Catholic deacon candidates prostrate before the altar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles during a 2004 diaconate ordination liturgy

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In a general sense, the term Holy Orders refers to those in the Christian religion who have been ordained in Apostolic Succession. As a more theologically technical term in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, Old Catholic, Independent Catholic and Assyrian churches, it is a Sacrament in which the candidate is ordained as a bishop, priest or deacon. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1470x980, 1201 KB) Summary Deacon candidates prostrate before the altar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles during a 2004 diaconate ordination liturgy. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1470x980, 1201 KB) Summary Deacon candidates prostrate before the altar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles during a 2004 diaconate ordination liturgy. ... Image File history File links Portal. ... Ordination is the process in which clergy become authorized by their religious denomination and/or seminary to perform religious rituals and ceremonies. ... In Christianity, the doctrine of Apostolic Succession (or the belief that the Church is apostolic) maintains that the Christian Church today is the spiritual successor to the original body of believers in Christ, composed of the Apostles. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      The term... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... The Old Catholic Church is not so much a religious denomination, as a community, part of whose member churches split from the Roman Catholic church in 1870. ... Independent Catholic is a term used by many small groups who are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church or other traditional Episcopally governed Churches such as Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Anglican or Old Catholic; all of whom function as small (frequently tiny) episcopally-governed Church bodies in many... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Assyrian Church of the East...

Historically, the word "order" (Latin ordo) designated an established civil body or corporation with a hierarchy, and ordinatio meant legal incorporation into an ordo. The word "holy" refers to the Church. In context, therefore, a holy order is simply a group with a hierarchy that is set apart for ministry in the Church. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Church. ...

Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox perspectives

Main articles: Priesthood (Catholic Church) and Bishop (Catholic Church)

The Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Churches number Holy Orders, which is the Sacrament that confers ordination as bishops, priests, and deacons of the church, among three sacraments that create an indelible mark called a sacramental character^[1] on the recipient's soul (the other two are baptism^[2] and confirmation).^[3] The Ministerial Priesthood in the Catholic Church includes both the orders of bishops and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. ... This article is about the role of bishops in the Roman Catholic Church. ... Catholic Church redirects here. ... Ordination is the process in which clergy become authorized by their religious denomination and/or seminary to perform religious rituals and ceremonies. ... This article is about the role of bishops in the Roman Catholic Church. ... The presbyterium of the Archdiocese of Chicago processed into Holy Name Cathedral to concelebrate the funeral Mass of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin. ... Catholic sacraments redirects here. ... According to the Tridentine dogmas of Catholicism, a sacramental character is an indelible supernatural mark made on a persons soul by any of three of the seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, and Holy Orders. ... This article is about the Christian religious act of Baptism. ... Confirmation is a rite used in many Christian Churches. ...

The purpose of the Sacrament is to constitute a person as a minister within the Church.

Deacons are ministers of service, delegated to act in the name of the Church and therefore are able to witness marriages (the Sacrament of Matrimony is actually conferred by the couple on each other, with the deacon as witness), to baptize solemnly (any human being may baptize in an emergency but a deacon may do so on ordinary occasions with full ceremony), and to preach.

Priestly Ordination, a popular devotional depiction of ordination in the Roman Catholic Church from the 1920s.

Bishops receive the "Spirit of governance" and are the successors of the Apostles, as a group (that is, the "college" or body of bishops is the successor body to the college of apostles; in Roman Catholic theology, there is a belief that the apostle Peter had a role of leadership in the college of apostles, which the pope retains today among the bishops, but this is not accepted by the Orthodox churches; sacramentally the pope is a bishop). Bishops, since they have the "fullness of orders," therefore may confer all seven of the sacraments. Bishops are governors of the church to the point where a bishop in the Catholic Church, even if not given authority over a functional diocese, will be given a "titular" or honorary diocese (a diocese that no longer exists) as a gesture toward the notion that a bishop is ordained for leadership. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (714x845, 190 KB) This work is copyrighted and unlicensed. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (714x845, 190 KB) This work is copyrighted and unlicensed. ... The 1920s they were sexy referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ...

Priests, as cooperators of the bishops in their sacramental ministry, may confect all of the sacraments except Holy Orders, the sacrament of governance, itself.

Until 1972 the Catholic Church also had four minor orders leading up to the major order of subdeacon, which were conferred on seminarians pro forma before they became deacons. The minor orders and the subdiaconate were not considered sacraments and, for simplicity, were suppressed under Pope Paul VI as part of the implementation of the Second Vatican Council.^[4] They were, however, retained by the Eastern Catholic Churches and by Traditionalist Catholics, including papally-approved Indult priestly associations. Only the sacramental orders (deacon, priest, bishop) were retained in the Latin Rite, but seminarians are "instituted" in "ministries" called acolyte and reader or lector, which replace the former "minor orders." Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. ... The term major orders was a part of the clerical terminology of the Roman Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council. ... Subdeacon is a title used in various branches of Christianity. ... For the Ecuadorian artist, see Manuel Rendón Seminario. ... Many companies report pro forma earnings, in addition to normal earnings calculated under the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), in their quarterly and yearly financial reports. ... For other uses, see Deacon (disambiguation). ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ... The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Athanasius · Augustine · Constantine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas Calvin · Luther · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      The... A traditionalist Catholic is a Roman Catholic who believes that there should be a restoration of the liturgical forms, public and private devotions, and presentation of Catholic teachings that prevailed in the Catholic Church just before the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). ... Indult Catholics is a term used to denote Roman Catholics who prefer to attend the Latin-language Tridentine rite of Mass as used prior to 1969 rather than the standard present-day form of the liturgy. ... A list of priestly societies and religious institutes in good standing with the Church authorities that are dedicated to preserving an older rite of Catholic Mass. ... The Latin Rite is one of the 23 sui iuris particular Churches within the Catholic Church. ...

The Eastern Orthodox Church has two minor orders, those of reader and subdeacon. Altar servers are normally not invested with a special service, though the rank of "taper-bearer" has been incorporated into the rite of blessing for readers. Candidates for ordination receive the clerical tonsure prior to being ordained by the laying on of hands to these minor orders. There is a distinction between the laying on of hands for minor orders (chirothesis) and that for major orders (chirotony). Those in these lesser orders are not considered clergy in the same sense as those in major orders. Orthodox icon of Pentecost. ... In some Christian churches, the Reader is responsible for reading aloud excerpts of the scripture at a liturgy. ... An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a religious service. ... Tonsure is the practice of some Christian churches of cutting the hair from the scalp of clerics as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem. ... Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. ...

Other offices such as Pope, Cardinal, Monsignor, Archbishop, Archimandrite, Archpriest, Protopresbyter etc., are not sacramental orders. These are simply offices and titles and thus, though they are usually imparted with a blessing of some sort, their reception is not an instance of the sacrament of holy orders. For other uses, see Pope (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Cardinal (disambiguation). ... Monsignor, monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. ... In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop. ... Archimandrite (Greek: ἀρχιμανδρίτης - archimandrites) is a title in the Greek Orthodox Church for a superior abbot who has the supervision of several abbots and monasteries appointed by a bishop. ... Archpriest is the title of a priest who has supervisory duties over a number of parishes. ... Archpriest is the title of a priest who has supervisory duties over a number of parishes. ...

Lutheranism

One of the central differences between the Lutheran churches on the one hand and the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches on the other has been their understanding of the Eucharist. Lutheran theology does not hold that the Eucharist is a "sacrifice," though it holds a theology of a "real physical, not just spiritual, presence" of Christ in Communion. This difference over the understanding of the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist is an essential component of the differentiation between the denominations of their theology of Holy Orders.

Process and sequence

At priestly ordination the bishop imposes hands upon the deacon who is by that matter and the form of the consecratory preface ordained to the priesthood This is a photograph of the pre-Vatican II rite.

The arrangement given above, "bishops, priests, and deacons" is in the reverse order of ordination. For Catholics, it is typically in the last year of seminary training that a man will be ordained to the diaconate, called by Catholics in recent times the "transitional diaconate" to distinguish men bound for priesthood from those who have entered the "permanent diaconate" and do not intend to seek further ordination. Deacons, whether transitional or permanent, are licensed to preach sermons (under certain circumstances a permanent deacon may not receive faculties to preach), to perform baptisms, and to witness Catholic marriages, but to perform no other sacraments. They assist at the Eucharist or the Mass, but are not able to consecrate the bread and wine. Image File history File links Priestly_ordination. ... Image File history File links Priestly_ordination. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article... For other uses, see Deacon (disambiguation). ... In liturgical use the term Preface is applied to that portion of the Eucharistic service which immediately precedes the Canon or central portion; the preface, which begins at the words Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, It is very meet and just, right and salutary, is ushered in... A priesthood is a body of priests, shamans, or oracles who are thought to have special religious authority or function. ... For the Ecuadorian artist, see Manuel Rendón Seminario. ... In the Roman Catholic church, a transitional deacon is a man under a vow of celibacy who has been ordained a deacon and who intends to become a priest. ... In the modern Roman Catholic church, the office of deacon had fallen into disuse except as a short-term transitional stage between layman and priest, until the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s decided that it ought to be resuscitated. ... This article is about the Christian religious act of Baptism. ... (Gospel of Matthew 19:6) Matrimony, The Seven Sacraments, Rogier van der Weyden, ca. ... For other uses, see Eucharist (disambiguation). ... For other uses of Mass, see Mass (disambiguation). ...

After six months or more as a transitional deacon a man will be ordained to the priesthood. Priests are able to preach, perform baptisms, confirm, witness marriages, hear confessions and give absolutions, anoint the sick, and celebrate the Eucharist or the Mass. For other uses, see Eucharist (disambiguation). ...

Orthodox seminarians are typically tonsured as readers before entering seminary, and may later be made subdeacons or deacons; customs vary between seminaries and between Orthodox jurisdictions. Orthodoxy has two types of clergy: married and monastic. Orthodox clergy must either marry or be tonsured as monks prior to ordination to the diaconate (according to some jurisdictions, before the subdiaconate), though some bishops may make economia (dispensation) to allow a candidate to marry after his ordination to the diaconate. But once a man has been ordained a priest he may not marry. If his wife dies, he may not remarry. Orthodox bishops are taken from among the monks. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Economy (Eastern Orthodoxy). ...

For Anglicans, a person is ordained a deacon once they have completed their training at a theological college. They then typically serve as a curate and may be ordained as a priest, at the discretion of the bishop, following a period of time. Other deacons may choose to remain in this order. Anglican deacons can preach sermons, perform baptisms and conduct funerals, but, unlike priests, cannot conduct marriages or celebrate the Eucharist. In most branches of the Anglican church, women can be ordained as priests, and in some, can be ordained a bishop. For other uses, see Deacon (disambiguation). ... From the Latin curatus (compare Curator), a curate is a person who is invested with the care, or cure (cura), of souls of a parish. ... This article is about religious workers. ... This article is about the Christian religious act of Baptism. ... Matrimony redirects here. ... For other uses, see Eucharist (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article...

Bishops are chosen from among the priests in churches that adhere to Catholic usage. In the Roman Catholic church, bishops, like priests, are celibate and thus unmarried; further, a bishop is said to possess the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders, empowering him to ordain deacons, priests, and- with papal consent-other bishops. If a bishop, especially one acting as an ordinary- a head of a diocese or archdiocese- is to be ordained, three bishops must usually co-consecrate him with one bishop, usually an archbishop or the bishop of the place, being the chief consecrating prelate. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article...

Among Eastern Rite Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, which permit married priests, bishops must either be unmarried or agree to abstain from contact with their wives. It is a common misconception that all such bishops come from religious orders; while this is generally true, it is not an absolute rule. In the case of both Catholics- (Western and) Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox, they are usually leaders of territorial units called dioceses (or its equivalent in the east, an eparchy). Only bishops can validly administer the sacrament of holy orders. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Pope Pius XI blesses Bishop Stephen Alencastre as fifth Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands in a Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace window. ... Eparchy is an anglicized Greek word, authentically latinized as eparchia and loosely translating as rule over something, but has the following specific meanings, both in political history and in the hierarchy of eastern churches. ...

Patriarch Alexius II of Moscow and All Russia conferring the Holy Order of bishop upon a Russian Orthodox priest.

Image File history File linksMetadata Russian_Orthodox_Episcopal_Ordination. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Russian_Orthodox_Episcopal_Ordination. ... Patriarch Alexius II Patriarch Alexius II (February 23, 1929) is the 16th and current Patriarch of Moscow and the spiritual leader of the Russian Orthodox Church. ... This article is about religious workers. ...

Recognition of other churches' orders

There is mutual recognition of the validity of holy orders among the Eastern Orthodox, Polish National, Oriental Orthodox, and Old Catholic churches and the Assyrian Church of the East as they have maintained the apostolic succession of bishops, i.e., their bishops claim to be in a line of succession dating back to the Apostles, just as Catholic and Anglican bishops do. Consequently, if a priest of these Churches converts to another, he is generally received as a priest without need for re-ordination. Similarly the Roman Catholic Church unconditionally recognizes the validity of ordinations in the aforementioned Eastern churches. Eastern Orthodox bishops can, and frequently do, grant recognition to the holy orders of converts who were earlier ordained in the Catholic Church (though there is much debate in Eastern Orthodoxy about this); that is part of the policy called church economy. In Christianity, the doctrine of Apostolic Succession (or the belief that the Church is apostolic) maintains that the Christian Church today is the spiritual successor to the original body of believers in Christ, composed of the Apostles. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      For... In Eastern Orthodoxy, economy is a bishops discretionary power to dispense with church standards (or canons, as they are called) that a parish priest would otherwise be required to follow. ...

Anglican churches, unlike Protestant churches, claim to maintain apostolic succession.^[5] The succession of Anglican bishops is however, not universally recognized. The Roman Catholic Church judged Anglican orders invalid when Pope Leo XIII in 1896, wrote in Apostolicae Curae that Anglican orders lack validity because the rite by which priests were ordained was not correctly performed from 1547 to 1553 and from 1558 to the time of Archbishop William Laud, thus causing a break of continuity in apostolic succession. Eastern Orthodox bishops have, on occasion, granted "economy" when Anglican priests convert to Orthodoxy. Changes in the Anglican Ordinal since King Edward VI, and a fuller appreciation of the pre-Reformation ordinals suggest that the correctness of the enduring dismissal of Anglican Orders may be questioned. In order to reduce doubt concerning Anglican apostolic succession, since the 1930 Bonn agreement many Anglican bishops have been consecrated by bishops of the Old Catholic Church whose holy orders are recognised by the Holy See. This box:      Anglicanism most commonly refers to the beliefs and practices of the Anglican Communion, a world-wide affiliation of Christian Churches, most of which have historical connections with the Church of England. ... Pope Leo XIII (March 2, 1810—July 20, 1903), born Count Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903, succeeding Pope Pius IX. Reigning until the age of 93, he was the oldest pope, and had the third longest... Apostolicae Curae is the title of a papal bull issued in 1896 by Pope Leo XIII, declaring all Anglican holy orders null and void. ... Year 1547 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... // Events June 26 - Christs Hospital in London gets a Royal Charter July 6 - Edward VI of England dies July 10 - Lady Jane Grey is proclaimed Queen of England - for the next nine days July 18 - Lord Mayor of London proclaims Queen Mary as the rightful Queen - Lady Jane Grey... January 7 - French troops led by Francis, Duke of Guise take Calais, the last continental possession of the Kingdom of England July 13 - Battle of Gravelines: In France, Spanish forces led by Count Lamoral of Egmont defeat the French forces of Marshal Paul des Thermes at Gravelines. ... Archbishop William Laud (October 7, 1573 – January 10, 1645) was Archbishop of Canterbury and a fervent supporter of King Charles I of England, whom he encouraged to believe in divine right. ... ... Edward Tudor redirects here. ... The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Old Catholic Church is not so much a religious denomination, as a community, part of whose member churches split from the Roman Catholic church in 1870. ...

Neither Roman Catholics nor Anglicans recognize the validity of ordinations of ministers in Protestant churches that do not maintain the apostolic succession. Rome also does not recognize the apostolic succession of (high church) Lutheran Protestant denominations. Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... High Church relates to ecclesiology and liturgy in Christian theology and practice. ...

Anglicans accept the ordinations of those denominations in full communion with the Anglican Communion such as some Lutheran denominations. They may preside at services requiring a priest if one is not available. The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ...

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) accepts the legal authority of clergy to perform marriages but does not recognize any other sacraments performed by ministers not ordained to the Latter-day Saint priesthood. Although the Latter-day Saints, who developed from private revelations and Protestantism, do claim a doctrine of a certain spiritual apostolic succession, it is significantly different from that claimed by Catholics and is not recognized by the Holy See. The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ...

Marriage and holy orders

See also: Christian views of marriage, Clerical celibacy, and Clerical celibacy (Catholic Church)

The rules discussed in this section are not considered to be among the infallible dogmas of the Catholic Church, but are mutable rules of discipline. See clerical celibacy for a more detailed discussion. Ancient Christian Marriage symbol: two gold rings and Greek letters chi (X) and rho (P) for Jesus Christ // The Christian views of marriage historically have regarded marriage as ordained by God for the lifelong union of a man and a woman. ... Clerical celibacy is the practice of various religious traditions in which clergy, monastics and those in religious orders (female or male) adopt a celibate life, refraining from marriage and sexual relationships, including masturbation and impure thoughts (such as sexual visualisation and fantasies). ... Clerical celibacy is the discipline by which, in some of the particular Churches that constitute the Catholic Church, only unmarried men are, as a rule, to be ordained to the priesthood. ... Clerical celibacy is the practice of various religious traditions in which clergy, monastics and those in religious orders (female or male) adopt a celibate life, refraining from marriage and sexual relationships, including masturbation and impure thoughts (such as sexual visualisation and fantasies). ...

Married men may be ordained to the diaconate as Permanent Deacons, but in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church generally may not be ordained to the priesthood. In the Eastern Catholic Churches and in the Eastern Orthodox Church married deacons may be ordained priests, but may not become bishops. Bishops in the Eastern Rites and the Eastern Orthodox churches are almost always drawn from among monks, who have taken a vow of celibacy. They may be widowers, though; it is not required of them never to have been married. The Latin Rite is one of the 23 sui iuris particular Churches within the Catholic Church. ... Catholic Church redirects here. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Athanasius · Augustine · Constantine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas Calvin · Luther · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      The... Orthodox icon of Pentecost. ... Monasticism (from Greek: monachos — a solitary person) is the religious practice in which one renounces worldly pursuits in order to fully devote ones life to spiritual work. ...

In some cases widowed permanent deacons have been ordained to the priesthood. There have been some situations in which men previously married and ordained to the priesthood in an Anglican church or in a Lutheran Protestant church have been ordained to the Catholic priesthood - never sub conditione (conditionally), as there is no recognised true priesthood in the Protestant denominations - and allowed to function much as an Eastern Rite priest but in a Latin Rite setting; however, this may only happen with the approval of the priest's Bishop and a special permission by the Pope. This box:      Anglicanism most commonly refers to the beliefs and practices of the Anglican Communion, a world-wide affiliation of Christian Churches, most of which have historical connections with the Church of England. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ...

Anglican clergy may be married and may marry after ordination.

Other concepts of ordination

Ordination ritual and procedures vary by denomination. Different churches and denominations specify more or less rigorous requirements for entering into office, and while the process of ordination is likewise given more or less ceremonial pomp depending on the group. Many Protestants still communicate authority and ordain to office by having the existing overseers physically lay hands on the candidates for office over them.

Methodist churches

The American Methodist model is an episcopal system loosely based upon the Anglican model and was first devised under the leadership of Bishops Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the late 18th century. In this approach, an elder (or "presbyter") is ordained to word (preaching and teaching), sacrament (administering Baptism and the Lord's Supper), order (administering the life of the church and, in the case of bishops, ordaining others for mission and ministry), and service; a deacon is someone who is ordained to word and service. The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... Thomas Coke (1747–1814) was born in the Welsh town of Brecon, the son of a wealthy apothecary. ... Francis Asbury (August 20, 1745 – March 31, 1816) was one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. ... The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784. ... A religious elder (in Greek, πρεσβυτερος [presbyteros]) is valued for his or her wisdom, in part for their age, on the grounds that the older one is then the more one is likely to know. ... For other uses, see Deacon (disambiguation). ...

In the United Methodist Church, for instance, seminary graduates are examined and approved by the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and then the Clergy Session, at which time they are accepted as "probationary members of the conference" and then commissioned by the resident Bishop to full time ministry. This is referred to as receiving "deacon's orders", and probationary ministers hold the title of deacon. (Before 1996, the graduate was ordained as a transitional deacon at this point, a provisional role which has since been done away with; the order of deacon is now a separate and distinct clergy office in the United Methodist Church.) After serving the probationary period consisting of a minimum of two years, the probationer is then examined again and either continued on probation, discontinued altogether, or approved for ordination. Upon final approval by the Clergy Session of the Conference, the probationer becomes a full member of the Conference and is then ordained as an elder or deacon by the resident Bishop. This commonly known as receiving "elder's orders;" and probationer is known as an elder minister. This article is about the current Christian denomination based in the United States. ...

At the present time, the British Methodist Conference does not have bishops but just the two distinct orders of presbyter and deacon.

Presbyterian churches

Presbyterian churches, following their Scottish forebears, reject the traditions surrounding overseers and instead identify the offices of bishop (episkopos in Greek) and elder (presbuteros in Greek, from which the term "presbyterian" comes) because the two terms seem to be used interchangeably in the Bible (compare Titus 1.5-9 and I Tim. 3.2-7). Their form of church governance is known as presbyterian polity. While there is an increasing authority with each level of gathering of elders ('Session' over a congregation or parish, then presbytery, then possibly a synod, then the General Assembly), there is no hierarchy of elders, and each elder has an equal vote at the court on which they stand. Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ... This article is about the country. ... For other uses, see Bible (disambiguation). ... Ecclesiastical polity is the operational and governance structure of a church or Christian denomination. ... Presbyterian governance of a church is typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. ...

Elders are usually chosen at their local level, either elected by the congregation and approved by the Session, or appointed directly by the Session. Some churches place limits on the term that the elders serve, while others ordain elders for life.

Presbyterians also ordain (by laying on of hands) ministers of Word and Sacrament (sometimes known as 'teaching elders'). These ministers are regarded simply as Presbyters ordained to a different function, but in practice provide the leadership for local Session.

Some Presbyterians identify those appointed (by the laying on of hands) to serve in practical ways (Acts 6.1-7) as deacons (diakonos in Greek, meaning "servant"). In many congregations, a group of men or women is thus set aside to deal with matters such as congregational fabric and finance, releasing elders for more 'spiritual' work. These persons may be known as 'deacons', 'board members' or 'managers', depending on the local tradition. Unlike elders and minister, they are not usually 'ordained', and are often elected by the congregation for a set period of time.

Other Presbyterians have used an 'order of deacons' as full-time servants of the wider Church - but who, unlike ministers, do not administer sacraments or routinely preach. The Church of Scotland has recently begun ordaining deacons to this role. The Church of Scotland (CofS; Scottish Gaelic: ), known informally by its pre-Union Scots name, The Kirk, is the national church of Scotland. ...

Unlike the Episcopalian schemes, but similar to the United Methodist scheme described above, the two Presbyterian offices are different in kind rather than in degree since one need not be a deacon before becoming an elder. Since there is no hierarchy, the two offices do not make up an "order" in the technical sense, but the terminology of Holy Orders is sometimes still developed.

Congregationalist churches

Congregationalist churches implement different schemes, but the officers usually have less authority than in the presbyterian or episcopalian forms. Some ordain only ministers and rotate members on an advisory board (sometimes called a board of elders or a board of deacons). Because the positions are by comparison less powerful, there is usually less rigor or fanfare in how officers are ordained. Congregationalist church governance, often known as congregationalism, is a system of church governance in which every local congregation is independent. ...

Latter Day Saint Movement

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Main article: Priesthood (LDS)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a relatively open priesthood, ordaining nearly all adult males and boys of the age of twelve and older. Latter-day Saint priesthood consists of two orders: the Melchizedek and Aaronic. The offices, or ranks, of the Melchizedek order (in roughly descending order) include apostle, seventy, patriarch, high priest, and elder. The offices of the Aaronic order are bishop, priest, teacher, and deacon. The manner of ordination consists of the laying on of hands by one or more men holding at least the office being conferred while one acts as voice in conferring the priesthood and/or office and usually pronounces a blessing upon the recipient. Teachers and deacons do not have the authority to ordain others to the priesthood. All church members are authorized to teach and preach regardless of priesthood ordination so long as they maintain good standing within the church. The church does not use the term "holy orders." The Melchizedek Priesthood, to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the authority and power to act in the name of God including the authority to perform ordinances and to preside over and direct the affairs of his Church and Kingdom. ...

Community of Christ

Main article: Priesthood (Community of Christ)

Community of Christ has a largely volunteer priesthood, and all members of the priesthood are free to marry (as traditionally defined by the Christian community). The priesthood is divided into two orders, the Order of Aaron, and the Order of Melchisedec (commonly known as the Aaronic priesthood or Aaronic Order; and the Melchisedec priesthood or Melchisedec Order). The Aaronic order is the “lesser priesthood” and the Melchisedec order is the “greater priesthood”. The Aaronic order consists of the offices of deacon, teacher and priest. The Melchisedec Order consists of the offices of elder (including the specialized office of seventy) and high priest (including the specialized offices of evangelist, bishop, apostle, & prophet). The Melchisedec priesthood is also commonly termed the “high priesthood”, but as noted, not all members of this priesthood are actually high priests. Paid ministers include “appointees” and the general officers of the church, which include some specialized priesthood offices (such as the office of president, reserved for the three top members of the church leadership team). As of 1984, women have been eligible for priesthood, which is conferred through the sacrament of ordination, by virtue of the laying-on-of-hands. While there is technically no age requirement for any office of priesthood, there is no automatic ordination or progression as in the LDS Church. Young people are occasionally ordained as deacon, and sometimes teacher or priest, but generally most priesthood members are called following completion of post secondary school education. Priesthood offices are not generally termed “orders of priesthood”, but certain offices constitute orders. For example, all bishops belong to the Order of Bishops. All evangelists belong to the Order of Evangelists. Other offices belong to quorums (seventies and high priests) or councils (apostles). The three presidents of the church form the First Presidency, which is sometimes termed council, and other times termed quorum. Deacons, teachers, priests and elders do not belong to permanent bodies, but may organize local quorums for all members of a given office within a particular city or region. In March 2007 a woman was ordained for the first time to the office of president. In the Community of Christ priesthood is Gods power and authority to minister in the church and to conduct Gods business on the earth. ...

Non-traditional organizations

The non-authoritarian religious denominations, such as the Universal Life Church, prefer to empower their clergy by minimizing the impediments to those that feel the calling to make a spiritual connection to the cosmos. Reducing the barriers to performing religious ceremonies these denominations encourage those who within the general population to realize spiritual experience. By enabling friends or relatives to perform ceremonies like marriages, organizations that offer online ordination demystify and integrate religious understanding into lives of the otherwise nonreligious public. Logo The Universal Life Church (or ULC) is a religious organization that offers anyone semi-immediate ordination as a ULC minister free of charge. ...

Ordination of women

Main article: Ordination of women

The Roman Catholic Church does not ordain women to any of the orders and has officially declared that it does not have authority to ordain women as priests or bishops. Ordaining women as deacons, however, appears to remain a possibility, but not in any sacramental sense of the diaconate. Many Orthodox, Old Catholic, Anglican and Protestant churches ordain women, but in many cases, only to the office of deacon or deaconess. Whether the Catholic Church historically ordained, or simply "set apart", women as deaconesses is a matter of theological and historical investigation. Various branches of the Orthodox churches, including the Greek Orthodox, currently ordain woman as deaconesses. Some churches are internally divided on whether it is scripturally permissible to ordain women. When one considers the relative size of the churches (1.1 billion Roman Catholics, 300 million Orthodox, 590 million Anglicans and Protestants), it is a minority of Christian churches that ordain women. Protestants constitute about 27 percent of Christians worldwide and most which do ordain women have only done so within the past century. In general religious use, ordination is the process by which one is consecrated (set apart for the undivided administration of various religious rites). ...

In some traditions women may theoretically be ordained to the same orders as men. In others women are restricted from certain offices. The Church of England (in the Anglican Communion), for example, does not permit the consecration of women as bishops, though the Episcopal Church USA (the United States denomination that is part of the Anglican Communion) does. Similarly, in some Protestant denominations, women may serve as assistant pastors but not as pastors in charge of congregations. In some denominations women can be ordained to be an elder or deacon. Some denominations allow for the ordination of women for certain religious orders. Within certain traditions, such as the Anglican and Lutheran, there is a diversity of theology and practice regarding ordination of women. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[3] in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the oldest among the communions thirty-eight independent national churches. ... Main article: Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is a world-wide affiliation of Anglican Churches. ... To consecrate an inanimate object is to dedicate it in a ritual to a special purpose, usually religious. ... A religious elder (in Greek, πρεσβυτερος [presbyteros]) is valued for his or her wisdom, in part for their age, on the grounds that the older one is then the more one is likely to know. ... For other uses, see Deacon (disambiguation). ...

The Roman Catholic Church, in accordance with its understanding of the theological tradition on the issue, and the definitive clarification of the issue found in the encyclical letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (1994) written by Pope John Paul II in 1994, officially teaches that it has no authority to ordain women as priests and thus the possibility of female priests is unlikely in the foreseeable future if ever, even íf the majority of Roman Catholics were to be in favour. Catholic Church redirects here. ... Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (Latin for On Ordination to the Priesthood) is a Roman Catholic papal encyclical or apostolic letter discussing the Roman Catholic Churchs position on the reservation of priestly ordination to men alone. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Pope John Paul II (Latin: , Italian: , Polish: ) born   IPA: ; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) reigned as the 264th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City from 16 October 1978, until his death, almost 27 years later, making his the second-longest... This article is about the sacrament. ...

Ordination of homosexuals

See also Homosexuality in the Roman Catholic priesthood and Homosexuality and Christianity

The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is the most prominent American denomination with an official stance allowing non-celibate gays and lesbians to be ordained. Smaller denominations, like the Liberal Catholic Church and the Swedenborgian Church of North America also do so. The United Church of Christ, because of its decentralized model, allows such ordinations out of default since there are no official denomination-wide stances on doctrine. In the Episcopal Church USA bishops in some dioceses ordain non-celibate gays and lesbians, while those in others do not; the ordination of homosexuals is highly controversial in the wider Anglican Communion. Most of the mainline Protestant denominations, such as the Presbyterian Church USA, the Moravian Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA), are openly discussing the issue. The United Church of Canada and the Uniting Church in Australia already welcome gays and lesbians in permanent partnerships in the ordained ministry. The United Methodist Church has also been discussing the issue for many years, but its official position continues to deny ordination to "Self-Avowed Practicing Homosexuals." In theory, a homosexual who is celibate is a fit candidate for ordination within the United Methodist Church, but in practice this rarely happens. Christian leaders have written about homosexual male-male sexual activities since the first decades of Christianity; female-female sexual behaviour was essentially ignored[1]. Throughout the majority of Christian history most theologians and Christian denominations have viewed homosexual behavior as immoral or sinful. ... The issue of homosexuality is controversial in the Anglican Communion. ... There is a diversity of views of members of Baptist churches on homosexuality. ... The Eastern Orthodox Church is particular in its view of sin. ... Main article: Sexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, homosexuality is officially seen as a set of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and not an immutable condition or an indication of an innate identity (Oaks 1995). ... Lutheran viewpoints concerning homosexuality are diverse because Lutherans are not centrally organized. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Methodism. ... Logo of the Metropolitan Community Churches The Metropolitan Community Church (in full, The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches or UFMCC, or more commonly MCC) is an international fellowship of Christian congregations. ... // The Presbyterian Church (USA), the largest U.S. Presbyterian body, is sharply divided over the issue of homosexuality. ... The views of Quakers toward homosexuality encompass a range from complete acceptance and celebration of gay marriages, to the view that homosexuality is abhorrent and sinful. ... The Roman Catholic Church considers human sexual behavior that it sees as properly expressed to be sacred, almost sacramental in nature. ... ... Logo of the UCA The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) was formed on June 22, 1977 when the Methodist Church of Australasia, Presbyterian Church of Australia and Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union document. ... This is a list of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality. ... A number of different studies have suggested that the prevalence of homosexuality among Roman Catholic priests is anywhere from 15% to 50%. Regardless of the precise figure, it has been suggested that the incidence of homosexuality in the Roman Catholic priesthood is much higher than in the general population. ... Christian leaders have written about homosexual male-male sexual activities since the first decades of Christianity; female-female sexual behaviour was essentially ignored[1]. Throughout the majority of Christian history most theologians and Christian denominations have viewed homosexual behavior as immoral or sinful. ... Logo of the Metropolitan Community Churches The Metropolitan Community Church (in full, The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches or UFMCC, or more commonly MCC) is an international fellowship of Christian congregations. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... The Liberal Catholic Church is a form of Christianity open to theosophical ideas. ... The Swedenborgian Church in North America (also known as the General Convention of the Church of the New Jerusalem). ... Disambiguation: This article is about the United States denomination known as United Church of Christ. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Episcopal Church or the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America is the American Church of the Anglican Communion. ... Main article: Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is a world-wide affiliation of Anglican Churches. ... This article needs cleanup. ... The Moravian Seal, as rendered by North Carolina artist Marie Nifong. ... The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ... The United Church of Canada (French: lÉglise Unie du Canada) is Canadas second largest church (after the Roman Catholic Church), and its largest Protestant denomination. ... Logo of the UCA The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) was formed on June 22, 1977 when the Methodist Church of Australasia, Presbyterian Church of Australia and Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union document. ... This article is about the current Christian denomination based in the United States. ... This article is about the current Christian denomination based in the United States. ...

Controversy associated with the consecration of Gene Robinson to the order of bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, and the planned consecration of Jeffrey John (who was to be ordained Bishop of Reading) in the Church of England, led to the formation of the Eames Commission by the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual head of the Anglican Communion. Its findings, published as the Windsor Report, recommended that the consecration of individuals in same-sex relationships as bishops cease, although it conspicuosly avoided discussing gays and lesbians ordered as priests and deacons. In response, the Episcopal Church placed a moratorium on confirming the consecrations of all bishops. The Right Reverend Vicky Imogene Gene Robinson (born May 29, 1947) is the ninth bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article... The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire is a diocese in the Episcopal Church of the United States of America (ECUSA). ... The Reverend Dr Jeffrey Philip Hywel John, MA DPhil (born 1953) is a Church of England cleric, and the current Dean of St Albans. ... The Bishop of Reading is a suffragan bishop in the Church of England, based in Reading, Berkshire. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[3] in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the oldest among the communions thirty-eight independent national churches. ... The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader and senior clergyman of the Church of England, recognized by convention as the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ... Main article: Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is a world-wide affiliation of Anglican Churches. ... The Windsor Report was the document containing the finding of the Eames Commission. ...

The ordination of gays and lesbians is not a new thing, but their open ordination has come to light. In the past, ordinands who were gay or lesbian did not admit their sexuality, and were ordained. Upon the ordination of Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop J. Neil Alexander of the Diocese of Atlanta said he voted for the ordination because Robinson was open about his sexuality and honest, whereas in the past known gay clergy were ordained to the episcopate only because they lied about it. The Rt. ... Seal of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta comprises middle and north Georgia. ...

In many churches this is a very volatile issue, as is the ordination of women in many churches. It is not likely that a resolution will be swift. Within mainline churches the Confessing Movement has been a vehicle for the opposition to the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians. The Confessing Movement is a neo-Evangelical movement within several American mainline Protestant denominations to return those churches to what the members of the movement see as theological orthodoxy. ...

The Roman Catholic Church allows the ordination of men who have, in the past, experienced same sex attraction, but only on the condition that they have lived without engaging in homosexual culture or acts for several years and can be psychologically verfied as having their same-sex attraction under control.^[6] Previously ordination of these homosexually inclined males was strictly forbidden, even though this discipline was often not observed by local bishops after the 1960s. Catholic Church redirects here. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969. ...

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints only ordains men to the priesthood that have covenanted not to have sex with anyone besides their wife. Some gay men have chosen to remain celibate, while others have chosen to get married.^[7] However, a man must be married in order to become a bishop, regardless of orientation.^[8] Transgenders who were born men may only receive the priesthood if they have not had, and are not planning to have an operation.(1999 Church handbook.) Women are not ordained to the priesthood. For other uses, see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (disambiguation). ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority of God, including the authority to act as a leader in the church and to perform ordinances (sacraments), and the apostolic power to perform miracles. ... The Law of Chastity is a part of the Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) belief structure. ... Main article: Sexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, homosexuality is officially seen as a set of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and not an immutable condition or an indication of an innate identity (Oaks 1995). ... Bishop is the highest priesthood office of the Aaronic priesthood in the Latter Day Saint movement. ...

Footnotes

Print resources

• Campbell, Dennis. Yoke of Obedience, 1988. ISBN 0-687-46660-1
• Oden, Thomas. Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry, 1983. ISBN 0-06-066353-7
• Willimon, William. Calling & Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life, 2000. ISBN 0-687-09033-4
• Willimon, William. Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry, 2002. ISBN 0-687-04532-0

Dr. Thomas C. Oden Thomas Clark Oden (October 21, 1931 - ) is an American Christian theologian associated with Drew University in New Jersey. ... Bishop William Willimon William H. Willimon is a Bishop in The United Methodist Church, currently serving in North Alabama. ... Bishop William Willimon William H. Willimon is a Bishop in The United Methodist Church, currently serving in North Alabama. ...

External links

• Old Catholic Vocations Website
• Priesthood - Catholic Sacrament of Holy Orders - Ordination
• The Steps to Orders in The United Methodist Church (PDF)
• Elder's Orders in the UMC: The Disciplinary Questions and Sample Answers by Gregory S. Neal