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ARE YOU CALLED TO MINISTRY
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In our baptism each of us is called to the one ministry of Jesus Christ. The community of faith covenants with families and with God to nurture those baptized into an understanding of their unique ministry within that one ministry of the body of Christ.
To make contemporary Paul’s word in I Corinthians 12, some are called to be "teachers, or business people, or nurses, or political leaders, or homemakers, or social workers or community organizers, or ministers of word and sacrament." Each of these vocations is an important calling for the wholeness of the body and for its faithful ministry in the world. Each calling needs the other callings to be effective and for the body to be whole. As in the congregations described in Acts and the Epistles, the faith community called forth leadership from its midst, choosing those who had the needed gifts for the unique situation.
Today those called forth through the voice of the community of faith are called to specific functions within the community of faith. Some are certified, such as educators; others are ordained to their role: Deacons, Ruling Elders, and Teaching Elders; and others are commissioned, such as Commissioned Ruling Elders. Certification, ordination, and commissioning does not confer on the person a special spiritual status but recognizes and validates their ability to assume a leadership role in the community of faith.
TEACHING ELDER
The role of the Teaching Elder is to "equip the saints for the work of ministry," and "building up the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12), and proclaim the word and administer the sacraments. The minister is "set apart" for the tasks of such leadership, but is dependent upon the ministries of each of the members of the community. The gifts of all are needed.
To make contemporary Paul’s word in I Corinthians 12, some are called to be "teachers, or business people, or nurses, or political leaders, or homemakers, or social workers or community organizers, or ministers of word and sacrament." Each of these vocations is an important calling for the wholeness of the body and for its faithful ministry in the world. Each calling needs the other callings to be effective and for the body to be whole. As in the congregations described in Acts and the Epistles, the faith community called forth leadership from its midst, choosing those who had the needed gifts for the unique situation.
Today those called forth through the voice of the community of faith are called to specific functions within the community of faith. Some are certified, such as educators; others are ordained to their role: Deacons, Ruling Elders, and Teaching Elders; and others are commissioned, such as Commissioned Ruling Elders. Certification, ordination, and commissioning does not confer on the person a special spiritual status but recognizes and validates their ability to assume a leadership role in the community of faith.
TEACHING ELDER
The role of the Teaching Elder is to "equip the saints for the work of ministry," and "building up the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12), and proclaim the word and administer the sacraments. The minister is "set apart" for the tasks of such leadership, but is dependent upon the ministries of each of the members of the community. The gifts of all are needed.
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CERTIFIED CHRISTIAN EDUCATOR
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, continuing development in the field of Christian education brought about the emergence of professionally trained leaders whose focus in ministry was on the nurture and education of persons in their faith. Some were pastors in the church, but many were skilled and dedicated persons who felt a call to ministry but not to the ministry of Teaching Elder. In recognition of that history and because of the importance of Christian Education to the total ministry of the church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seeks to recognize and to enhance the ministries of persons employed as professional Christian educators by certifying them as Certified Christian Educators or by enrolling them as Enrolled Educational Assistants. Certification is granted at the end of an intensive process of preparation, study, service, and examination. |
COMMISSIONED RULING ELDER
When the presbytery, in consultation with the session or other responsible committee, determines that its strategy for mission requires it, the presbytery may authorize a ruling elder to be commissioned to limited pastoral service as assigned by the presbytery. (BOO, G-2.1001) That varies a great deal from presbytery to presbytery and with particular ministries they serve.
CREs may be commissioned to a particular ministry to: moderate the congregation; administer the Sacraments; or officiate at marriages where permitted by state law. They may also serve: clusters of churches as part of ministry teams; as part-time pastors of small churches; as pastor to new immigrant populations; as temporary leaders for churches seeking an ordained pastor; new worshipping communities; churches in transformation; and in specialized pastoral ministries.
When the presbytery, in consultation with the session or other responsible committee, determines that its strategy for mission requires it, the presbytery may authorize a ruling elder to be commissioned to limited pastoral service as assigned by the presbytery. (BOO, G-2.1001) That varies a great deal from presbytery to presbytery and with particular ministries they serve.
CREs may be commissioned to a particular ministry to: moderate the congregation; administer the Sacraments; or officiate at marriages where permitted by state law. They may also serve: clusters of churches as part of ministry teams; as part-time pastors of small churches; as pastor to new immigrant populations; as temporary leaders for churches seeking an ordained pastor; new worshipping communities; churches in transformation; and in specialized pastoral ministries.
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