ORDAINED MINISTER

ORDAINED MINISTER

This is my story. It may not apply to you. Local Churches of Christ, being deliberately unorganized, may do things in different ways. Some license their preachers to do weddings legally. Some ordain in their own way. I was Identified (Ordained) by the normal useage of Churches of Christ in the Columbus Ohio area in 1950.

This is a facsimile of the original certificate produced by the Reynoldsburg Church of Christ. Tom Butterfield, Sr. (preacher at the West Broad Street Church of Christ), told us how to word this to meet the legal requirements of the State of Ohio. This was then presented to the Judge of the Probate Court, Judge C. P. McClelland, who signed his authority giving me the authority to solemnize marriages according to the Laws of the State of Ohio. R. D. Ice



ORDINATION CERTIFICATE
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

July 31, 1950

We, the undersigned, as leaders and responsible members of the Congregation of the Church of Christ, located at Reynoldsburg, Ohio, do hereby place our signature to the same, that Rhoderick D. Ice has been accepted and duly appointed (referred to as "ordained" in some religions) by us to preach the Gospel of Christ, and to follow any and all other duties, or work such as Solemnizing Marriages, conduct Funerals, and Edify the Church, whenever he may have the opportunity to do so, in harmony with the New Testament.

Signed:

Chester Phalor, 572 South Champion, Columbus, Ohio
C. R. Mobberly, 156 East Broad, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Jessie S. Blacker, 771 Pleasant Ridge Ave., Columbus, Ohio
Florence Hennis, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Viola P. Hickerson, 585 South Champion Ave., Columbus, Ohio
Mrs. Ella Hennis, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Della P. Gibbons, 572 South Champion Ave., Columbus, Ohio
Maud P. Green, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Edith E. Hennis, Reynoldsburg, Ohio


 MINISTER'S LICENSE
GENERAL CODE
Sections 11182-3-4-5


THE STATE OF OHIO, FRANKLIN COUNTY, sa.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the ____8____ day of August , A.D., 1950, the Rev. Rhoderick Ice, a Minister of the Gospel, officiating in Franklin County, Ohio, having produced to the Judge of the Probate Court of said Franklin County, Credentials of his being a Regularly Ordained or Licensed Minister, of the Church of Christ Religious Society or Congregation; it is therefore ordered by the Court that a License be issued to the said Rhoderick Ice who is hereby Authorized to Solemnize Marriages within this State, so long as he shall continue a regular Minister in such Society or Congregation.
In Testimony Whereof, I, C. P. McClelland, Judge of the Probate Court of said
County, have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, at Columbus,
Ohio, this ____8____ day of August , A.D., 1950.

signed: C. P. McClelland
Judge of the Probate Court



The State of Ohio )
County of Franklin, sa. ) Probate Court

I HEREBY CERTIFY, That the name of the Rev. Rhoderick Ice has been
entered upon record in said Court as a Minister of the Gospel duly authorized to
solemnize marriages within the State of Ohio.
Witness my hand and the Seal of said Court, this ____8____ day of August ,
A.D., 1950.

C. P. McCLELLAND, Probate Judge

By Edward Siefert
Deputy Clerk

Also recorded: Gallia County, 21st day of May, A.D. 1956
Perry County, Ohio, 29th day of May, A.D. 1962
Hocking County, Ohio, 20th day of April, A.D. 1964
Muskingum County, Ohio, 26th day of June, A.D. 1967

[Please note that I DO NOT call myself Reverend. But in normal language, this is the honorary title given to preachers. It is difficult to explain to someone who does not speak "our language." When you deny using the title "Reverend," they may think you are saying: "I an NOT a preacher, but I AM a preacher."]



THE WORK OF THE CHURCH R. D. Ice 8/23/96

1. CHURCH is a matter of relationships and loyalty. Jordan understands Hebrews 10:23-25 to say: "Let us hang on with tooth and toenail to our promising commitment, for He who maps our strategy can be completely trusted. And let's think up ways to provoke everybody into 'fits of love and kindness.' Don't fail to meet together in cell groups [Acts 2:46-47], as some are beginning to do. Rather, keep everybody on his toes, especially as you see D-day approaching."

Christians are People of Hope!!! The writer of Hebrews speaks of God's Infallible Purpose In Christ [Hebrews 6:13-20] and writes: "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil." As the storms howl around the ship, the anchor holds firm in the unseen world below the surface. Just so, hope reaches through the veil [curtain] into the Inner Sanctuary [Heaven itself] and takes hold in the Presence of God Himself! Our Christian Hope is anchored in Eternity!

Those first Christians quickly became a family along the lines of the Jewish synagogue. The poor and needy and sick among them were taken care of as part of the life of the church. Note that the Jerusalem Church grew rapidly - to perhaps 100,000 members, before persecution scattered them. We see that they had a complex 'body life' among their number.

Acts 6:1 "Now in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution."

2. Paul mentions two areas of work among those who preached the Gospel of Christ's Death & Resurrection & Coming Again. Some planted, others watered.

1 Cor. 3:6. Paul is saying: "I planted you in God's field, Apollos (and others) watered you, by teaching you, but it was God who made you grow."

1 Cor. 3:9. We are partners. Planting preachers such as Paul worked together with watering preachers such as Apollos. Not rivals, but God's workers working together in God's field to accomplish God's mission. Paul planted; Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

3. EVANGELIST in the New Testament was one who helped carry out the mission of the church, especially in a local congregation.

a. Preach God's message. 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Luke 24:44-47

b. Water. 1 Cor. 3:5-9; Acts 18:24-28

c. Teach and train both men and women in the essentials of the Faith [men - ANTHROPOS - here is generic in the original]. 2 Timothy 2:1-2; 2 Cor. 4:13-15

d. Organize and mobilize. Titus 1:5; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 5:19-22

e. Teach the Christian lifestyle. Titus 2:1-15; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; Gal. 6:1-2