Which groups are approved to sit in the International General Council?

• A. Ordained ministers only
• B. Laity
• C. Exhorters and laity
• D. Ordained ministers, exhorters, and laity

Answer: (D)

The idea behind who sits in the International General Council is to ensure representative leadership that spans clergy and lay voices. The council includes ordained ministers, who have formal pastoral authority; exhorters, who are credentialed to preach and exhort within the church; and laity, the non-ordained members who participate as part of the wider membership. This blend keeps governance balanced, giving voice to those who oversee spiritual matters, those who teach and exhort, and everyday members who reflect the broader church community.

If the council were limited to only ordained ministers, or only to laity, those essential perspectives would be missing. Excluding exhorters would also remove a recognized preaching and leadership role from the deliberations. Allowing all three groups—ordained ministers, exhorters, and laity—fits the church’s practice of inclusive, representative governance.