The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Receiving the previously ordained in other denoms

Out of curiosity, what would be the usual practice in a Reformed denomination as far as receiving a minister who had been previously ordained in another, non-Reformed denomination? I realize the presbytery or classis usually examines each candidate--but would a Reformed denomination ever receive a clergyman from say, an Anglican or a Methodist church and accept that man's ordination "as is"?

I guess I was wondering because I know a couple of Reformed Anglican clergy who are indeed pretty Reformed, and was curious what would happen should they ever move to the PCA. Admittedly, the flow seems to be the other way; I have heard of several PCA ministers moving towards Anglicanism but never an Anglican becoming PCA. That doesn't mean it never happens, though--just that I haven't heard of it. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/scratch1.gif" alt="" />

Theo

"Teaching elders," as pastors are called in the PCA, are ordianed by their presbyteries, and the policy of accepting ordination from other denominations varies from one presbytery to another. There doesn't seem to be a hard-and-fast rule other than adherence to the Westminster Standards, and any exceptions to the Standards are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Central Florida presbytery used to routinely reciprocate ordination from certain other denoms, but that is no longer typical in this presbytery, though it may still be in others.

-Robin

Robin,

Thanks for the reply. You are of course right about this being up to the local presbytery to some extent, which I had forgotten. I suppose the BCO would set some parameters but the local presbytery would make the call otherwise.

Thanks again--

Theo