Article 16

Article 16

ARTICLE 16

MINISTERS



16.1 (a) According to the teaching of the New Testament, there are ministers through whom the ascended Lord governs The Church which is His body (iCor, 12:28; Eph. 4:11-13)



(b) Approved proven men of God are called to these offices by divine revelation, directive prophecy or recommendation by the Executive Council for ratification by the General Council



c) New entrants from Ghana shall be recommended to the Executive Council by the National Ministerial Committee



(d) Prospective candidates shall have been approved by the hierarchy of Local, District and Area Presbyteries through the respective ministerial committees



(e) In the case of the external branches of The Church, the Executive Council shall call proven men of God into the ministry upon the recommendation of or in consultation with a National Executive Council.



16.1.1 QUALIFICATION FOR ADMISSION INTO THE FULL¬TIME MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH (1 TIM. 3:1-7)



a) The person must be born again and be baptized in the Holy Spirit.



(b)He must qualify in terms of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-8



(c)He must possess at least a moderate amount of formal education



(d)He must possess a clear voice without impediment in his speech



(e)He must be willing to learn



(f)He must be of sound body and mind proven by medical examination



(g)He must be a mature person not above forty-two (42) years



(h)He must be obedient to the General Council and the Executive Council



(i)He must be recommended by an Apostle or an Area Head in consultation with the Local, District and Area Presbyteries respectively



(j)Elders of proven pastoral ability who are above the age of forty-two (42) years maybe called into the Ministry on the recommendation of the Executive Council provided that in all such cases they shall be approved by the General Council



16.2 CATEGORIES OF MINISTERS



16.2.1 PROBATIONARY OVERSEERS



New entrants shall be put on probation for at least two (2) years effective from the date of admission into the Ministry after which period they may, on the recommendation of the respective National or Area Heads to the Executive Council, be confirmed as Overseers or released from the Ministry,



16.2.2 FUNCTIONS



They shall perform all duties of an Overseer under a District Pastor as in 16.4(1) except 16.4(1) d of this Constitution.



16.3 OVERSEERS



New entrants or Probationers who perform satisfactorily shall be confirmed into the full-time Ministry as Overseers.



16.3.1 FUNCTIONS



They shall perform all pastoral duties except the blessing of marriages.



16.4 PASTORS



Overseers who prove themselves capable of pastoral work shall be called and ordained into the pastorate.



16.4.1 FUNCTIONS



(a) To feed and care for the flock



(b) To administer the Lord’s Supper



(c) To visit the sick



(d) .To bless marriages



(e) Baptize new converts



(f) To dedicate children



(g) To bury the dead



(h) To teach and preach the gospel



(i) To do all other things incidental to the calling except dedication of church buildings and
ordination of officers.



16.5 TEACHERS



Ministers whose ministry stands out in the Teaching Ministry may be called to the Office of a Teacher.



16.5.1 FUNCTIONS



(a) They shall perform pastoral functions



(b) They shall teach the Word of God and faithfully point the body of Christ to sound and life-giving Christian doctrine.



16.5 EVANGELISTS



Ministers whose ministry stands out in evangelism may be called to the office of Evangelist



16.6.1 FUNCTIONS



(a) They shall perform pastoral functions.



(b) They shall preach the Gospel especially to the
unsaved



(c) They shall break new grounds for the opening of
new Assemblies (Ac. 8:5-7).



16.6 PROPHETS



These are Ministers who exercise the prophetic Ministry and are called into the office of Prophet.



16.7.1 FUNCTIONS



(a) The Office of a Prophet is complementary to that of the Apostle in calling, directing and ordaining Ministers and other Officers of The
Church. (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11-13)



(b) This Office is distinguishable from the exercise of the gift of prophecy which edifies, exhorts and comforts the saints (1 Cor, 14:3,4)



(c) Dedicate church buildings and other properties of The Church.



16.7 APOSTLES



These are ordained ministers who exercise Apostolic Ministry and are called into the Office of Apostle.



16.8.1 FUNCTIONS



(a) They establish churches, and build and care for
them, meeting the spiritual needs of the various
officers and members in The Church



(b) They ordain Ministers and Officers of The Church



(c) Keep discipline in the Church



(d) Impart spiritual gifts to others (Rom. 1:11; 2 Tim. 1:6; Lk. 6:13)



(e) Dedicate church buildings and other properties of The Church.



16.9 TENT MINISTERS



Elders who are specialists in their chosen fields of endeavour and are of proven pastoral ability and have not attained the age of 65 years may be called into the ministry as “TENT MINISTERS on the recommendation of the Executive Council, provided that in all such cases they shall be approved by the General Council.



16.9.1 FUNCTIONS



To perform all functions prescribed under clause 16,4 (1) of this Constitution.



16.10 RETIRING AGE



(a) Ministers shall retire at the age of sixty-five (65) years



(b) Nevertheless, a Minister, upon attaining the age of sixty-five (65) years, may apply for extension of his Ministry



(c) If in the opinion of the Executive Council and after due medical examination he is found healthy enough to continue in the full-time Ministry, he may be permitted to
continue for one (1) or two (2) years subject to the approval of the General Council on the merits of each case



(d) Howevert his retiring benefits shall be computed on the salary pertaining at the age of sixty-five (65) years.



16.10.1 PREMATURE RETIREMENT

A minister may be prematurely retired from the full-time
Ministry:



(a) On medical grounds



(b) In circumstances which will not permit him to continue in the full-time ministry.



16.10.2 COMPLETION OF OFFICE



A Chairman, a General Secretary or an International Missions Director who, when voted into office, will not have served his full term of office before the attainment of the age of sixty-five (65) years, and notwithstanding the attainment of the age of sixty-five (65) years shall complete his term of office.



16.10.3 BENEFITS OF PENSION SCHEME



A Minister who retires at the age of sixty-five (65) years or is prematurely retired shall be entitled to all benefits under the Pension Scheme.



16.10.4 VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT OR RESIGNATION



Subject to section 16.10.1 above, The Church shall not encourage voluntary retirement of Ministers called into the full-time Ministry before the retiring age. Nonetheless, a Minister may resign or retire before the retiring age of sixty-five (65) years and shall be paid such reduced pension benefits as are applicable under the Pension Scheme,



16.11 CONDUCT THAT WILL LEAD TO DISMISSAL OF A MINISTER



A Minister may be dismissed on any of the following grounds: –



(a) Unfaithfulness to the Church



(b) Disobedience to his calling



(c) Refusal to fellowship with fellow Ministers after attempts have been made to settle the misunderstanding



(d) Preaching erroneous doctrine



(e) Living questionable life

(

f) Insubordination



(g) Getting involved in any conduct either directly or indirectly which in the opinion of the General Council may bring The Church into disrepute



16.12 SUMMARY DISMISSAL



16.12.1 OFFENCES



The Chairman and an Area Head or the Executive Council may summarily dismiss a Minister who commits any of the following offences:



(a) Theft



(b) Fraud



(c) Dishonesty



(d) Immorality



16.12.2 APPEAL



The aggrieved party may appeal to the General Council through the General Secretary within thirty (30) days of the service of the dismissal letter.