Brother Ron Spurgeon read the report as follows:

Luke 12:48 states, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

The epistles to Timothy (I Timothy 3: 1 – 7), and Titus (Titus 1: 5 – 16) contain the main qualifications required for ordination to the ministry. Prior to these qualifications, there must be some proven pre-requisites. First, the male person (not woman) is to be born-again with an experimental knowledge of Salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, he must be able to verbally express a Spiritual divine and Holy Calling from God. Thirdly, the preacher should give proper evidence that he has been Holy Spirit led to a work (Mission or Pastoral), which would require action by the Church to ordain a Brother for the purpose of Administering Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. Lastly, he needs to reflect a changed Godly Life that reflects and honors Jesus Christ in every aspect of his character and deportment, in and out of the pulpit. God doesn’t call the man because he is a preacher; God calls the man to make him His Preacher.

The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy and provided counsel and exhortations as a young pastor respecting his personal conduct and ministerial work. Titus who was most likely more sturdy and mature than Timothy receives counsel and exhortations relating to ministerial duties and doctrines, with special emphasis laid upon the maintaining of good works.

The licensing of a minister is a good practice to monitor the progress of the young preacher, by the Church for which he holds membership. The licensed minister must keep in constant contact, and should provide progress reports (written or verbal) to his pastor, and the congregation. He should be more than willing to conduct prayer meetings, teach Sunday school, and preach at nursing homes, youth meetings, radio, TV, internet, jails, or prisons. He should honor any request to speak or preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, any place and any time. This committee would strongly recommend the preacher always request the presence of at least one witness from the Church he holds membership at to attend the service(s) for which he is speaking.
A Missionary Baptist Church who is considering a Brother for ordination should ensure the Brother is Sound in Baptist Faith, Christian Doctrines, and well versed in Old Testament, and especially New Testament Scriptures.
The Church should seek validation from the Holy Spirit before considering the ordination of a Brother for the office of Bishop or Elder.

Sister Churches should invite young licensed ministers to fill the pulpit through appointments to monitor the progress of their Spiritual Growth.

Young ministers should prayerfully seek places to PREACH, even if that means writing a letter to a church requesting an appointment. The preacher should be “instant in season and out”, and ready to preach at a moment’s notice. If you are not ready to preach, it is not God’s fault. He called you, and He will give you something to preach about, even if it is just your personal testimony of salvation. By the way, we recommend instructing all ministers preaching at a place for the first time, to share your testimony of salvation, and your call to preach, prior to delivering the message God has provided.

Young ministers should be very active in study, and humbly proving themselves to God and man. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”, II Timothy 2:15.

The Apostle Paul instructed a young minister Timothy on how to be qualified as a Pastor. The scriptures teach us that there are at least 15 qualifications for the Greek word episkopos meaning overseer, superintendent or commonly named among us as the bishop or Greek presbuteros meaning Elder.

The 15 qualifications are subdivided into three categories: I Timothy 3: 1 – 7 & Titus 1: 5 - 16.
• Personal character and habits.
• Attitude toward his family.
• Experience and good reputation.
The 15 qualifications from I Timothy 3: 1 – 7:
1. Must be blameless ~ of sinful accusations.
2. Husband of one wife, if he is married.
3. Vigilant and Sober ~ of a sound and stable mind.
4. Good behavior ~ orderly deportment that is becoming of the man of God with the highest calling on Earth! In the pulpit and out of the pulpit.
5. Hospitable ~ to everyone we come in contact with.
6. Teacher ~ if we’re a preacher -- we’re a teacher! (Apt to teach - Greek didaktikos, means appropriate teaching.)
7. No wine ~ the Bible says not given to wine, this includes any intoxicating or mind altering drugs that may incapacitate our sober minds.
8. No striker ~ or reviler. One who participates or initiates conflict.
9. Greedy of filthy lucre ~ not loving monetary sources, for the love of money and power is the root of all evil!
10. Patient ~ gentle, yielding or lenient.
11. Not a brawler ~ no physical fighting -- ours is a spiritual fight!
12. Not covetous ~ not wanting more than God has already blessed us with, naturally speaking.
13. Rules his house ~ Greek proistemi, means to maintain a Godly home. Note: A Church should call whom God is leading, but ideally the pastor should be one who meets the qualification of maintaining his house, even it is one in the family or many members.
14. Not a novice ~ a recent convert or a beginner.
15. Good Report without ~ it should be easy to recognize us as being good upstanding citizens anywhere we are.
The 15 qualifications from Titus 1:5 - 16.
1. Must be blameless, as the steward of God ~ of unquestionable integrity and are irreproachable.
2. The husband of one wife ~ husband of BUT one wife.
3. Having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly ~ well Biblically trained up children, not open to the accusation of being loose in morals and conduct or unruly or disorderly (buzz word “PK’s” a.k.a preacher’s kids…).
4. Not self-willed ~ arrogant or presumptuous or rude.
5. Not soon angry ~ he must not be quick-tempered.
6. Not given to wine ~ given to drinking of alcoholic drinks as a beverage.
7. No striker ~ pugnacious, confrontational, aggressive, brawling or violent.
8. Not given to filthy lucre ~ or preaching to achieve financial gain.
9. A lover of hospitality ~ loving and a friend to believers, and especially to strangers and foreigners.
10. A lover of good men ~ a lover of good people and good things.
11. Sober ~ sensible and discreet.
12. Just ~ upright and fair-minded.
13. Holy ~ a devout man and religiously correct.
14. Temperate ~ keeping self in control with God’s help.
15. Holding fast the faithful word ~ to be sure and trustworthy in the Word of God.

The concluding charges from The Apostle Paul to the Preachers Timothy and Titus are sincere pleas to help prevent them from falling into the snare of the devil, and to exhort and convince the gainsayers with sound Biblical doctrine.

The purity of properly maintaining the Qualifications Required for Ordination to the Ministry is found in a charge from The Apostle Paul to Timothy. “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. I Timothy 5:22.”

The Church for which the candidate for ordination holds a long standing membership is to validate the qualification required for the ordination, prior to inviting the advisory council of ordained assistance for the ordination service.
Ordained brethren sent by the authority of Sister Churches for the purpose of seating in a Presbytery are to be held responsible to ensure these required qualifications are present, before the laying on of hands.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the Ordained Man of God to take heed to the instructions of Our Savior: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” Matthew 10:16. This advice may assist us in falling captive to the traps set before us. Being proper stewards of time management in prayerful study and meditation with God, will help to prevent such tragedies.

Humbly Submitted:
Elder David Swindle
Elder Berlon Roy
Elder Ronald G. Spurgeon - Chairman

Motion and second to adopt report. Those speaking on the report were Brother Ron Spurgeon, Brother JR Mullins, and Brother Rick Oliver. Question and second called to end subject. Approved.