Alan Pateman World Missions.com

Over the years, many have come to me and asked, “would I ordain them?” Usually I have mixed emotions regarding their request, as not all are genuine in their quest to be ordained. Motives are very important. Before I give any answer, whether Yes or No, I first ask a number of questions.

The Following are Examples

1. Am I their Apostle? 

2. Who have these individuals submitted to so far? And have they already an Apostle whom they are in relationship with? (As you do not want to usurp another’s authority and build on another’s foundation).

3. Have they split from somebody else, therefore creating a church split? If so, that would have to be dealt with as this will cause them problems later on and reflect on oversight!

4. Are they looking to be in Association or Affiliation? (There is a big difference between the two). The first is that they may take the relationship lightly. In the second case, you are their Apostle i.e. Father in the faith… All this has to be qualified for future relationship development; remembering that every relationship must have a foundation of understanding which gives clear boundaries to both parties; stopping any confusion or misgivings. 

5. You have to truly find out what each individual means when they say they want to submit (be accountable) to you! Many of courses want to be ordained but don’t want to submit to anyone… It’s the Apostles and the Apostolic teams that connect the local churches which in affect stops any isolation of any individual group… i.e. we are one universal body… 

6. Am I ordaining a ministry gift or an Elder of the local Church? Eldership is governmental, an office of responsibility with authority to rule. Each Elder, is a Shepherd (which does not mean that they are automatically a Pastor) and perhaps, will operate to some degree in gifting. On the other hand we also then need to recognize that not every Elder is a five fold ministry gift. Remembering an apostolic ministry does not necessarily have governmental authority. He can be responsible for a region, territory, nation, etc. Although the other five fold ministry gifts should work with an Apostle that they are in relationship with. They may have some governmental authority but it’s meant to operate in submission to the apostolic structure. 

• As ministry gifts are not necessarily governmental positions, unless they are apostolic, but even then the Apostle submits to the authority of the local church… We as Apostles only have authority over any individual group as a result of submission through relationship. It is fundamental that the apostolic anointing that we are discussing here is recognized. 

7. I only ordain leaders because I know them personally or the person in question is known personally by leadership that is in relationship with me. The reason for this is that elders or ministry gifts for that matter (when I mean ministry gifts, I mean itinerant ministries)have to be qualified as seen in the New Testament. You can not personally qualify an individual if you don’t know them.

• Therefore in the New Testament when Elders where being put into a position of leadership, this was done by an Apostle and presbytery of apostolic leaders. You will also find in the New Testament that there was an emphasis on Elders being recognized by the people, the local body as good and honourable individuals. But once Eldership has been appointed they then have the right to ordain anyone who God raises up to a position of Elder or ministry gift. (As the local elders are the authority for their given territory) This can be approved by the apostle… 

8. Once all the above is clarified you then can set a date for the ordination service. This can be done in any given setting. I usually ordain ministers in front of their congregation because the congregation also needs to see that their pastor is in relationship to an apostle. This would be a normal Sunday morning, perhaps one would teach on church structure or some other leadership message, referring to ordination. The Body of Christ needs to understand what is going on…

• Then at the right time, laying hands on the individual to recognize their position and praying for an impartation. This needs to be done with a presbytery of other leaders including other visiting pastors… Words of knowledge and encouragement are also important. Expect the supernatural, change and increase not only for the minister in question but also for the church as the anointing should then increase. Again you can look at Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5. Even the Apostle Paul told Timothy to fight the good fight using the word of prophecy given to him when hands were laid on him: 1 Timothy 1:18… etc.

9. Regarding ongoing relationships this is down to the type of relationship that you have agreed upon. Our role as an apostle is to help the ministry gifts, elders to become the best that they can be. Watching as a father over their child who is trying to walk for the first time… applauding their victories… loving them enough to overlook their failures… Seeing their future success, when they can not…

• There are many other issues that need to be observed but all that I know I have learned from the Holy Spirit. I have learned that many want to use me, which is fine, but I am not so quick to ordain people these days. The given individual by the way has to pay (i.e. this is not for the anointing but practical expenses) for the travelling expenses, paper work that is incurred, honorarium on the day and renew their membership fee every January… This keeps one accountable… If however a Senior Pastor says he wants to be in affiliation then they have to tithe the tithe to me as their apostle.

Hope all this is helpful… Remember we don’t wear name tags… People are trying to find out how to be an apostle… That is the wrong perspective on it… Whatever is in the bottle will be tasted when the bottle is poured out… You don’t learn to be an apostle, you allow the apostle in you to be revealed!