If approved, he will be presented to the church membership for confirmation at the annual meeting, or a special meeting of the church, and issued license for a designated period of at least one year in which he will be allowed to participate in supervised pastoral duties. At the end of that time he will follow the previous process of examination and confirmation. Upon the call of this or another church of like faith and practice the pastoral candidate will be ordained in a special meeting of the church in recognition of his call by God into pastoral ministry. Should the church be without any qualified pastors it will fast and diligently pray to seek God s direction in finding a man to to fill the position of Pastor-Teacher according to God s Word and will subsequently appoint a competent committee to conduct the search. Men being considered for pastoral leadership who are not members of this church will follow the same process of counsel, examination, and confirmation in light of their previous ministry experience.
Pastors are responsible to see that their duties are fulfilled in their absence.
The pastoral leadership will compile the nominations followed by a time of prayer and fasting to discern God s will concerning the deacon candidates. They will then approve the nominations, assign them to particular areas of ministry according to the needs of the church, and present the approved candidates to the church membership for confirmation. Deacons will then be publicly commissioned to serve as needed. Deacons serve under the pastoral leadership with whom they will meet regularly for direction and may be removed from the office of deacon by the pastoral leadership according to church membership guidelines or for failure to uphold the Scriptural requirements for office. Upon recommendation by a pastor, prospective members will be presented to the church membership for confirmation at any regular meeting following a public affirmation of their membership commitment before the church.