Recognizing the growing demand for spiritual leadership across various institutions, the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) has voted to recommend that each union implement an ordination tract and road map for pastors serving as Bible teachers and chaplains. The action aligns with guidelines from the General Conference Working Policy, the International Board of Ministerial and Theological Education Manual, and the SSD Working Policy.
The recommendation responds to the expanding role of Bible teachers and chaplains who provide faith-based instruction and spiritual care in both Adventist and non-Adventist settings. Many ordained ministers in the Seventh-day Adventist Church now serve in schools, hospitals, military units, fire departments, and other public and private institutions, offering moral guidance, counseling, and hope beyond traditional church contexts.
Church leaders emphasized the importance of affirming the ministry of pastors who dedicate their service to education and chaplaincy, regardless of the institution they represent. “These frontline ministers carry the presence of Jesus into spaces where encouragement, clarity, and healing are urgently needed,” the recommendation stated. “Their work reflects the gospel commission by bringing comfort, light, and faith to people from every background.”
The initiative follows the General Conference Working Policy on the employment of Adventist chaplains and extends its application to Bible teachers who engage in direct spiritual nurture and disciple-making. The action also invites unions to design their own ordination road maps in harmony with the General Conference guidelines, ensuring consistent requirements for ordination to the gospel ministry.
Under the voted recommendation, pastors serving as Bible teachers or chaplains must first secure ecclesiastical endorsement from the Seventh-day Adventist Church before proceeding with the ordination process. This step reinforces doctrinal alignment, ministerial accountability, and professional integrity while these pastors serve in secular, interfaith, or academically diverse environments.
Leaders view this development as a significant step in strengthening the Church’s mission to reach communities through education and spiritual care. By establishing clear pathways for ordination, the Church seeks to support and equip Bible teachers and chaplains who serve in varied and often challenging settings, ensuring their ministry remains grounded in the hope and compassion of Jesus Christ.