Section: Credentials and Ministerial Regulations

533.2

The deacon must meet the requirements of the order for education, exhibit the appropriate gifts and graces, and be recognized and confirmed by the church. The deacon shall be vested with the authority to administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and to officiate at marriages where the laws of the state do not prohibit, and on occasion to conduct worship and to preach. It is understood that the Lord and the church may use this person’s gifts and graces in various associate ministries. As a symbol of the servant ministry of the Body of Christ, the deacon may also use his or her gifts in roles outside the institutional church. (515.4, 515.9)

533.3

A deacon candidate professes a call of God to this ministry. The candidate currently holds a district license, and has at one time held a license for not fewer than three consecutive years. In addition, the candidate has been recommended for renewal of district license by the church board of the local church in which he or she holds membership or by the District Advisory Board. Further the candidate:

  1. has fulfilled all the requirements of the church for the same,
  2. has successfully completed a validated course of study prescribed for licensed ministers and candidates for ordination as deacon, and
  3. has been carefully considered and favorably reported by the District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry to the district assembly.

The candidate may be elected to the order of deacon by two-thirds vote of the district assembly; provided he or she has been an assigned minister not fewer than three consecutive years; and provided further that the candidate must currently be serving in an assigned ministry. In the case of part-time assignment, it should be understood that there should be an extension of the consecutive years of in-service time, depending on their level of involvement in local church ministry, and that their testimony and service demonstrate that their call to ministry is primary to all other pursuits. Further, any disqualification that may have been imposed by a district assembly has been removed in writing by the district superintendent and District Advisory Board of said district; and provided further that his or her marriage relationship does not render him or her ineligible for ordination. (205.6, 320, 529)

533.4

If in the pursuance of his or her ministry, the ordained deacon feels called to the preaching ministry, he or she may be ordained elder upon completion of the requirements for that credential and the return of the deacon credential.

534

An elder is a minister whose call of God to preach, gifts, and usefulness have been demonstrated and enhanced by proper training and experience, and who has been separated to the service of Christ through His church by the vote of a district assembly and by the solemn act of ordination, and thus has been fully invested to perform all functions of the Christian ministry.

534.1

We recognize but one order of preaching ministry—that of elder. This is a permanent order in the church. The elder is to rule well in the church, to preach the Word, to administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and to solemnize matrimony, all in the name of, and in subjection to, Jesus Christ, the great Head of the Church. (31, 514–515.3, 515.4, 515.9, 538.15)

534.2

The church expects that one called to this official ministry should be a steward of the Word and give full energy through a lifetime to its proclamation.

534.3

An elder candidate professes a call of God to this ministry. The candidate currently holds a district license, and has at one time held a license for not fewer than three consecutive years. In addition, the candidate has been recommended for renewal of district license by the church board of the local church in which he or she holds membership or by the District Advisory Board. Further the candidate:

  1. has fulfilled all the requirements of the church for the same,
  2. has successfully completed a validated course of study prescribed for licensed ministers and candidates for ordination as elder, and
  3. has been carefully considered and favorably reported by the District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry of the district assembly.

The candidate may be elected to the order of elder by two-thirds vote of the district assembly. To be eligible for election, the candidate must have been an assigned minister for not fewer than three consecutive years, and the candidate must currently be serving in an assigned ministry. In the case of part-time assignment, it should be understood that there should be an extension of the consecutive years of in-service time, depending on their level of involvement in local church ministry, and that their testimony and service demonstrate that their call to ministry is primary to all other pursuits. Further, any disqualification that may have been imposed by a district assembly must be removed in writing by the district superintendent and the District Advisory Board of the district where the disqualification was imposed before the minister is eligible for election to elder’s orders. In addition, the candidate’s marriage relationship must be such as not to render him or her ineligible for ordination. (205.6, 320, 529)

535

Ordained ministers from other denominations, desiring to unite with the Church of the Nazarene and presenting their ordination papers, may have their ordination recognized by the district assembly, after satisfactory examination by the District Ministerial Credentials Board or District Board of Ministry as to their conduct, personal experience and doctrine, provided that:

  1. they demonstrate appreciation, comprehension and application of the Manual and history of the Church of the Nazarene and of the doctrine of holiness by successfully completing the related portions of a validated course of study;
  2. they file with the district assembly the Ordination/Recognition Questionnaire, carefully filled in; and
  3. they meet all requirements for ordination as outlined in paragraphs 533–533.3 or 534–534.3; and
  4. provided further that the candidate must currently be serving in a ministry assignment. (205.7, 228, 529, 532.2)

535.2

When the credential of a minister from another church has been recognized, the credential issued by said church shall be returned to him or her inscribed in writing or stamped on the reverse side of the credential as follows:

Accredited by the _________________________ District Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene this day of ____ , ____ , (year) as the basis of the new credentials.
_________________________, General Superintendent
_________________________, District Superintendent
_________________________, District Secretary