Ordained Ministry
Ministry in the Christian church is derived from the ministry of Christ, who calls all persons to receive God’s gift of salvation and follow in the way of love and service. The whole church receives and accepts this call, and all Christians participate in this continuing ministry.
- Paragraph 301, The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church
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 (301.2). In ordination, the church affirms and continues the apostolic ministry through persons empowered by the Holy Spirit. Ordination is fulfilled in leadership of the people of God through ministries of Service, Word, Sacrament, and Order.
Ordination takes the form of two orders in The United Methodist Church – the deacon and the elder. Within the people of God, some persons are called to the ministry of deacon. This ministry exemplifies and leads the church in the servanthood every Christian is called to live both in the church and the world. Within the people of God, other persons are called to the ministry of elder. The ministry of elder exemplifies and leads the church in service to God in the world, remembering and celebrating the gifts of God and living faithfully in response to God’s grace.
Is God calling you?