Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 10/9/2006

Question
My husband felt God was calling him into the ministry as a young man, but he was involved in the business world. At age 50, he surrendered to God, sold his businesses, and pursued the ministry. He has a Master of Arts in Religion from Liberty University Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Religion from Jacksonville Theological Seminary. He is a licensed minister and does supply and some interim preaching. He will be 59 this month.

Once a person has been licensed into the ministry, is this person a Reverend?

Since my husband was divorced years before going into the ministry, Baptist ministers in eastern N.C. frown upon ordaining a divorced man. This has been a hindrance in his being hired as a full-time pastor. Do you know of a Baptist church that would ordain my husband?

What would you do if you were in this situation?  

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

1.  Reverend - the title Reverend is technically given after a minister's ordination.  A lot of this is actually dependent upon where you live and what the state law is.  For example, in Pennsylvania, if you are in a pastoral position in a church, then you are a REV. and can perform marriages.  In Kentucky, where I grew up, you must be ordained.  

2.  Divorce - in my opinion, divorce shouldn't automatically prevent him from being ordained.  I think the ordaining church would need to know why he got divorced, was he born again then, was his spouse born again, has he repented of this sin, etc.  Divorce is not the ultimate sin.  Plus, the Bible does not say you cant be divorced to serve, it says "shall be the husband of one wife."

3.  Although I went to college in NC, I don't really have any contacts there.  My advice would be to shy away from Baptist churches and find an independent church that would be willing to ordain him.

Blessings