‘Ordination’ should take place on the local level with the elders of the local church ordaining pastors. “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.” 1 Tim:4:14. It is disputed by some that Paul, Timothy and Titus were ‘spiritual fathers’ and retained the right and authority of ordination over the local church. This simply contradicts the verses which define the elders’ responsibility and authority in the local assembly. 

We can enjoy and benefit immensely from the investment and wisdom of more experienced men. The years of dedication and sacrifice witnessed in mature leaders can inspire and encourage younger pastors tremendously. However, these men are not ‘in authority’ in any way over any church other than their own. 
In James:5:14-15 [14] Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. [15] And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. the elders of the local church are to be called upon to administer restoration to those who have sinned against the assembly. They are called upon to ‘lay hands upon the sick’ among them as well. 

They are charged with verifying the credibility of witnesses in disputes (1 Tim:5:19). In 1 Cor:6:5I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? Paul calls for the locals to mediate disputes in order to avoid airing problems before the world’s judges. 

In Heb:13:7Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of [their] conduct. the elders are said to ‘rule’ or directly govern the affairs of the local church. The assembly is to follow their faith ‘considering the outcome of their conduct’. This has to be observable conduct seen on a local level. 
While Peter refers to himself as a fellow elder in 1 Pet:5:1-4 [1] The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: [2] Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; [3] nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; [4] and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. , as does John in 2 Jn, the roles of these men should be understood as advisory in nature towards the recipients of their writings and not as directly governing the local churches involved. It is unreasonable that men could wisely exercise governing leadership over another church which could be hundreds or even thousands of miles away. 

While the New Testament church was growing, Titus was instructed to appoint (ordain) elders in ‘every city’ for the ‘setting in order’ of those churches (Titus:1:5For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you --). Paul places ‘taking care of the church of God in the same light as ruling his own house (1 Tim:3:5). Neither would be possible if it were acceptable that his authority be usurped by an outside authority. 

It is clear that an elder would have no authority to guard or protect the church’s doctrine and peace if he did not have the authority to appoint and remove elders. It is with this premise that Paul insists that elders be accountable to one another and managed by each other on the local level. 1 Tim:5:17-22 . 
An outside body cannot properly carry out ordination since: 

1. It has no local authority in the church 
2. It is not an ongoing eyewitness to the quality of leadership which the candidate for ordination possesses

The charge and responsibility for leading the church is given solely to the elders of that local church and cannot be usurped by nor subjugated to another body. Since the elders are charged with the care and guardianship of the church (Acts:20:28"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.) it should be clear that they carry out those charges by having the authority to appoint and remove elders. This includes the senior pastor, who is actually delegated the authority he has from the other elders. 

The pastor’s accountability can only be defined and practiced in light of this truth. He is simply the first among equals and holds no special God-given exemption from accountability. He is answerable to his other elders and to his congregation in certain instances. If the pastor views himself as being in authority ‘over’ the other elders in his church, he has in effect created an additional office outside the interchangeable bishop-elder office defined in the epistles: 

1 Peter:5:1-4 [1] The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: [2] Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; [3] nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; [4] and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 

The apostle Peter refers to himself as a fellow elder here, not one in authority over the others but serving along side. In this passage we also see elder and shepherd being used to represent the same person. The elder is the office and the shepherd is the function.