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The Design for the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) provides that:
- The fundamental ministry within
the church is that of Jesus Christ. He calls his
church to participate in his ministry.
- By virtue of membership in the
church, every Christian enters into the corporate
ministry of God's people. Within the corporate
ministry, each Christian fulfills her or his own
calling as a servant of Christ sent into the world
to minister. The Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) . . . seek(s) to provide all its members
with opportunities to exercise this ministry.
- In addition, the church
recognizes an order of the ministry, set apart or
ordained, under God to equip the whole people to
fulfill their corporate ministry. To this end, the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) inducts into
the order of its ministry men and women holding the
following offices:
- (a) The office of ordained
minister, bestowed by ordination, including such
persons as: pastors, associates, chaplains,
ministers of Christian education and
missionaries; teachers with ministerial
standing; administrators and ministers serving
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
beyond the local congregation and in ecumenical
relationships;
- (b) The office of licensed
minister bestowed by license and an appropriate
act of dedication. Licensing permits the
exercise of ministerial function in specific
situations with periodic review, in such cases
as the following: (1) a worker who is duly
commissioned by the Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ) to a specialized full-time church
vocation; (2) a theological student who has not
yet fulfilled all qualifications for ordination,
but who may be authorized to serve under
supervision in ministerial capacity; (3) a
person who has not fulfilled educational
standards for ordination but in whom the church
discerns manifest gifts for ministry and who may
be licensed to serve under appropriate
supervision as pastor of a particular
congregation or in ministerial capacity on the
mission field; and (4) persons engaged in
congregationally-based community ministries of
justice and reconciliation where regional
nurture and certification are deemed
appropriate.
- The Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ), through the General Assembly, shall
approve general policies and criteria for the order
of the ministry, including such matters as:
commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Christian
character, theological education, candidacy,
ordination and licensing, ministerial standing,
ministerial ethics, ministerial relocation, support,
pensions and emergency needs, and other matters
relating to the ministry of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ).
- Within policies developed by the
General Assembly, regions certify the standing of
ministers and provide help, counsel and pastoral
care to ministers and congregations in such matters
as: ordination, licensing, ministerial relocation,
establishment and dissolution of pastoral
relationships, and installations of ministers.
Regions seek to supply a ministry for congregations
without full-time pastoral services and offer
counsel and assistance in cases of difficulties
between ministers and congregations.
The Design for the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Article VI.
Ministry
The information and documents on the
following pages are utilized by those persons wishing to
pursue the discernment of call to ministry in the office
of licensed ministry. This office is one of
representative ministry and calls upon the covenantal
nature of the church to assist in the discernment of
that call. It is recommended that you discuss this
calling with your home church pastor and other pastors
whom you may know. Should you have any questions about
the call to licensed ministry and the requirements of
the denomination or the Ozark Lakes Area, please feel
free to contact the Area Office via
e-mail or
phone at (417) 865-0850.
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