This document provides guidance on writing a statement of faith for ordination. It should declare one's evangelical Christian beliefs in their own words. Major theological areas to cover include God, scripture, humanity, sin, Christology, salvation, the church, eschatology, the Holy Spirit, and the Filipino Christian life. Each doctrine should reflect biblical expression, historical development, and contemporary understanding. The statement should be concise at 1-2 pages per doctrine and tie together with an integrating theme or motif. It aims to demonstrate one's theological understanding and ability to communicate clearly for both an ordaining council and congregation.

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3. THEOLOGY & ORDINATION in
Philippine Context
SOM-TOPC Writing a Statement of
Faith
Ang Pagsusulat ng “Pahayag ng
Pananampalataya”

4. Purpose:
• The paper is given as a public declaration of what you
believe regarding the classical theological tenets of the
evangelical Christian faith.
• It should, therefore, be your own work, in your own
words, with quotations from theological sources at a
minimum.
• The paper should present positively what you basically
believe, generally avoiding statements about what you
do not believe.
• In addition to presenting your theological understandings
of the faith, the paper should demonstrate your ability to
communicate in clear, concise thought patterns, words, &
style.
• To work through an integrating motif/theme that will give
cohesiveness to the ordination statement.

5. Suggested Areas to be Covered
Your statement should treat major theological themes,
i.e. God, scripture, humanity, sin, Christology, salvation,
the church, eschatology, the Holy Spirit, & the Filipino
Christian life.
You should develop each of these doctrines as they
grow naturally out of your present theological
understanding.
However, you should bear in mind the traditional
approaches &, while expressing them in the categories
of your own experience, seek to establish continuity
with the experience of your readers/hearers (a part of
whom will be an ordaining council).

6. Suggested Areas to be Covered
Wherever relevant, your statement should reflect
your knowledge of the biblical expression of the
particular doctrine, its historical development, & its
contemporary synthesis.
The examples provided below should give you an
insight.

7. On the doctrine of God
• Without ignoring the traditional forms, you
should attempt to express this doctrine in
categories that will be understandable to the
listener in your congregation today.
– How do you present the "form" of God to people
today?
– What is the meaning of concepts such as
transcendence & immanence for today's
understanding of the world in which we live?
– Who is the God whom you communicate to modern
humanity?

8. On the doctrine of humanity
• You should seek to incorporate in your statement
the following concepts:
– What is the biblical understanding of humanity?
– Who is man as a soteriological creature in the 20th
century?
– How does man stand today as the “imaged God”
(image of God)?
– What are the ethical dimensions of human-ness?

9. On the doctrine of the church
• Demonstrate the theological significance for
today of the biblical metaphors for the church
(body of Christ, house of God, etc.).
– How does the church relate to the Kingdom of God?
– How is the church related to contemporary society?
– What is the significance of the church for
eschatology?

10. The Process
Before you begin to write each of the separate
doctrines, outline the areas you intend to include,
develop the procedure for treating these areas, &
then ask yourself the question: "Does this show my
knowledge of the biblical & historical data & does it
relate to the person of today?"

11. Format
• The statement should be 14 pages in length, double-
spaced (3500 words) with a 2-page (500 word)
introduction.
• Because the members of your congregation may have
varying levels of English competence, the statement should
be written in both English & your local dialect (Tagalog,
Ibanag, Ilocano, etc.)
• Pay attention to literary style, grammar, & spelling.
• Use headings, subheadings, & page numbers for easy
reference during the question period.
• Use scripture. Not more than an average of 1 quoted
reference should be used in support of any given point or
statement. Additional references may be used, but only by
giving location of chapter & verse.

12. Advice on Writing an Ordination Statement
• Reading several ordination statements is most
helpful & advisable. Plagiarism (stealing the
writings of another) is strictly forbidden. Even if
you think the other author writes better than you
I WANT TO SEE YOUR OWN WORDS! Kahit mas
magaling sila magsulat sa iyo, gusto kong makita
ang inyong sariling mga salita!
• Have an ordained pastor or two read your
statement & provide some comment.

13. Advice on Writing an Ordination Statement
• Develop a detailed outline that will lead to a
concise statement of what you believe. Long,
wordy statements that editorialise & invite
excessive questioning are a detriment to the
ordination process.
• Set a goal of no more than one (1) page per
statement or doctrine. This will force conciseness
& clarity. It is better to invite questions on what
may not be there, than to defend excessive,
implicating statements.

14. Advice on Writing an Ordination Statement
• Develop a theme, motif, or doctrinal emphasis to tie
your statement together. At this point, devote one
page to the motif & indicate how it is implicated in
the majority of your doctrinal statements. Please
work your theme into the entire document.
• Each article of faith is a basic biblical proposition.
The basic propositions or doctrines as you organise
them & support them provide your peers & elders
with a statement of your basic biblical worldview &
how you support it with Scripture. Your biblical
worldview tells others how you will defend the faith
& handle controversial issues & current ministry
concerns.