Called Leadership
The gifts of ordination and licensing to ministry are a gift from God to the church. In ordination, the church affirms and continues the apostolic ministry through persons empowered by the Holy Spirit. As such, those who are ordained make a life-long commitment to conscious living of the whole gospel and to the proclamation of that gospel to the end that the world may be saved. Those who are licensed make a similar commitment to living and proclaiming the Word for the period of their ministry. Together, ordained people and Local Pastors are known as clergy. Those who serve as clergy within the Methodist Collegiate Church shall be elected by the College’s Commission on Ministry, approved by the local church and ordained or licensed by the Dean on behalf of the whole Church. Election is the action by which the Commission, after carefully examining the qualifications, abilities, and readiness of a candidate for set-apart ministry, incorporates individuals into the membership of the covenant fellowship of those called to serve the Church. Ordination is the action by which the Church sets apart those who have been so elected to a particular society of ministry for the good of the whole Church. Ordination is conferred by the laying on of hands by a Dean and others among the people of God in the College. Licensing is conferred by a blessing by a Dean and others among the people of God in the College. Called people within the Methodist Collegiate Church serve without guaranteed appointments and without the requirement of itineration. Each member of clergy must commit to strive, with the help of God, to live in a manner that serves an example to other people. They must commit to upholding a high moral standard in their financial affairs and their personal lives, both public and private. This includes a commitment to celibacy in singleness and fidelity in marriage.
