Ordination of Pastor

1 Corinthians 16:10–11 ESV

When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

When a new pastor is ordained the Apostle Paul gives three assignments that are important in establishing a healthy relationship between pastor and church.

Fortunately we never relocated during the time of my school years but some of my friends relocated nearly every two years. My uncle also was a pastor and my cousins moved numerous times over their school years. Uncle Elton had one circuit of three churches in rural Michigan where he had to rotate every week. Sunday morning in one church, Sunday night in another church and Wednesday night in the third.

I read about an Irish preacher who had two morning services every Sunday. He had to preach at one at 9:30 and the second at 11. They were about 5 miles apart. By the time he got to the second church the parking lot would be full and he would have to park down the street and run to the church to make it on time. He solved the problem, however, after he had a sign posted in front of a parking spot right next to the church that read, “You Park-You Preach”.

This morning is an important and exciting day for New Testament Church. Over 45 years ago your first Pastor Walter Zeck founded the church with it’s founding board of elders, directors and deacons. Today we are ordaining the fourth pastor of NTC. I should note that Pastor Doug, Pastor Scott and myself are the fruits of this church as are several other pastor’s that are serving churches around the USA and Canada.

In addition hundreds if not thousands of people are in heaven or on their way to heaven because of the faithfulness of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is taught from this pulpit and the classrooms of this place.

When a new pastor is ordained the Apostle Paul gives three assignments that are important in establishing a healthy relationship between pastor and church.

When a new pastor is ordained the Apostle Paul gives three assignments that are important in establishing a healthy relationship between pastor and church.

See that you put him at ease among you for he is doing the work of the Lord. In other words do everything possible to make the new pastor feel at ease or at home among you. Sometimes a church behaves as though they need to keep the pastor in check. Paul says that they pastor should be one of the them,neither above or below. It should not be us and the pastor. But it should be we are one.

This includes putting the pastors family also at ease among you. For if the pastors family is not at ease how is he to focus on the Lord’s work.

This includes putting the pastors family also at ease among you. For if the pastors family is not at ease how is he to focus on the Lord’s work.

Don’t overwhelm the pastor with busyness where he is neglecting time in God’s Word and Prayer to do things that skilled and gifted church members are capable to fulfill.

2 Timothy 2:1–4 ESV

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

The second assignment is to “let no one despise him”. Despise means to look down on with contempt or aversion. If the pastor is doing the Lord’s work and you despise him then who are you actually despising other than the Lord Himself. Sometimes the pastor will need to exhort the church to obey God’s commands or counsel a member who is behaving badly.

11Command and teach these things. 12Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

12Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

14Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

15Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.

15Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

The third assignment is to”Help him on his way in peace”. Paul is encouraging the church at Corinth and assist and support Timothy when he leaves and returns to the Apostle Paul. Remember, that some gifts within the church may be itinerant, meaning that they may not be permanent. Within my lifetime most pastors were itinerant and traveled from church to church shepherding the people. Today that is the rare exception and not the rule. What is at the root of this important assignment is a reminder to both pastor and church. Pastor don’t get two comfortable because you are doing the Lord’s work. If the Lord says move you must move. The message to the church is to release your pastor to do what the Lord has called him to do.

If all three of these assignments are kept in working order both pastor and the local church will experience a healthy relationship that will endure whatever storms will batter against the foundation of the church.

What is the Lord’s work?

(ESV)

28Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”

29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”  

(ESV)

3Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

4No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.  

Invite entire church to come forward and to repeat the following prayer.

  ORDINATION PRAYER For our Pastor

God of our Lord Jesus Christ, we come today with praise, O God, that Jesus died for us and that we may bring our lives to him in return.

God of our Lord Jesus Christ, we come today with praise, O God, that Jesus died for us and that we may bring our lives to him in return.

We are thankful for this your servant who offers himself to the ministry of Christ. Grant him the spirit of wisdom that he may know you better. May his heart be enlightened by your Word. May his feet be swift with the gospel of peace, his hands outstretched toward those in need, his tongue ready with the message of Christ. May his message always be true to your Word and his life consistent with his words.

When discouragement comes, uphold him. In his successes, shield him from pride. Let him fear God rather than men.

Work through him to do your will: to bring men to Christ, to build up the church, to extend the kingdom of righteousness. Be his constant companion, Father, and may he be yours. May his life cause many to find salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord—through whom we pray, amen.1

1 Veech, G. (2006). Christian Minister’s Manual (p. 256). Cincinnati, OH: Standard.