Making An Inquiry

1. An interested party approaches KRS or a KRS missionary or ministry partner to inquire
about ordination. Or KRS, in partnership with local leaders, identifies a potential
candidate for ordination.

2. The inquiry is referred to the KRS regional ordination council to take up the inquiry and
to communicate with the potential candidate.

3. In cooperation with local ministry leaders who have direct knowledge and oversight of
the potential candidate, several matters are confirmed: a) calling and gifts for ministry;
b) reformed, evangelical theological identity (i.e. 5 solas, kingdom of God, covenantal
hermeneutic, not only reformed soteriology but also a view of Christ’s preeminence in
all of life). Often, this may include a connection with Third Millennium Ministries
(Thirdmill) and/or a reformed seminary or Bible college (or similar programs).; and, c) an
understanding and commitment to the core values of the New City Network (Sonship,
covenantal promises of God, team ministry/reconciliation; identification with the
poor/entering into humble circumstances [James 1:27]; embracing trials as a way
toward Christian maturity – see attachment).

4. Local ministry leaders must also be in agreement with these theological distinctives and
core values in order to provide regular encouragement and oversight of the candidate,
as well as an honest summary of the candidate’s ministry at least once a year to the KRS
regional ordination council.

5. Once these indicators receive initial confirmation, an interview is scheduled with the
potential candidate and their ministry supervisor to outline the process.

The Ordination Packet, Exam, and Worship Service

1. The candidate will submit the different elements of the ordination packet to the KRS
ordination council for approval.

2. The candidate will explain the details of the process to potential nominees and gain
their permission to place their names in nomination to serve as local representatives on
the Ordination Committee. This committee will be comprised of at least three members
of the KRS regional ordination council, and one or two members of the candidates’ local
ministry leadership.

3. The candidate will send recommendation forms to various people who can affirm the
Biblical qualifications for a teaching elder (see below).

4. The candidate will answer submitted Bible and theology questions, write his testimony
and call to ministry, and submit them to the examination committee.

5. The candidate will submit a written teaching / preaching sample along with a video or
audio recording or arrange for council members to be present for their teaching and/or
preaching.

6.  In order to verify certain qualifications given by Scripture, the candidate’s family and/or
friends will be consulted.

7. The candidate and examination committee will meet about submission to Scripture and
the teachings found within the Apostles’ Creed and Westminster Confession of Faith (or
other historical reformed document) to comment on anything about the answered
questions, answer anything about the submitted recommendations, and to answer
anything about the candidate’s call and ministry. The WCF(or other historical reformed
document) is used as a guide, providing a faithful summary of Christian doctrine.
However, the secondary matters of church government, the sacraments, views of the
millennium, and roles of men and women in the ministry will not hold the same weight
in the exam as core matters summarized by the ecumenical and reformed creeds,
regarding the authority of Scripture, the Trinitarian nature of God, and the centrality of
Christ’s finished work for salvation.

8. If approved, the candidate and the examination committee will establish a time for the
ordination ceremony and the members of the ordination commission.

9. The ordination ceremony will be planned and executed.

10. The ordinand will receive a signed certificate of ordination.

Qualifications
The primary texts used to describe the qualifications for an overseer are I Timothy 3:1-7 and
Titus 1:5-9. The texts will be used for the four different parts of the exam.
I Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV)
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble
task.  2  Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded,
self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3  not a drunkard, not violent but gentle,
not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4  He must manage his own household well, with all
dignity keeping his children submissive,  5  for if someone does not know how to manage his own
household, how will he care for God's church?  6  He must not be a recent convert, or he
may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7  Moreover, he
must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the
devil.

Titus 1:5-9 (ESV)
5  This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint
elders in every town as I directed you—  6  if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one
wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or
insubordination.  7  For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be
arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,  8  but hospitable, a lover
of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.  9  He must hold firm to the trustworthy
word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke
those who contradict it.

Below are the qualifications from these two sections of Scripture. Listed to the side of each is
the part of the exam that will affirm the qualification. Each character quality does not require a
separate recommendation, but all qualities should be addressed in the recommendations that
are gathered.

1. Aspiration to the office – Personal testimony and ongoing call (both verbal and written)
2. Above reproach – Recommendation and testimony of others (both verbal and written)
3. Husband of one wife – Recommendation (wife) or, if unmarried, testimony to their
chastity/purity.
4. Sober minded – Recommendation
5. Self-Controlled – Recommendation
6. Respectable – Recommendation
7. Hospitable – Recommendation
8. Able to teach – Teaching Sample
9. Not a drunkard – Recommendation
10. Not violent / gentle – Recommendation
11. Not quarrelsome – Recommendation
12. Not a lover of money – Recommendation
13. Manages household well – Recommendation (wife) or if unmarried, testimony of roommates.
14. Believing / submissive children – Recommendation (children) or if not a parent, testimony of
those he has led to Christ and/or discipled.
15. Not arrogant – Recommendation
16. Well thought of by outsiders – Recommendation of someone outside his church
17. Not quick tempered – Recommendation
18. Not greedy for gain – Recommendation
19. Lover of good – Recommendation
20. Upright – Recommendation
21. Holy – Recommendation
22. Disciplined – Recommendation
23. Hold firms to the Word as taught – Bible/Theology
24. Able to rebuke those who contradict Word – Bible/Theology/Pastoral examples

Parts of the Examination

1. Personal Testimony and Ongoing Call to Ministry
This section will be a written document to talk about the past and present life of the candidate.
This should show elements of conversion and personal sanctification, and also communicate
the initial and ongoing call to Gospel ministry.
*Satisfies “not a recent convert” and “aspires” section of the qualifications

2. Bible and Theology
The candidate should:
a. Submit transcripts from an approved Bible school / seminary (or similar program) to show
sufficient understanding of Bible and theology. This is done in lieu of a long, written exam.
b. In order to interact with the examination committee and demonstrate Biblical and
theological understanding, the candidate will answer up to three questions submitted by each
person on the examination committee. These questions should lead the candidate to synthesize
Bible/theology with Kingdom life and work. The candidate will work on these answers from
home and submit them and be prepared to discuss them further during the oral exam.
c. Agree verbally with the inerrancy of Scripture, the Apostles’ Creed, and general theology of
the Westminster Confession of Faith .
*Satisfies to “hold firm to the word as taught” and “able to rebuke those who contradict
the word”

3. Teaching or Preaching Sample
The candidate should record a sermon or teaching opportunity and submit it to the
examination committee.
*Satisfies “able to teach”

4. Written Recommendations
a. The candidate should collect recommendations by various men who have seen the candidate
over past and present years within his family and Gospel ministry.
b. He should collect testimonies of his children and/or others he has led to the Lord and
discipled.
c. He should collect a recommendation from his wife or, if unmarried, from others regarding his
desire for purity and to relate to his brothers and sisters in holiness.
*Satisfies all of the other qualifications found in Timothy and Titus to their best knowledge

Candidate Checklist

1. Personal Testimony and Call to Ministry  
2. Bible and Theology Questions from KRS Ordination Committee
3. Transcripts from Seminary
4. Recommendations from friends and ministry colleagues
5. Family recommendations
6. Sermon Sample