1. THE GENERAL MINISTRY OF ALL BELIEVERS
Every human being, regardless of age or gender, should be involved in serving God as a "minister" or diakonos. Rom. 13:4 & I Tim. 1:12 and esp. I Pet. 4:10-11. And every Christian person (at his or her baptism) has been anointed and appointed to the general ministry or office of all believers. See: Ex. 19:3-8; Num. 11:29; Joel 2:16,28-29; Acts 2:17,38-39; Matt. 28:18-19; I Cor. 12:13-20,26; Eph. 4:4-5,1213,16; I Pet. 2:9. See too Martin Luther, as quoted in the Reformed Ecumenical Synod's 1968 Report, p. 152; Belgic Confession, arts. 28 & 31; and Heidelberg Catechism, Q. & A. 32.
