Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 5/1/2008

Question
Dear Reverend,

   I understand that Baptists do not have any type of Apostolic Succession, like the Roman Catholic Church does, so who ordains a Baptist minister? Where do the Baptist Church leaders get their authority to ordain? The Roman Catholic Church believes that every Roman Catholic Bishop can trace his ordination backwards through a succession of ordinations all the way to the Apostles. So that by means of touch all bishops can trace their authority to the Apostles through an unbroken line of ordination.

   What do Baptists believe about their ordinations? Where does the authority come from?  What does it mean to ordain a pastor?

Thank You!
~ Andrew

Answer
Andrew,

Thank you for your question. As before, I want to be clear that I am not a baptist, but because of my background as a fundamental, indepeant Baptist I have volunteered for this category.

As to your question, it is my understanding that Baptist, like most other Protestants, do not believe the unbiblical doctrine of the so-called "apostolic succession". There is nothing commanded, or implied in the Scriptures about "apostolic succession". No where does the Bible say that the ministry would be limited to only those who have had some sort of succession ceremony performed over them.

As to the ordination of Baptist ministers, each Baptist denomination varies in it's requirements. Most will require the person to have show the evidences of true salvation, holy living, and a Divine call into the ministry.

Once again, please let me know if you have any further questions.

elder Greg Madden