The Ministry Associates
Article 23
a. Ministry associates shall be acknowledged as elders of their calling churches with corresponding privileges and responsibilities. Normally, their work as elders shall be limited to the ministries in which they serve as ministry associates.
b. Ministry associates who continue to serve a newly organized congregation beyond this reasonable period of transition must seek the permission of classis with the concurrence of the synodical deputies. (Supplement, Article 23-a)
c. Ministry associates may also serve in organized congregations along with a minister of the Word and may serve as chaplains in institutional settings in the community. Ministry associates who have served an organized congregation along with a minister of the Word may, in exceptional circumstances, with the approval of classis and the concurrence of synodical deputies, continue serving that congregation as a solo pastor after the minister of the Word has left. (Supplement Article 23–b)
d. Ministry associates may be called to serve as solo pastors in organized congregations if the classis, with the concurring advice of synodical deputies, ascertains that such congregations are from a ministry context where the standards for pastoral preparation required by Articles 6, 7, or 8 are not presently practical. (Supplement, Article 23-c)
e. Ministry associates may be called to serve as solo pastors in organized congregations if the classis, with the concurring advice of synodical deputies, ascertains that such are in a ministry context where the standards for pastoral preparation required by Articles 6, 7, or 8 are not presently practical. (Supplement, Article 23-d)
The ministry context is ordinarily one in which cultural differences (e.g., ethnic, social, economic, educational, language) between the congregation and its ministry context on the one hand, and the dominant culture of the denomination as expressed in the seminary, other leadership development entities, and broader denominational life on the other hand
(a) present significant obstacles to raising up indigenous leadership in ways that are sustainable by the respective congregations and communities, and
(b) have resulted in limited- or non-availability of competent indigenous leaders trained for ministry via one of the prescribed routes for ministry of the Word.
Acts of Synod 2007 also made this declaration concerning Ministry Associates
That synod declare that ministry associates serving as solo pastors of organized congregations and “acknowledged as elders of their calling churches” (Church Order Article 23) may be sent as ministerial delegates to synod and nominated to serve in other denominational functions where a person must normally be a minister of the Word and that this change be reflected in a Supplement to Church Order Article 45.
Article 24
a. The task of the ministry associate is to bear witness to Christ through the preaching of the Word, the administration of the sacraments, church education, pastoral care, evangelism, and other ministries in order that believers may be called to comprehensive discipleship and unbelievers may be called to faith.
b. Ministry associates shall function under the direct supervision of the council, giving regular reports to it and being present at its meetings, particularly when their work is under consideration.