray for God's blessing and guidance on who will take over the ministry here in Raleigh/Greensboro. Knowing what is important to God in this area of your lives should add detail and specificity to your prayers and help you pray in accordance with His will rather than your own.
Jesus Christ is the Head of The Church
The establishment, development, and continuation of ordained offices and responsibilities begins and ends with Christ.
  • During His ministry in the flesh He picked out, and developed 12 people. So He initiated human leadership in the Church and gave them authority and responsibility to act in His name.
  • Then the power of His holy spirit He guided the expansion of the ordained offices within the Church to provide ongoing leadership, authority and responsibility over a wider and geographically spread out Church 1 Corinthians 12:28 (God has appointed...), Ephesians 4:11 (Christ has given you...), Acts 20:28 (the holy spirit has made some overseers).
Acts 13:2-3... 1 Timothy 1:12 Paul understood he was placed in the ministry by Christ... Colossians 4:17 ordination received by another from Paul…  was really  of God.
So pray to God, adjust your thoughts according to His known will, but also letting your thoughts be known. The outcome will affect your lives quite a bit.
Defining a Minister
We use the word "minister" to cover all the various functions Christ placed within the Church. Where you read the word minister readers in the original language (Greek) would have read a variety of different words...
  • Diakonos - a servant attendant, minister
  • Leitourgos - one who discharges a public office at his own expense, IE public servant
  • Huperetes - an under rower in a galley IE a subordinate acting under another's direction
  • Doulos - bondservant.... oiketes - a household servant... misthios - a hired servant
Diakonos (most common) views his service in relation to his work, Doulos in relation to his master, Huperetes in relation to his public service. Together they make up God's intent for righteous leadership. He can "serve by leading"... and he can “lead by serving". Two different perspectives both totally valid when guided by God's spirit. What we want is a nice blend and that is something you can specifically pray about.
Job Description (8 Points for your prayers)
1 Peter 5:1-4 through the human instruments that He ordains God want ministers to; educate, care for, provide an environment where people can spiritually grow and flourish. Now, spiritually growing to me becomes real in three key ways: 1) knowledge 2) doing 3) attitude.
  1. Ministers are to be fellow workers for your joy (2 Corinthians 1:24). Note: his job is not to make you happy. Rather the joy you have comes from knowing and understanding that what you are going through has purpose (I think this fits firmly in the knowledge category).
  2. Ministers are to be examples to the flock (see also 1 Timothy 4:12). Speech, conduct, and love - which I think correlate to knowledge (speech), doing (conduct), love (attitude).
  3. Titus 1:5 he is make sure the congregations affairs are organized, and to develop future leaders. This leans heavily towards the doing category.
  4. The ministry is to teach the Church, but also those who do not yet believe. How shall they call on Him to whom they have not believed? How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14-15.... For a pastor (in contrast to an evangelist) a lot of that involves giving thought and attention to visitors, people who come to us wanting to know more about the Church, also extended family of Church members etc..
  5. Ephesians 4:11-16 his job is not to make you all into ministers in the present, but to be prepared to serve alongside Christ at His return as part of the universe ruling family of God... the small acts of service you do now in the Church of God are but preparation for bigger plans God has for you... so encouraging you to help out with the conduct of the service, urging you towards acts of hospitality among brethren, asking you to pray for one another are all pointing you towards the KOG. A good minister will facilitate this.
  6. A good minister of Christ will Preach the word - 1 Timothy 4:6 note the context involves heavy things like marriage, and small things like attitudes toward food and drink. 2 Timothy 4:2. He should also exhortation (encouraging and uplifting with an eye towards the upward calling)... rebuke (guarding against heresy invading the congregation)... correct (taking disciplinary measures to protect the congregation). Sometimes correction is about matters out in the open which everyone is aware of... sometimes correction is about matters taking place behind the scenes.
    1. Correction - includes fellow elders 1 Timothy 5:19-20 ... no good old boys club!... and members 2 Timothy 2:25-26.
  7. A good minister will serve as your window into the Church of God at large... passing along information about national events, the international works of the Church etc.... Ephesians 6:21-22. (the Church is bigger than just what is going on here in Raleigh/Greensboro).
  8. Through all this a minister should never exercise the authority of his ordained office in a way that is tyrannical... or lording over his brothers and sisters 1 Peter 5:3. (this falls into the category of attitude... and to a lesser degree example).
A Minister is Accountable
Your pastor is not lord and master over over his small kingdom. He is himself under authority (an under-rower who answers to his superiors). He might be tasked with doing things on a local level based on directives he gets from somewhere else. But UCG is pretty light handed in this area and gives ministers a lot of autonomy.
However, ministry is a very influential role (for good, or bad). Paul warned the Ephesian congregation about this when he was set to depart Acts 20:29-30. I use this scripture not as a warning that you should fear with regard to my replacement(s)... It might be an improvement...  but this verse should remind you that the office is one of persuasive influence that can both good or bad.
So, you ought to pray earnestly for God's guidance, will, and providence with regard to the next generation of ministry... here and everywhere. Although there is a great need for replacement ministry RIGHT NOW... we are warned to no ordain anyone hastily 1 Timothy 5:22.
Because of this autonomy and power to influence ministers are reminded of their accountability:
Negative - let not many of you become teachers knowing that you will receive stricter judgment.
Positive - let the elders who rule well be counted of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
Personal Profile of a Minister (9 More Points to pray for)
1 Timothy 3:1-7
  1. He ought to be "of good reputation full of the holy spirit and wisdom"... (falls into the doing category)... puts emphasis on what is publicly know about the person. They should be blameless... not open to charges or accusations. These traits should be apparent even to outsiders.
  2. He ought to be a family man. So, committed to his marriage, and able to handle his family responsibilities well. Presumably, these traits will indicate how he will handle the family of God which is the congregation.
  3. Emotional maturity - not an extreme person... but a balanced and even temper (sober-minded),
  4. Gentle... not quick to draw swords... (not quarrelsome or quick tempered... not a fighter, yet not unwilling to take a stand for what is right as defined by God's word)
  5. Not overly interested in, or influenced by, money... (not greedy or covetous... people with money like to cozy up to the ministry... that ought not influence his decisions)... if you know God's laws, statutes and judgments that means not a social justice warrior either. You shall not take sides with the rich against the poor, or take sides with the poor against the rich. One law for rich and poor, one law for sojourner and citizen alike. Favoritism is not allowed.
  6. A socially engaged person - given to hospitality and encouraging you to do likewise
  7. A well-grounded and capable teacher - but even more-so a trusted one "holding fast to the faithful word AS HE HAS BEEN TAUGHT, that he may be able BY SOUND DOCTRINE, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. (So there are situations where swords must be drawn).
  8. Not a newbie - 1 Timothy 3:6 we see a lot of people come into our congregations very excited about the truth... but we also see a lot of these people quickly burn out and go off seeking greener pastures… often because they see themselves as a teacher more than a learner. You want someone who is in it for the duration.
    1. Paul after his conversion on the road to Damascus was around for about 14 years in relative obscurity in Tarsus before Barnabas brought him to Antioch and into evangelical work. I cam e in as an outsider and was around for about 10 years before I ever lead songs, or gave a sermonette.
    2. Timothy was brought into the ministry when he was a young man... but he had grown up in the Church... learned the scriptures and basic teachings from his mother. So having grown up in  the faith is also something to take into consideration.
  9. Titus 1:7  A good minister will consider himself to be a good steward of God - a steward means doing what is in the best interests of the Church... what is in the best interests of the circuit... what is in the best interest of the congregation... what is in the best interests of ALL the members. That might mean making decisions that are not necessarily in YOUR interests.
Conclusion
Wow, if you get a person who checks all the boxes here you will have leveled up!
Seems impossible... to good to be true... not realistic... not possible.
But with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. Pray for a good outcome, for the church, for yourselves, and for the furthering of God's truth in this part of the country. I've given you plenty of things to pray about, to ask God to provide.
Please take up the task and be blessed.
Craig Scott

Craig Scott pastors the United Church of God congregations in Raleigh, Greensboro and Jacksonville, North Carolina.