Yesterday about 400 people showed up for a unique service at our church. We held the meeting outdoors to accommodate the large # of guests, who despite the 90+ temperatures came out for this important event.
Mikhael has served as a deacon in our church since it was started about 7 years ago and yesterday we ordained him for the ministry of pastor! In addition to his ministry in our church he and his wife Valentina are foster parents to 8 children. Please pray for Mikhael and his family as he begins this important ministry in our church!
I felt privileged to take part in the ordination. It was a growing experience for our church and a learning experience for me.
I noticed several differences between how we approach ordination (or “laying on of hands” as they call it in Russian) in the US and how it is done here.
It takes more time
In Ukrainian churches a candidate for ordination can often wait for several years before he’s actually ordained. In contrast the entire process of ordinations I’ve been involved in in America generally last only a few months to a year, at the most..
Emphasis on character
There much less of an emphasis on doctrine during the ordination process as compared to the US. Instead of focusing on written doctrinal statements the emphasis is placed on the quality of life and testimony of man is going to be ordained. As a result there is no oral doctrinal examination as I experienced when they ordained me. My first reaction to this was negative but as I saw how the process work I realized why there is no need for an oral doctrinal examination. These men have been tested through time and because they are already active in preaching and teaching everyone is already familiar with their doctrine. It would be nearly impossible for someone to get by with false doctrine after teaching for a number of years in the church.
Pastors aren’t the only ones ordained
Ukrainian churches not only ordain pastors but they also ordain deacons. Ordinations are for a lifetime, so there’s not 2 or 3 year terms for deacons here. Once someone has been ordained as a deacon he can only be disqualified through some major sin or be further ordained as a pastor. Usually being ordained as a deacon is the first step towards for being ordained as pastor.
I know the process isn’t perfect in any church, however, if there is one lesson the Western church could learn from our Ukrainian brothers I think it would be patience and an increased emphasis upon the quality of the character of the ordination candidates.
