A new policy for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in western Washington seeks to help commissioned ministers more readily fulfill mission-focused leadership responsibilities — a decision that is generating positive reactions from constituents and policy watchers.
The Mission-Focused Leadership Policy stands on the scriptural belief of the "priesthood of all believers" found in 1 Peter 2:5, 9 and follows the Adventist Church's theology of ordination, voted at the General Conference Annual Council in 2014.
This policy also respects the world church's ordination requirements. It is a practical approach to allow commissioned ministers to participate, along with ordained ministers, in the new General Conference Total Member Involvement (TMI) initiative, to fulfill the Gospel Commission commanded by Christ Jesus in Matthew 28.
The leadership policy was approved in a regularly scheduled conference executive committee meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in western Washington, commonly referred to as Washington Conference.
Under the new Mission-Focused Leadership Policy, commissioned ministers may now perform baptisms or weddings outside their district, but still within Washington Conference, without first asking permission. Additionally, commissioned ministers may now ordain local elders, deacons or deaconesses; plant a church in cooperation with Washington Conference; and hold any leadership position in the Washington Conference. This policy applies only to the western Washington territory.
Washington Conference will continue to recommend qualified individuals for respective ordination or commissioned credentials to the North Pacific Union Conference executive committee for its approval.
To read the full Mission-Focused Leadership policy for Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, please visit washingtonconference.org/missionleaders.
