Five Ministerial Preparation Components
When it comes to confirming spiritual leadership, the Church of the Nazarene follows closely the scriptural instruction of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands…” (1 Timothy 5:22). The Nazarene movement has wisely designed a rigorous process that, over time, leads a person through a progression that we hope will culminate in effective ministry for a lifetime. The process has five components.
God’s Call: The first component is God’s Call. For some who sense a call to a lifetime of ministry, that call is immediate and clear. For others, discerning God’s calling is a longer process, with times of doubt and uncertainty as well as excitement and hopefulness. Whatever your experience may be, the discussion on calling will help you and those partnering with you discern God's leading.
Educational Preparation: A broad and rich Educational Preparation is the second component and is essential to faithful and effective ministry. The Church of the Nazarene has provided several pathways by which you may satisfy the educational requirements. Since this part of the journey takes several years to complete, it is important to carefully select a pathway that will be most fitting, challenging, and formative for your future in ministry. Beginning your educational preparation may help you if your sense of calling is not yet clear. It seems God often uses the learning process itself to bring clarity.
Licensing and Ministry Experience: As you progress in your educational preparation and continue to participate in ministry, you may sense God continuing to affirm his calling you into ministerial leadership. If so, making further progress on your journey to ordination requires ministerial Licensing and Ministry Experience, the third component. Licensing involves the affirmation and continued confidence of the church regarding God’s call upon your life. Ministry experience is about gradually expanding the level of your ministry responsibilities as a further validation of your progress in preparation. Gaining experience in ministry will help you and those who are partners in your development identify your strengths in ministry and areas in need of growth.
Ordination: Ordination is the public act of the church’s affirmation of God’s calling you to a lifetime of service to the church. This component of the journey is not something to be entered into lightly; and it is important that you understand not only the process of ordination, but also its spiritual and theological significance.
Lifelong Learning: While ordination is a profound recognition of your calling and preparation for ministry, it is not the end of your journey! Every minister is expected to continue growing and developing in his or her understanding and practice of ministry by participating often in Lifelong Learning opportunities. This is the final component common to each person committed to effective ministry for a lifetime.