Preface to the Method of Ordination
Adopted by the Calvinistic Methodists in Wales , 1823

In 1811, what started in the 18th century as a group of religious societies under the leadership of lay exhorters, began the transition to a connexional denomination under the leadership of ministers and elders,duly examined and ordained on the basis of subscription to the Calvinistic Methodist Confession of Faith of 1823.

In 1933 the Calvinistic Methodists of Wales adopted the title The Presbyterian Church of Wales and took A Short Declaration of Faith as their working doctrinal standard. This brief statement consisting of six articles based on the Apostles' Creed, effectively replaced the Confession of 1823, which became redundant. From this time forward, the Short Declaration became the formal basis for the propagation of theological liberalism in the pulpits. With its adoption, men were officially free to preach aberrant doctrines with impunity.

Men accepted for ordination in the 19th century had once been lay preachers or exhorters in the religious societies. Under the new rules and with the eventual appearance of the 1823 Confession, they could be recognised as ministers of the word and sacraments. Due process amounted to examination, acceptance of the approved system of doctrine and a greater degree of collective oversight. The new arrangement, however, did not demand forfeiture of local freedoms or, indeed, insist on absolute agreement on every point of faith and practice. Those responsible remembered past conflicts and sought a balance between faithfulness and decency and order, on the one hand, and acceptable liberty, on the other. 

From the Preface:
'The members of any general society must lay aside their own opinions, in order, by agreement on certain central points, to unite together and, when formed into a society, cooperate in peace and without hindrance.  Whoever refuses to do this has no fitness to be a member of any society.  No one is required to change his opinions, but simply, as a member of the society, to hold them in abeyance, or else cease to avail himself of the privileges that membership secures. It is unbecoming in any man to think that all will agree with him in their judgement on every subject, or that it is every man's duty to bow to his opinions.

The Calvinistic Methodists in Wales are a very numerous body, and it would be unjust to expect all the members of so large a body to agree in every particular of church organisation. Men differ in the extent of their knowledge and the measure of their grace. They also imbibe prejudices in their early training from which they cannot entirely rid themselves, and which must be tolerated for the sake of the usefulness and peace of the Connexion.  To seek points of agreement that will bring all to work peaceably together, is becoming and in itself desirable; for it helps to promote the general welfare of the Connexion.

Official account of the first ordinations
At the Annual Meeting held at Bala* on the 19th and 20th of June, 1811, eight brethren were ordained in the following manner :
First, the oldest and most revered member of the Connexion, John Evans of Bala, read 1 Tim. iii., making, as he read, simple and appropriate remarks on the qualifications required in ministers of the Gospel ; and when he had read the chapter, he prayed in language simple and appropriate to the occasion.
Second, the Rev. T. Charles, of Bala, read, in the hearing of all, the names of those who had been chosen by the Monthly Meetings : — Thomas Jones and John Davies, from Denbighshire ; John Elias and Richard Lloyd, from Anglesey ; Evan Richards, from Carnarvonshire ; John Roberts, from Merionethshire ; Evan Griffiths and William Jones, from Montgomeryshire; and Robert Ellis, from Flintshire, ... The Rev. Thomas Charles requested them to signify by show of hands if they wished him to ask these brethren a few questions ... This being the unanimous wish of the assembly, he asked the following questions, to which he received very appropriate* and satisfactory answers : — What is your belief
1. Concerning the being and attributes of God ?
2. Concerning the Trinity ?
3. Concerning the word of God ?
4. Concerning God's decree and election ?
5. Concerning God's providence ?
 6. Concerning the fall and corruption of man ?
7. Concerning the moral law ?
8. Concerning the Person of Christ ?
9. Concerning the offices of Christ ?
10. Concerning the sacrifice of Christ and redemption ?
11. Concerning justification ?
12. Concerning the Person of the Holy Ghost ?
13. Concerning the work of the Holy Ghost in the plan of salvation ?
14. Concerning the call of the gospel ?
15. Concerning perseverance in grace ?
16. Concerning the resurrection ?
17. Concerning the general judgment?
18. What ordinances do you believe to have been divinely appointed ?
19. What is your belief concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper—their purpose, use, and signification ?
20. Do you sincerely approve of the church government of the Calvinistic Methodists in Wales ?
21. Do you intend, as far as it lies in your power, and with the Lord's help, to maintain the unity of the Connexion in the form in which the Lord has hitherto so greatly blessed it, and set your faces against all unprofitable and contentious disputes that tend to gender strifes ?

 When he had asked these questions and received their simple and intelligent answers, he requested the Connexion to declare, by show of hands, if they chose these brethren to administer the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper among them. They did so unanimously.

 After this the Rev. Thomas Charles asked the brethren —
22. Do you, with full consent of mind, accept the call of the Connexion to administer the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and are you resolved to labour faithfully and diligently, to feed the flock of God by administering to them the divine ordinances with all earnestness, according to the help that God may give you ?

They answered humbly and simply, ' "We do,' and earnestly desired the prayers of the whole Connexion. After this, the aged brother, Robert Jones of Carnarvonshire, addressed a few words of earnest exhortation to them and the Connexion generally, and closed the meeting with a fervent prayer appropriate to the occasion'.