Spiritual Covering for Ministers

:: Can We Baptize Without Being Ordained?

From time to time we encounter questions concerning about minister ordinations. One of these concerns deals with being able to baptize people without being an ordained minister. The following is from an in-depth study on the subject:

To give some clarity to the reason behind why only ordained ministers should be able to baptize people let's first examine Mark 3:14: "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,". After His resurrection, Jesus told the some of the apostles to gather the eleven remaining apostles and to meet Him in a mountain. Those eleven Jesus told this: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Of all the people who were considered disciples of Jesus He only established for the apostles (those only were ordained) to baptize people.

In Acts 14:23 we read this: "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed." The words 'commended them to the Lord' here means 'presenting those ordained to do the service of the Lord; which part of the service is to baptize as Jesus set forth.

The word 'elders in the above verse refers to the divine appointment of certain people. Notice that not just pastors were ordained. Those who could follow the guidelines for an elder as 1 Timothy states could be ordained as such.

Now let's go to Titus 1:5: "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee". Paul places people in Crete to set things in order, that means all aspects of ministry. The word 'elder' here refers to the terms 'bishop' and/or 'overseer'; every city needed overseers: people who could be head over the church in that city.

There isn't any mention of a lay person in the scriptures performing any type of action, such as performing baptisims. This is not to say that lay ministers are not able to assist with such, as long as the person is truly a person serving the Lord.

If you have any questions about becoming ordained just email them to our Ministerial Staff. In your email subject line put these words: "ordination info please". You may also go to the Request Info Form to request more information about becoming ordained. An Application must be completed and mailed along with $40.00 (U.S. Dollars) to our offices at the address below, or you may want to pay with a credit card or debit card now by clicking on the button below. This offsets our costs of shipping, handling, and review of the application. You are not buying an ordination. It is FREE.

SpringWell of Hope Ministries, Intl
%Minister Ordinations
242 North Weldon Street
Marion, KY 42064

Further inquiries can be addressed to our:
Ministerial Staff