Ordination
This article is about the process of ordaining clergy. For other meanings, see ordination (disambiguation).Ordination is the process in which
clergy become authorized by their
religious denomination or
seminary to perform religious
rituals and
ceremonies or otherwise to minister in a clerical capacity.
In the
Roman Catholic,
Eastern Orthodox,
Anglican and
Oriental Orthodox churches, ordination is the same thing as
Holy Orders and can be adminstered only by a
bishop in a
line of succession of bishops dating back to the Apostles. The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches hold that ordination to the priesthood confers supernatural powers including the power to perform the
transubstantiation, the power to absolve the sins of penitents, and various others.
In most
Protestant churches, ordination is the rite by which the Church
*recognizes and confirms that an individual's has been called by God to the ministry of Word and Sacrament,
*acknowledges that the individual has gone through a period of discernment and training related to this call, and
*authorizes that individual to take on the office of ministry.For the sake of authorization and church order (and not for reason of 'powers' or 'ability'), individuals in most
mainline Protestant churches must be ordained in order to preside at the sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion) and to be installed as a called pastor of a congregation/parish.
Ordination is often a requirement specified in
state laws in the
United States to officiate
weddings. In those jurisdictions where ordination is not required by secular law, it is left to the requirements of the particular denomination or church whether ordination is required to officiate weddings.
*
Holy Orders*
Ordination of women*
Ordination exams*
Semicha
