The Great Commission of Paul

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of  Christ  may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. -- Ephesians 4:11-13

The Presbyterian Response

The Book of Order, which serves as a Constitution for the Presbyterian Church (USA), makes individual churches and congregations responsible for the guidance and support of our future ministers. (Book of Order G-14.0306b)

At Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, the Session has created the Denominational Matters Committee. Its specific purpose is to support those who have sensed a call to ministry whom we have taken under care during their preparation and to guide them through the Presbyterian process. The committee consists of Pastors and Elders, some of whom are assigned to individual seminarians for the three or more years it takes to complete the Inquirer and Candidacy phase of their preparation, through to Ordination.

The Elder liaisons maintain regular contact with their seminarians to keep informed of their progress and provide encouragement and support. They in turn report to the committee on their seminarians’ status. The committee as a group meets with seminarians individually as they prepare to become Inquirers or Candidates and upon completion of their studies.

The committee currently has four seminarians under care studying in different parts of the country, all of whom are in the Inquirer stage of their journey. Three candidates have now completed their preparation and are certified to receive a call.

The Denominational Matters Committee is honored to support the preparation process of those called to the ministry as they seek to discover God's will for their faith journey. We are grateful to the congregation for its support and the welcome it gives to those under our care.

How can I tell if God is calling me and how should I respond to God’s call?

Although many are called to church service, there are several other arenas they can be drawn to: prison ministry, youth ministry, military or health care chaplaincy, mission work, education. If you sense that you are being called to ministry, you may make an appointment to meet with one of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church’s pastors, who can give you guidance and advice. In addition, the Book of Order is an excellent resource for an overview of the Presbyterian process.

For more information, please contact Elder Brunilda Fernandez at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .