Clergy & Priesthood

The C&MA affirms the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, teaching that every believer is a priest before God with direct access to God through Christ. No human mediator is required for salvation or communion with God. The C&MA rejects Roman Catholic and Orthodox sacramental theology in which clergy function as mediators and perform redemptive acts through sacramental ministry.

However, the C&MA also affirms ordained pastoral and missionary leadership. Ministers are ordained to lead congregations, administer the ordinances (baptism and Lord's Supper), teach and preach the Word, and shepherd the flock. Their authority derives from their calling by God, recognition by the church, and their accountability to Scripture and denominational standards. Ordination is a public recognition and commissioning of ministry, not the conferral of supernatural power or ontological change.

The C&MA has gradually expanded women's participation in ministry. While historically male-dominated, the C&MA increasingly recognizes women as pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and leaders at various levels. However, the pace and extent of women's ordination and leadership has varied by region and time period, and some C&MA constituencies remain more traditional. The principle affirmed is that the Spirit gifts men and women for ministry, and denying these gifts based on gender alone contradicts the Holy Spirit's work and the church's mission.