Ministry, Protestant

Protestant ministry is religious service performed within the Protestant tradition. Because of the numerous and varied denominations that make up the Protestant tradition, there is no singular model of Protestant ministry, or singular set of criteria for determining the ability and qualification of one to serve in ministry.

Ordination is the process by which a church recognizes a person's call and desire to serve in ministry, specifically the ministry of word and sacrament and/or congregational leadership. The ordination process is more formal and institutionalized in certain denominations, particularly churches maintaining an episcopal polity, including Lutherans, Methodists, and Episcopalian churches, and churches maintaining a Presbyterian polity, such as Presbyterian and Reformed churches. For example, the United Methodist Church has an extensive ordination process with requirements that include ...