7.1 Ministry and duties

7.1 Ministry and duties A spiritual ministry constitutes authorisation, blessing, and sanctification is- sued through ordination for service in the church of Christ. It is exercised in the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 The New Apostolic Church understands “ministry” as a spiritual, ordained ministry. It therefore understands a minister as one who is authorised, blessed, and sanctified through ordi- nation by an Apostle (cf. Fifth Article of Faith: “I believe that those designated by God for a ministry are ordained only by Apostles, and that authority, blessing, and sanctification for their ministration come forth out of the Apostle ministry.”) The New Apostolic Church does indeed encourage all of its members to utilise their gifts and talents, and to be involved in various activ- ities, as “the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (1 Corinthians 12: 1–11), and “as each one has received a gift”, we are to “minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4: 10), “... for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4: 12). The problem arises in that the English translation of the Bible (and the English language in general) uses “ministering” and “serving” (or “ministry” and “service”) interchangeably. While other parts of the Christian church may refer to such services, duties, functions, or exercises of gifts and talents as “ministry”, from the perspective of the New Apostolic Church these must be distinguished from the spiritual, ordained ministry (see paragraph 3 of 7.1; cf. also Divine Service Guide, Special Edition 03/12). Someone who serves the youth, for example, is indeed ministering to the youth, but does not have a “ministry” in the sense of the Fifth Article of Faith. The ministering unto various groups in our Church is a service. 279 7 Ministry The spiritual ministry is assigned by a superior, in other words, the sender. The one who is sent is responsible and accountable to his sender in the fulfil- ment of his ministerial mandate. Ministry is always linked to Jesus Christ and the Apostles sent by Him (see 7.6). In the church of Christ, ministry is to be distinguished from the various duties which serve for the proclamation of the gospel and the benefit of the believers, and which can also be performed without ordination. It is also important to distinguish ministry from the call that has gone out to all believers, namely to serve the Lord by following Him (John 12: 26; 1 Peter 2: 5, 9). Just as the Apostles bear witness of the gospel through word and conduct, reborn Christians do the same in fellowship with them, thereby supporting their great commission. SUMMARY The term “ministry” describes a function or position that is assigned to a spe- cific area of responsibility as well as an authority that has been bestowed in order to represent, lead, and provide order to a community. (7) The spiritual ministry constitutes authority, blessing, and sanctification issued through ordination for service in the church of Christ. (7.1) A distinction must be made between the ministry and the many diverse duties that support the proclamation of the gospel and the wellbeing of the believers, which can also be performed without ordination. (7.1) It is also important to distinguish between ministry and the call that has gone out to all believers to serve the Lord through following. Just as the Apostles bear witness of the gospel through word and conduct, reborn Christians do the same in fellowship with them, thereby supporting their great commission. (7.1) 280