Ordained ministers; priesthood of all believers; foot washing among ordained
Free Will Baptists affirm the priesthood of all believers — the conviction that every Christian has direct access to God through Christ and does not require priestly mediation. This doctrine is central to Free Will Baptist spirituality and shapes their understanding of ministry. At the same time, the denomination recognizes ordained ministers who are called and gifted to preach, teach, and shepherd the congregation.
Ordination to the ministry is recognized as a calling from God and is formally conducted by an ordaining council composed of pastors and church representatives. The ordained minister is authorized to preach, administer the ordinances (baptism and the Lord's Supper), and provide pastoral leadership. However, this ordination does not confer a sacerdotal status or priestly character; the minister is a servant leader, not a mediator between God and the people.
A distinctive Free Will Baptist practice is the ordinance of foot washing, often performed by ordained ministers as a sign of humility and service. This is understood as a sacramental sign and ordinance alongside baptism and the Lord's Supper. Women's ordination varies by association — some Free Will Baptist associations ordain women to the ministry, while others restrict ordination to men. This diversity is tolerated within the broader denominational framework.
Key Distinctions
- Ministry model:
- called and formally ordained to pastoral leadership
- Ordination theology:
- no sacramental or sacerdotal status; servant leadership emphasized
Scripture References
Sources
- Treatise of the Faith (NAFWB doctrinal standard)
- Free Will Baptist Manual (ordination and ministry)