Is your pastor licensed? Does it even matter?

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Kary Oberbrunner

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In a postmodern culture, does it even matter if pastors are licensed or ordained?

In your profession, whether you’re a counselor or a mechanic, do people have to be licensed?

What’s the benefit?

In small town Ohio for a meeting on it today? Would love to know if you think it’s important for pastors to undergo some form of a credentialing process? There’s a bunch of hype out there regarding this topic as well as if seminaries are producing relevant pastors. Check out the article and weigh in.

Description of todays meeting below:

Heartland GBC (140 E High St., Edison, OH 43320 – that’s on SR 95) will be the site for our Spring meeting. We are preparing a discussion of the basis and benefits of the credentialing process. Why should a minister be licensed or ordained? What does it mean when it happens? Mark your calendar now for 9:30-12:00 on Thursday, May 14. After lunch, you are invited to stay for the District Missions meeting.

http://jasonsalamun.com jason

it seems they’re asking the wrong question.

it’s not “why should a minister be licensed?”
the better question is “what does scripture say about it?”

we christians get in trouble when we add requirements that aren’t in scripture.
http://www.davidsnet.ws/biblical Peter Davids

The basic question is whether anyone has checked out and stands behind the character, call, and skill of the pastor? Why should I trust someone who has not submitted himself or herself to a credentialing process? Is he or she likely to build my faith or subtly (or not so subtly) undermine it? Have serious character faults been found in this person or have appropriate checks turned up none? If on is in a tradition in which a pastor arises from within a face-to-face community and serves only that community, no, credentialing/ordination is not important, for the answers to all of these questions are known to all. But if I enter a new community or if the pastor is called from outside the community, they are quite important. Furthermore, they link the community through the pastor to something larger than that church community. I would say that for any Christian group, but it takes greater significance in some, such as in the Anglican Communion.
http://www.davidmacomber.com davidmac!

I would love to hear the outcome of this post/meeting. This is something I have struggled with for a while, because I feel called to preach and share the gospel. But have such a hard time in seminary and schooling. I have enrolled twice and dropped out twice as well. This has kept me from a becoming “full time” minister.

I still use my gifts and talents to encourage those around me on a volunteer level because I feel I receive a word from God and learn so much through experiences, prayer, meditation, reading and others.

(ps. I also work as a professional designer with out a degree, but clients don’t care because my portfolio does the talking for me… can it be the same for ministers?)
ministerabroad

I think that you need to also be aware that in some cultures it is necessary to have credentials in order to exercise a profession. So there is merit to licensure. But there is no ‘seminary’ requirement for licensure in the FGBC. Being capable to handle God’s Word and defend your beliefs and having the character necessary is what is important. But some official stamp is necessary to help instill confidence that you are not just some random guy who just convinced everyone that he is a pastor. Also don’t forget that in the USA you need to have a license to marry people. It is always good to do things how the government wants it done
http://www.danielgoepfrich.com Daniel Goepfrich

I don’t know about everywhere, but when I began in the ministry, in Indiana I wasn’t allowed to marry people legally without being either licensed or ordained by a recognized church.
http://www.ramblingsofpassion.wordpress.com Adam Lehman

These are important:
-training in the scriptures
-mentoring of pastors
-education in doctrine and theology
-development of gifts and skills
-continual growth in depth of love with God and man

does seminary do these things? yes. Is seminary the only way to see that these things are done? no. Does someone definitely have these characteristics because they went to seminary? no.

you don’t make your spouse go to “spouse school.” before you marry them. You simply spend time with them. Learn their heart. Learn some faults. And then dive headlong into a deep deep deep relationship. So much trust. So much unknown.
Nathanael S

In Acts 15 the early church leaders sent a letter of commendation along with Paul and Barnabas as they went on their journey to Antioch. Granted there were other things going on in Antioch, namely people preaching circumcision to the gentiles. However, if the possibility of theological confusion warranted the writing of a document authorizing Paul and Barnabas to speak authoritatively on behalf of the apostles in the first century, perhaps licensure is just the modern day version of the same. Not sure, but food for thought.
http://www.purpose4you.com Dion Evans

This is an interesting debate that has raged for a while. I think credentials serve a purpose. Do they stop someone from serving, but they do matter. Paul ordained (affirmed and commissioned) and he was ordained as well. In addition, no one would let a lawyer try a case w/o evidence of law school nor would we allow a doctor to treat or operate w/o evidence of medical school. Just a thought.
http://www.karyoberbrunner.com Kary Oberbrunner

Thanks for the comments guys. It’s a hot topic….being tested and approved. Seminary isn’t THE answer, but it might be part of the answer.

The Apostle Paul thought that an individual must not be a novice nor untested.

Whether a formal license or ordination is the answer…I will not submit to that, but a local church must test and approve their leaders.

In some areas places a seminary can be a venue (although there are some graduates who get a diploma, but have major character flaws).

We cannot trust an institution alone to approve of a minister. We must rely on the Holy Spirit and the local church as well….and no one who lacks seminary training should feel like they are second class.

Just read 1 Peter 2:5-9 to understand the priesthood of all believers. There are no second class citizens and the division of clergy and laity is killing many churches in the West.

Some verses to consider in 1 Timothy 3:

6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
gerald hunt

It’s called ordination and is done by the laying on of hands in scripture. The Church in fact should have a say in who is and isn’t qualified as a minister. It is not a right to be Christ’s minister. It is a calling and not a calling that is simply up to the individual to discern. The Church also must discern whether this person has a calling or self ambition.

I am Catholic and so yes, my pastor is “licensed”. Christ’s authority was passed on through his apostles and Bishops today to ordain and teach.

God bless
gerald hunt

Kary,
Yes, we are all called to a “preisthood”. But the preisthood of beleivers was an old testament doctrine as well if you look back in Ex 19 I believe it is.

5] Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine,
[6] and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Peter is only drawing on that text in the matter. That didn’t not remove the neccessity of there being a ministerial priesthood.

By the way, FYI Catholicism teaches the preisthood of believers.
gerald hunt

FYI here is official Catholic teaching on the matter from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1547 The ministerial or hierarchical priesthood of bishops and priests, and the common priesthood of all the faithful participate, “each in its own proper way, in the one priesthood of Christ.” While being “ordered one to another,” they differ essentially. In what sense? While the common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace –a life of faith, hope, and charity, a life according to the Spirit–, the ministerial priesthood is at the service of the common priesthood. It is directed at the unfolding of the baptismal grace of all Christians. The ministerial priesthood is a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church. For this reason it is transmitted by its own sacrament, the sacrament of Holy Orders.

This is the unity that you see lacking Kary.
gerald hunt

Let me add this paragraph as well.

1268 The baptized have become “living stones” to be “built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.” By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. They are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that [they] may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called [them] out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers.
Tim

I can only speak with experience to the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. The licensure and later ordination process was stressful and difficult. In our district it is not for the faint of heart. Saying that, however, it was ONE of the single most important things I have ever done.

Iron sharpened iron as my knowledge of the truth was tested. Weaknesses in my stduy were exposed and I have since been able to improve. Weak defenses of doctrines were discovered that motivated me to deepen my study in those areas. My church can now be confident that I am not a false teacher because of the evaluation of other men who themselves participated in the process.

The process of licensure and ordination have made me a better pastor.

Is it hard work? Yes. Does it increase credibility? I think so. Does it require diligent study? Absolutely.

My question would be, “Why would a man called by God to shepherd His sheep, not be willing to spend the time and effort to help ensure that he is faithfully fulfilling that call?”

Kary Oberbrunner

I enjoyed the process too Tim. Great insight man. Appreciate the comments.

http://www.christianityreboot.wordpress.com John Lunt

There is no biblical mandate for licensing and frankly a license doesn’t mean someone is above reproach or that they have and/or teach sound doctrine.

There is no mandate for having the pastor come from outside the body either.

In the new testament, people were recognized according to their giftings and people knew their character. They were part of the community.