Educators seek ordination as ministers By Robert P. Mills The Presbyterian Layman Volume 33, Number 3 Posted May 22, 2000 For at least two decades Presbyterians have resisted adding to elder, deacon and minister a fourth ordained office, Christian educator. A report coming to the Long Beach General Assembly looks to overcome this long-standing opposition. The Work Group on the Role and Status of Christian Educators in the Presbyterian Church (USA), comprised almost entirely of Certified Christian Educators, proposes that Christian educators now be ordained as Ministers of Word and Sacrament. In place of the current two-year master’s degree, Christian educators would be required to complete a three-year master of divinity program. Key issues The group outlined as its key issues “the call to ministry, accountability, empowerment, educational requirements and advocacy for those who serve in this capacity.” It also commissioned the denomination’s office of Research Services to survey other Christian educators. Among the findings were that 87 percent of Christian educators favor ordaining Christian educators. According to the work group, there are now 414 Certified Christian Educators and 106 Certified Associate Educators, with 279 individuals seeking certification. Current standards for certification are established in the Book of Order, G-14.0700-0705. The Work Group’s rationales for ordaining Christian educators as ministers of Word and sacrament include that “Ordination has little to do with status or even honor. It has everything to do with recognition in service to ministry, with accountability, advocacy and justice.”

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