Jump to     PRACTICES Consider Calls by Reflecting on Doctrine and Covenants 163:6 Consider Calls by Reflecting on Scriptural Principles about Priesthood

Priesthood Calls:
Discerning and Processing

by CRAIG PERRYMAN 

…The priesthood shall be composed of people of humility and integrity who are willing to extend themselves in service for others and for the well-being of the faith community.
—Doctrine and Covenants 163:6a

One of the most challenging responsibilities of a pastor is to discern calls to the priesthood. This responsibility includes:

• Recognizing the gifts of the person and how those gifts relate to the office of priesthood under consideration,
• Knowing the needs and opportunities for ministry in the congregation and the larger community, and
• Having a testimony of the Holy Spirit confirming the call.

The pastor’s responsibility to discern priesthood calls is a daunting yet rewarding responsibility. No pastor should take this responsibility lightly. Nor is it to be intimidating. Though a challenging responsibility, discerning priesthood calls can lead to further appreciation of God’s grace experienced in faithful response to Christ’s mission.

Where or how does a pastor begin? While there is no “one way” to discern priesthood calls, the following questions can be helpful. Pastors should prayerfully consider these questions over an extended period of time, rather than over just a few days or weeks.

As the pastor, do I have a testimony of the Holy Spirit confirming this call?

Many pastors ask: “How do I discern the Holy Spirit’s confirmation of a priesthood call?” There is no one way the Holy Spirit works. Sometimes confirmation comes as a still, small voice, when there are subtle and recurring insights into a person’s life and gifts. At other times it is by the affirming testimonies of trusted colleagues in ministry, such as evangelists and other experienced ministers. This is not to say that pastors should initiate calls to priesthood based on someone else’s testimony alone. It is simply to say that the testimonies of others can be a confirming witness of a call that a pastor has been praying and thinking about. Some pastors experience a steady, heightened awareness or appreciation of a person’s gifts and ministerial presence. Other pastors will sense a “rightness” or peace over time as they pray, while others will experience a “nagging” persistent awareness of a person’s ministerial capacity. For many pastors, insight comes as a combination of two or more of the above testimonies.

What are the person’s gifts and how do these gifts relate to the office of priesthood under consideration?

The statement in Doctrine and Covenants 119:8b that all are called according to their gifts is wise counsel. It is especially important to think about this when considering a potential call to priesthood. One should never think of priesthood as a pool of generic ministers. Instead, each priesthood minister’s call is to be a specialist, focusing on particular areas of life and ministry according to the duties of their office. Consequently, reflecting on a person’s gifts and how those gifts relate to specific priesthood offices becomes crucial when considering a potential call to priesthood.

What are the needs resident in the congregation and community?

No one is called to minister in isolation. Being aware of congregational and community needs often heightens one’s awareness of the gifts growing and blooming within the congregation that can help address those needs. The wise pastor will explore how the needs of the congregation and its vision for the future relate to the need for particular priesthood offices.

What is the person’s ministerial “readiness” for priesthood ministry?

When pastors experience insight into a person’s call to priesthood, there is an appropriate companion question to ask. “Should this person be called now? Or...“Am I (the pastor) being called to help this person mature to a point of greater readiness before initiating the recommendation for ordination?” Some clarifying questions include:

• Is the person’s awareness of scripture and church identity, mission, message, and beliefs adequate for them to represent the church as an ordained minister or is further development in these areas necessary?
• Is the person relationally and spiritually mature enough now in their life to be respected in their ministry by multiple age groups?
• Does the person currently contribute financially to both local and World Church ministries?
• Is the person a registered children and youth worker? (Or can they become one?)

Sometimes the circumstances are right for a person to be called and ordained in the relatively near future. Sometimes additional preparation is needed. Discerning between the two is important and meaningful work.

Who can I consult with about a potential call to priesthood?

Considering calls to priesthood is a confidential matter. Pastors should not discuss it with the person for whom a call is being considered. Still, it is helpful for a pastor to discuss a potential call with ministerial colleagues who can support the pastor confidentially. It is important to keep this circle of confidence small. Appropriate ministers to consult include counselors (but not the whole leadership team), the mission center president, or a trusted evangelist.

The pastor is well-advised to consider other “general qualities” when considering calls to priesthood. For instance, it is helpful to ask:

• Does the person have a testimony of God working in her or his life?
• Does the person demonstrate a commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ?
• Does the person model service and humility?
• Is it the person’s nature to make others feel welcome and wanted in their presence?
• Are they adept at seeing both sides of an issue?
• What responsibilities already lay claim to the individual’s time, energy, and resources?
• How is the person’s health?
• Will their immediate family be supportive of their ministry? Does the person bring out the best in others?
• Is the person effective in helping others in their spiritual journey? Does the person avoid using alcohol, tobacco, and other addicting substances?

Processing the Call

Once the pastor has spiritual confirmation of a call (and hopefully the support of counselors), the pastor may begin the formal process of initiating the call. Strict attention must be paid to the required procedure.

Begin by filling out the Recommendation for Ordination Form which is available from the mission center president or found in the Church Administrator’s Handbook (2005 edition). Submit the completed form to the mission center president for consideration and approval. Do not approach the candidate about the call until administrative approvals have been obtained.

After the mission center president has informed the pastor that the call is approved, the pastor informs the candidate and shares a testimony of the call. At this point it is appropriate to review with the candidate the responsibilities and expectations of priesthood and the specific office in consideration. Helpful information about priesthood and each office is in The Priesthood Manual as well as in “Priesthood Standards and Qualifications” (Church Administrator’s Handbook, 2005 Edition). The candidate is not expected to give the pastor an answer during this first visit. However, the candidate should be informed that if they accept the call, the congregation will need to approve ordination.

The pastor then invites the candidate to enter into a period of exploration and discernment and to spend time prayerfully considering the call. A period of exploration and discernment provides the candidate time to understand, prepare and commit to the ministerial needs of the congregation and its surrounding community.

It is not necessary for the candidate to accept the call before beginning preordination classes. Completing the preordination classes combined with personal spiritual preparation is a recommended practice in the period of exploration and discernment.

The candidate has one year to accept the call. If the candidate does not accept the call at the end of one year, consideration of the call ends. If a pastor continues to have a testimony of the call, a new call may be initiated later.

If a person accepts the call, the pastor requests approval for ordination by the congregation. (For calls to the Aaronic priesthood and the office of elder, approval for ordination is at a congregational conference.)

Members of the congregation may not be fully aware of the responsibilities of the various offices of priesthood. Reviewing the responsibilities of the candidate’s office and other priesthood offices might be very helpful. Descriptions and responsibilities of the various offices are available in The Priesthood Manual (www.CofChrist.org/priesthood/congregation-focused.asp).

After a period of exploration and discernment and after accepting the call, the candidate enters a period of preparation. This preparation may last up to a year for the candidate to complete the preordination classes and write a plan for ministry.

Ordination of the candidate occurs after the congregation approves ordination and the candidate completes the preordination classes.

Remember, it is never proper to use ordination as a tool to entice someone into greater commitment or as a means to “keep someone active” in the church. Doing so almost always leads to having a minister who is “less engaged” than one would like, and to discontent in the congregation. Likewise, initiating a priesthood call for someone in order to solidify relationships, pacify influential families, or even to reward a faithful disciple is improper and will be harmful to congregational life.

Discerning and processing priesthood calls is a sacred stewardship. It is not to be taken lightly, nor is it meant to be intimidating. Engaging the process prayerfully and according to the foregoing principles can help the pastor in this important stewardship. You can expect God’s grace to bless you in the process.

 

This article has two sets of “bulleted” questions (above). It is good to spend time with these questions when considering a priesthood call. It can be especially helpful to prayerfully consider these questions with your counselors.

		Consider Calls by Reflecting on Doctrine and Covenants 163:6
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OBJECTIVE
For the pastor to seek insight into potential priesthood calls by prayerful reflection on statements about priesthood found in Doctrine and Covenants 163:6.

PROCESS
Pray seeking God’s presence and guidance to bless you as you consider calls for priesthood. Pray, keeping in mind each person under consideration by reading and reflecting on the following statements. You may wish to have your counselors join you in this process.

• Priesthood is a sacred covenant involving the highest form of stewardship of body, mind, spirit, and relationships.
• The priesthood shall be composed of people of humility and integrity who are willing to extend themselves in service for others and for the well-being of the faith community.
• Truly authoritative priesthood ministry emerges from a growing capacity to bring blessing to others.
• Priesthood is a calling with high…regard to appropriate levels of preparation and response.
• The expectation for priesthood to continually magnify their callings through spiritual growth, study, exemplary generosity, ethical choices, and fully accountable ministry is always present.
• How can the Spirit fill vessels that are unwilling to expand their capacity to receive and give according to a full measure of God’s grace and truth?
• Fundamentally, however, the ultimate responsibility for priesthood faithfulness rests on the individual in response to the needs and expectations of the faith community.

		Consider Calls by Reflecting on Scriptural Principles about Priesthood
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OBJECTIVE
For the pastor to seek insight regarding potential priesthood calls by prayerful reflection on the Priesthood Scriptural Principles. (The priesthood scriptural principles are part of the Priesthood Faithfulness Team Report to the 2010 World Conference. These scriptural principles, including a video presentation, are available at www.CofChrist.org/wc2010/reports/priesthoodfaithfulness.asp.)

PROCESS
Pray, seeking God’s presence and guidance to bless you as you consider calls for priesthood. Pray, keeping in mind each person under consideration by reading and reflecting on the Priesthood Scriptural Principles. You may want to ask your counselors to join you in this process over a period of time.

• Priesthood is a sacred covenant one enters with God and the faith community involving the total commitment of one’s life.
• The foundation for priesthood ministry is the wholistic ministry of Jesus Christ—God’s shalom. Jesus modeled the essential balance between spiritual formation, renewal, and ministry to others.
• God calls disciples to share the peace of Jesus Christ. God entrusts some to responsibilities of priesthood and leadership.
• Priesthood ministry is a response to the grace and generosity of God.
• As priesthood members share ministry in their office and calling, the faith community experiences the wholistic ministry of Jesus.
• Priesthood members prepare and extend themselves in the service of God’s vision for the blessing and salvation of creation.
• Priesthood members embody generosity, humility, and integrity.
• Priesthood members continually seek to magnify their calling.
• Office-specific ministry may expand as new insights emerge through our encounter with God’s revelation.
• The ultimate responsibility for priesthood faithfulness rests on the individual in response to the needs and expectations of the faith community. The church is accountable to God for supporting, equipping, and empowering priesthood members to fulfill their calling to bring blessing to the community.