The Meaning of Ordination and Ministerial License

Policy Section 1020

CMC recognizes three offices by ordination: minister, deacon, and bishop. Offices which may be recognized by licensure are minister and deacon. The term office, as used here, should not be confused with function or assignment. For example, ordination is not to the office of pastor, associate pastor, youth minister, evangelist, teacher, or chaplain, even if the minister is assigned to one of these functions. Each of the offices is designated in the CMC Directory of Ministers in the CMC Annual Report as shown in the key to that section. In more generic usage, ordained and licensed ministers, deacons, and bishops are referred to as ministers.

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