Holy Orders (Christianity)

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The term '''Holy Orders''' comes from the [[Latin]] ''Ordo'' (order) and the word [[holy]] referring to the [[church]]. Historically, an ''order'' refers to an established civil body or organization with a [[hierarchy]]. Thus, the term ''holy order'' has come into usage referring to a group with a hierarchy that is engaged in the [[ministry]] and leadership of religious group. Within the [[Christian]] Church, the term takes on an even more specific meaning when it is used to refer to a holy order as one of the Holy [[Sacrament]]s/[[Eastern Orthodox Church#Mysteries|Mysteries]] instituted by [[Jesus Christ]] as a tenet of faith of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and the [[Anglican Church]].
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Members of holy orders, as leaders of their [[religion|religious]] [[community|communities]], hold the power to make their respective communities thrive or founder. They are responsible to lead the members of their communities of [[faith]] in the right direction, toward a [[morality|moral]] and [[holy]] life, toward mutual support in their community, and toward [[spirituality|spiritual]] health. Sometimes, in their zeal to further their own community of faith, members of holy orders may influence those following them to pursue the vitality and success of their own community of faith even at the expense of others, giving rise to conflicts between religious communities, an unfortunate contribution to the modern world in its struggle to achieve universal [[peace]].
  
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[[Image:Deacon Ordination.jpg|thumb|left|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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[[Image:Priestly ordination.jpg|'''Catholic:''' At priestly ordination the [[bishop]] lays hands upon the [[deacon]] as part of the process of ordaining him to become a [[priest]]. This is a photograph of the pre-[[Vatican II]] rite.|right|213px|thumb]]
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'''Holy Orders''' in the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] (Latin: ''sacri ordines''), [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]], [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox]] (ιερωσυνη, ιερατευμα, Свештенство), [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox]], [[Anglicanism|Anglican]], [[Assyrian Church of the East|Assyrian]], [[Old Catholic]], [[Independent Catholic Churches|Independent Catholic]] churches and some [[Lutheran]] churches are the three orders of [[bishop]], [[priest]] and [[deacon]], or the sacrament or rite by which candidates are  ordained to those orders.
 
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These Churches regard [[ordination]] as a [[sacrament]] (the ''sacramentum ordinis'').  [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Christian denomination|denominations]], however, have varied conceptions of the church offices, but none of them considers ordination a sacrament and some would not consider their [[Minister of religion|ministries]] in terms of holy orders at all.
 
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The word "order" (Latin ''[[:wikt:ordo|ordo]]'') designated an established civil body or corporation with a hierarchy, and ''[[:wikt:ordinatio|ordinatio]]'' meant legal incorporation into an ''ordo''. The word "holy" (''[[:wikt:sacer|sacer]]'') refers to the [[Ecclesia (Church)|Church]]. In context, therefore, a holy order is simply a group with a hierarchy that is set apart for ministry in the Church.
 
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The [[World Council of Churches]] undertook a major consultation amongst its members and with the Catholic Church on ''Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry'' (BEM)<ref>[http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/bem1.html World Council of Churches, ''Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry'' page]</ref> published in 1982. It attempted to express the convergences that had been found over the years and seven volumes of responses compiled. As a result some churches have changed their liturgical practices, and some have entered into discussions which in turn led to further agreements and steps towards unity. There is also a major study on the church ([http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/nature1.html ecclesiology]) being on the question 'What it means to be a church, or the Church?' It focuses on [[ecclesiology]] and ethics looking at the churches/Church's 'prophetic witness and its service to those in need'.<ref>http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/eeintro.html</ref>
 
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===Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox perspectives===
 
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::''Main articles: [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)]] and [[Bishop (Catholic Church)]]
 
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The [[Roman Catholic Church]] numbers Holy Orders, which is the Sacrament that confers [[ordination]] as [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|bishops]], [[Presbyterium|priests]] and deacons of the church, among three [[Sacraments of the Catholic Church|sacraments]] that create an indelible mark called a [[sacramental character]]<ref>can. 1008, CIC 1983</ref> on the recipient's soul (the other two are [[baptism]]<ref>canon 845, CIC 1983</ref> and [[Confirmation (sacrament)|confirmation]]).<ref>can. 879, CIC 1983</ref>  Some non-Catholics, perhaps especially Anglicans, also use the term ''episcopal character'' to refer to the status of a bishop.
 
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In the Roman Catholic tradition, the purpose of the Sacrament is to constitute a person as a minister within the Church.  Deacons are ministers of service.  Bishops receive the "Spirit of governance" and are successors to the Apostles.  In this way, ministers and shepards are provided to the People of God.
 
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Until [[1972]] the Catholic Church also had four [[minor orders]] leading up to the [[major orders|major order]] of [[subdeacon]], which were conferred on [[Seminary|seminarians]] ''[[pro forma]]'' before they became [[deacon]]s. 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]].<ref>Paul VI, moto proprio, ''Ministeria quedam'' Aug 15, 1972, in AAS, 64 (1972) p529</ref> They were, however, retained by the [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] and by [[Traditionalist Catholic]]s, including papally-approved [[Indult Catholic|Indult]] [[Communities Using the Tridentine Mass|priestly associations]].  Only the sacramental orders (deacon, priest, bishop) were retained in the [[Latin Rite]].  By canon law,<ref>can. 949, CIC 1917</ref> the subdiaconate was included in the major orders.  Previously some excluded mentioning the order of bishop, as this order was seen as the fullness of the priestly order already conferred.  The total number of minor and major orders in the pre-1972 structure was always considered to be seven, the number of perfection.
 
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Such offices as ''[[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]]'', ''[[Monsignor]]'', ''[[Archbishop]]'' etc., are not sacramental orders. These are simply offices and titles and thus their reception is not an instance of the sacrament of holy orders.
 
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The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] has two minor orders, those of [[Reader (liturgy)|reader]] and subdeacon. 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.
 
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===Meaning of priesthood===
 
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{{See also|Priesthood (Catholic Church)|Priesthood}}
 
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The word derives ultimately from the Greek ''presbuteros'' meaning "elder." The [[Church of England]] sees the [[priesthood]] as both a reflection of the ancient [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]] priesthood of the [[Jew]]s and the person of [[Jesus]], as does the [[Church of Rome]]. The [[liturgy]] of ordination recalls the [[Old Testament]] priesthood and the priesthood of Christ. In the words of [[Thomas Aquinas]], "Christ is the source of all priesthood:  the priest of the old law was a prefiguration of Christ, and the priest of the new law acts in the person of Christ" ''[[Summa Theologica]]''.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/Summa/402204.htm ''Summa Theologica'' III, 22, 4c]</ref> See [[Presbyterorum Ordinis]] for the [[Second Vatican Council]] decree on the nature of the Catholic priesthood.
 
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===Process and sequence===
 
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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 [[baptism]]s, and to witness [[Catholic marriage]]s, but to perform no other sacraments. They assist at the [[Eucharist]] or the [[mass (liturgy)|Mass]], but are not able to consecrate the bread and wine. 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.
 
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[[Image:Priestly ordination.jpg|thumb|260px|left|At priestly ordination the [[bishop]] imposes hands upon the [[deacon]] who is by that matter and the form of the consecratory [[Preface (Liturgy)|preface]] ordained to the [[priesthood]].]]
 
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After six months or more as a transitional deacon a man will be ordained to the priesthood. Priests are able to preach, perform baptisms, witness marriages, hear confessions and give absolutions, anoint the sick, and celebrate the [[Eucharist]] or the Mass.
 
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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 are ordained as [[priest]] a year later. Deacons must be at least 21 years old, and priests 22. Anglican deacons can preach sermons, perform [[baptism]]s and conduct funerals, but, unlike priests, cannot conduct [[marriage]]s 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]]. Anglican priests have to be at least 30 before they can be chosen to become a bishop.
 
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[[Bishop]]s are chosen from among the priests in churches that adhere to Catholic usage.
 
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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.    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, Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox, they are usually leaders of territorial units called [[diocese]]s.  Only bishops can validly administer the sacrament of holy orders.[[Image:Holy Orders Picture.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Priestly Ordination'', popular depiction from the [[1920s]].]]  In [[Latin Rite|Latin-rite]] Catholic churches and also in Anglican churches, only bishops (and priests with authorisation by the local bishop) may lawfully administer the sacrament of confirmation, but if an ordinary priest administers that sacrament illegally, it is nonetheless considered valid, so that the person confirmed cannot be actually confirmed again, by a bishop or otherwise. Latin rite priest with special permission of the diocesan bishop or the Holy See can lawfully administer confirmation; every Catholic priest must administer confirmation, even without permission, to children in danger of death. In [[Eastern Rite Catholic Churches]], confirmation is done by parish priests via the rite of chrismation, and is usually administered to both neonates and adults immediately after their baptism.
 
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It has been discussed whether a priest with special faculties and possibly Pontifical (Papal) permission, e.g. an [[abbot]], could validly ordain another male to the priesthood or the diaconate. The opinions of the theologians differ on this issue. Historical precedents indicate, that this may very well be true for [[abbot]]s and priests in emergency situations. The matter is uncertain though, and most apostolic churches do not accept the validity of ordinations conferred by priests. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, in the [[Roman Catholic Church]] it is a point of discipline and certain faith though, that an [[abbot]], or a regular or diocesan priest with special faculties, could initiate males to the minor orders, including to the subdiaconate.
 
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[[Image:Russian Orthodox Episcopal Ordination.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[[Patriarch Alexius II]] of Moscow and All Russia conferring the Holy Order of bishop upon a Russian Orthodox [[priest]].]]
 
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===Recognition of other churches' orders===
 
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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 [[Twelve apostles|Apostles]], just as Catholic 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 [[Economy (Eastern Orthodoxy)|church economy]].
 
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Some [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] churches, unlike Protestant churches, claim to maintain apostolic succession<ref>http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucgbmxd/patriarc.htm</ref> although this is not even recognised by evangelical Anglicans.  The succession of Anglican bishops is however, not universally recognized. The 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 [[19th century]], thus causing a break of continuity in apostolic succession. Leo XIII condemned the Anglican ordinals and deemed the Anglican orders ''"absolutely null and utterly void"''. [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox]] bishops have, on occasion, granted "economy" when Anglican priests convert to Orthodoxy. Changes in the Anglican Ordinal since King [[Edward VI of England|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 (religion)|Bonn agreement]] many Anglican bishops have been consecrated by bishops of the [[Old Catholic]] Church whose holy orders are recognised by the [[Holy See]]. However this "restoration" would according to Catholic understanding only be possible, if the Old Catholic bishops involved would use a consecratory preface which used either the words ''"fullness of Thy ministry"'' or ''"fullness of the priesthood"'', or words similar to these expressions. Therefore, all Anglican clergymen who desire to enter the Roman Catholic Church are still re-ordained, at least conditionally, but often even absolutely.
 
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Catholics do not recognize the validity of ordinations of ministers in [[Protestant]] churches that do not maintain the apostolic succession. It also does not recognize the apostolic succession of ([[high church]]) Lutheran Protestant denominations.
 
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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.
 
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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]].
 
  
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===Marriage and holy orders===
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==Origin==
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{{seealso|Christian views of marriage}}
 
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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.
 
  
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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 [[Monasticism|monks]], who have taken a vow of celibacy. They may be widowers, though; it is not required of them never to have been married.
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[[Image:Žilina P6112373.jpg|'''Protestant:''' Bishop Július Filo of [[Slovakia]], Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession|thumb|right|200px]]
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[[Image:Georgischer Priester.jpg|'''Orthodox:''' [[Georgia]]n Orthodox priest, in Mtskheta, Georgia.|right|200px|thumb]]
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[[Image:GeorgeHClements1973.jpg|'''Catholic:''' Father George H. Clements, Holy Angel Catholic Church, [[Chicago]]'s largest black Catholic church.|thumb|right|200px]]
  
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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 [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] church or in a [[Lutheran]] Protestant church have been ordained to the Catholic priesthood, sometimes [[sub conditione]] (conditionally), 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.
 
  
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Anglican clergy may be married and may marry after ordination.
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Early in his ministry, [[Jesus Christ]] called several individuals, most of them fishermen, to follow him and be his disciples, and they came to be known as the twelve [[apostle]]s. These were his assistants and close aides.
  
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=== Chastity and celibacy ===
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<blockquote>He appointed twelve, that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out [[demon]]s (Mark 3:14-15, TNIV).</blockquote>
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{{Main|Clerical celibacy|Clerical celibacy (Catholic Church)}}
 
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There is a difference between '''chastity''' and '''celibacy'''. [[Celibacy]] is the state of not being married, so a [[clerical celibacy|promise of celibacy]] is a promise not to enter into marriage but instead to consecrate one's life to service (in other words, "married to God"). [[Chastity]], a virtue extolled by Scripture and the Apostolic Fathers, is the state of sexual purity;  for a vowed celibate, or for the single person, chastity means the avoidance of sex.  For the married person, chastity means the practice of sex ''only'' with the spouse, and can carry the expectation of intercourse with the spouse that is open to [[reproduction]].
 
  
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Traditionally, celibacy was the male counterpart to female  virginity. Implying that the celibate was not only not married, but that he had never been married.  That usage is no longer common today.
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They were even given the authority to perform [[miracle]]s, such as casting out [[demon]]s as Jesus did. Before leaving this world, Jesus sent them to spread his [[gospel]] throughout the [[world]], to find new [[disciple]]s (John 20:21) and to be his representatives on earth.  
  
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== Other concepts of ordination ==
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As the apostles started their [[Missionary|mission]], the need to get help and assistance and even to nurture successors arose. They needed to ordain new converts to join them in leading the church. The ordination ritual was characterized by the laying of hands on the appointee (Acts 6:1-7). This ritual of ordination for those called to Holy Orders is now one of the Holy [[Sacrament]]s in the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], the ceremony is considered one of the Holy [[Eastern Orthodox Church#Mysteries|Mysteries]].
  
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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.
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According to the theory of [[apostolic succession]], the ritual of successors and assistants being appointed by those who preceded them in the ministry is the key element of the legitimacy of the holy order of each church. As a member of a holy order, one must be [[Ordination|ordain]]ed by someone who was himself ordained. The chain of ordination links each member of the order back in a direct line of succession to one of the apostles. Thus, there exist a historical and spiritual connection between each member of a holy order, the [[apostle]]s, and the [[Christ]].  
  
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=== Methodist churches ===
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==The effect of being ordained==
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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 (Methodist)|Thomas Coke]] and [[Francis Asbury]] of the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]] in the late 18th century. In this approach, an [[Elder (religious)|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.
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Being ordained in a holy order allows one to partake in special [[grace]] as [[God]]’s minister and to receive [[Spiritual gift|spiritual power]]. That power conferred at ordination is permanent and cannot be revoked, in contrast to the power given to office holders such as archbishops or deans that is revoked immediately when the person leaves office.
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In all denominations and religions, holy orders are considered more of a [[vocation]] than [[Employment|occupation]] as they involve complete commitment to their practice. The responsibilities and roles held by members of holy orders vary according to the faith, location, size, and history of the religious community to whom they serve.  
  
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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.
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These duties include leading [[worship]] services, offering intercession [[prayer]]s, offering guidance to members of the religious community, instructing members of the community in [[Ritual|rites]], practices, and [[scripture]]s of their respective faiths. Those under holy orders [[Ministry|minister]] to the poor, sick, elderly, and serve a host of other duties. In some communities, social or [[politics|political]] leadership is provided by the same persons who provide religious leadership.
  
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At the present time, the British Methodist Conference does not have bishops but just the two distinct orders of presbyter and deacon.
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==The hierarchy==
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Members of holy orders in the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches are divided into three levels, the order of [[Bishop]], the order of [[Priest]] and the order of [[Deacon]]. The bishop occupies the highest rank and is said to have the 'fullness of the order'. He is followed in the hierarchy by the priest, who may also be known as presbyter. The lowest in the hierarchy, bearing the mission of servant is the deacon. These three levels are described as the ''major orders'' in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The Orthodox Church recognizes another group of orders known as the ''minor orders''. Minor orders are composed of the reader and the subdeacon.
  
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=== Presbyterian churches ===<!-- This section is linked from [[Presbyterian polity]] —>
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===The Priest===
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[[Presbyterian]] churches, following their [[Scotland|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 [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+1.5-9 Titus 1.5-9] and [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Tim+3.2-7 I Tim. 3.2-7]). Their form of [[Ecclesiastical polity|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.
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The word "Priest" is a translation of a derivation of the [[Latin]] ''sacerdos'', meaning [[sacrifice]]. The priesthood is a sacrificial [[ministry]] and the priest is the official celebrant of the [[Eucharist]], a rite following the commandment of Jesus at the [[The Last Supper|Last Supper]], “Do this in remembrance of me.”
  
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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.
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In [[Kingdom of Israel|ancient Israel]], the culture from which the roots of the Christian church sprung, priests were the ones in charge of the [[altar]] and the [[temple]], and the central priests were also allowed to offer sacrifices, and instruct the people about the laws of [[Moses]]. According to the teachings of the [[Apostle Paul]], the [[Christian]]s are the priests of the new Israel. This interpretation extends to the Roman Catholics who indicate that while all Christians are [[priest]]s, the one who are ordained, in the position of successor to the [[apostle]]s and as stewards of the Church, have a higher status of priesthood and thus receive special [[grace]].  
  
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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.
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Starting from the third century, the term priest was applied to bishops who were the celebrants of the [[Eucharist]]. In the fourth century, the term was given to presbyters because of their newly granted authority to officiate the Eucharist. In the [[Catholic Church]], priests hold only slightly less authority than bishops, and may confer all the sacraments except the sacrament of ordaining persons with holy orders. In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]], the priest serves at the direction of the [[Bishop]] who may confer to the priests the authority to minister in his diocese, or withdraw it, as he desires.
  
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Some Presbyterians identify those appointed (by the laying on of hands) to serve in practical ways ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+6.1-7 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.
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===The Bishop===
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According to the tradition of apostolic succession, the order of [[bishop]] has its roots in apostolic times. [[Apostle]]s appointed their successors as bishops through prayer and the laying of hands, giving them the apostolic authority and priority of rank.  
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As the highest in rank, they can administer all of the sacraments/mysteries, and have the power to ordain priests and deacons. Under ordinary circumstances, the ordination of a bishop is usually officiated by three other bishops; only in some exceptional circumstances can a bishop be ordained by a single bishop.
  
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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.
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A bishop is ordained for leadership, and has the spirit of governance. He is the chief priest, ruler and teacher of one or a number of churches, usually in a specific geographic area. In the Roman Catholic and the Anglican Church, this area is called [[diocese]] and the place the bishop officiates from is called a [[cathedral]]. In the Orthodox Church, a bishop governs over an autocephalous (independent) Church.
  
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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.
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The [[Petrine doctrine]], based on Matthew 16:18-19 and other [[Bible|Biblical]] references, is a doctrine of the Roman Catholic church, which holds that, since Peter was appointed by Christ as the head of the church, and then [[martyr]]ed in [[Rome]], the seat of the worldwide church from that time on remained in Rome.
  
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=== Congregationalist churches ===
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<blockquote>And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of death will not overcome it (Matthew 16:18-19, TNIV).</blockquote>
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[[Congregationalist church governance|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.
 
  
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===Latter Day Saint Movement===
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On this basis, the [[Roman Catholic]]s argue that the Bishop of Rome, as the official spiritual successor of Peter, is the head of the church. The Bishop of Rome has the title of Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. However, in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]] as well as the [[Anglican Church]], all bishops are equals and patriarchs or synods of bishops exercise only an :oversight of care" among the body of coequal bishops.
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==== The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ====
 
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{{Main|Priesthood (Mormonism)}}
 
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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."
 
  
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====Community of Christ====
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It is also interesting to note that while bishops are appointed by the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church, in the Orthodox and [[Anglican Communion]]s, they are elected. In the Anglican [[Church of England]] however, the bishops are appointed by the reigning monarch on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]].
  
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{{Main|Priesthood (Community of Christ)}}
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==The Deacon==
 +
[[Image:Deacon Ordination.jpg|Catholic deacon candidates prostrate before the altar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in the city of Los Angeles during a 2004 diaconate ordination liturgy.|right|300px|thumb]]
 +
According to Christian tradition, the order of [[deacon]] started when the apostles ordained seven men to wait on them at table (Acts 6 1-7). Deacons serve as assistants to the bishop and the minister of service. In the early days, this meant taking care of the property of the diocese, a function that was terminated during the middle ages.
 +
In the Roman Catholic church, the liturgical function of the deacon consists in helping and serving the celebrant, who leads the mass and administers the [[Eucharist]]. Many [[protestant]] churches have deacons as lay officers with no sacramental or [[liturgy|liturgical]] functions.
  
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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.
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==Who can be ordained==
 +
Any individual who feels a vocation to serve for the sake of God’s honor and the sanctification of service may be a candidate for ordination. Generally however, appointment to the holy orders is reserved for [[seminary]] graduates. In the Roman Catholic Church, a seminarian is often ordained as a deacon in his final year. Those who intend to continue and seek ordination as priests are referred as "transitional deacons." In the Orthodox Church, before entering the seminary, students are tonsured as readers, and may later be ordained as deacons or subdeacons. In the Anglican Church, ordination as deacons is given after graduation from theological college.  
 +
It is important to note that as the elder and leader of the church, the Bishop has the last say in any ordination and often will make further inquiries about a candidate's life to ascertain his [[moral]], [[Intelligence|intellectual]] and [[physical fitness]] before deciding whether to approve a candidate's application for ordination.
  
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=== Non-traditional organizations ===
+
===Holy orders and women===
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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.
+
In some Christian 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. In some denominations women can be ordained as elders or deacons. 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 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]], officially teaches that it has no authority to ordain women as priests and thus there is no possibility of female priests at any time in the future.
  
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== Ordination of women ==
+
==Holy orders and marriage==
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{{Main|Ordination of women}}
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Historically the issue of [[marriage]] was a matter of personnel choice, as exemplified by the letters of [[Saint Paul]]. [[Celibacy]] is not a sacrament. It was not demanded of those with holy orders in the early church, and [[St. Peter]] was recorded as doing his mission along with his [[wife]]. However, in later times, the Roman Catholic church came to require celibacy for its priests and bishops. By contrast, in the Orthodox Church, marriage is allowed to deacons and priests, although Orthodox bishops are required to live in celibacy.
  
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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.
+
===Ordination and orders in the Protestant church===
 +
There are many denominations of [[Protestantism|protestants]], and likewise many variations in the process of calling and ordination to the ministry; however, there are some distinct differences between the state of being ordained in the protestant Christian church in contrast with the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches. Perhaps the most important difference is that in the protestant [[denomination]]s, the process of ordination affirms and lends authority to the calling to ministry, but without imparting a special spiritual state. One of the main points of the [[Protestant Reformation|protestant reformation]] was that all believers have equal and direct access to God and to [[salvation]], and that it was not necessary to approach the [[Lord]] through a mediator. The differences in ordination, and the accompanying differences in church hierarchy reflect this difference in beliefs.
  
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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. 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 (religious)|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.
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Typically, protestant churches have three ranks of ordained leadership; pastors, who are required to be seminary graduates, and are ordained by the central authority of the denomination, and elders and deacons, who are ordained by the gathered congregation. Women and men are equally qualified for all positions, including pastor, in nearly all, if not all, protestant denominations. Protestant pastors, elders, and deacons are all permitted to marry.
  
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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.
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==Responsibilities==
 +
Members of holy orders are endowed with authority by the churches who ordain them. In addition, the legal systems in many modern societies also give special privileges to the clergy, in order to protect the sanctity of the church and the [[separation of church and state]]. This means that it is particularly for those who have taken holy orders to serve with sincerity, and be responsible to lead their congregations in the right direction, toward a good and holy life.
  
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== Ordination of homosexuals ==
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Unfortunately, there are times when members of holy orders do not live up to their responsibility, sometimes misusing funds that are entrusted to their care, sometimes [[sexual abuse|sexually abusing]] those under their ministry, and sometimes leading those in their communities to oppose or work against other communities on the basis of different religious beliefs. Hopefully, the time will come when these problems can become a thing of the past.
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{{CAH}}
 
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:''See also [[Homosexuality in the Roman Catholic priesthood]] and [[Homosexuality and Christianity]]''
 
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The [[Metropolitan Community Church|Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches]] is the most prominent [[United States of America|American]] denomination with an '''official''' stance allowing non-celibate [[homosexuality|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 in America|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.
 
  
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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.
+
==A Gallery of Christian holy orders==
 +
<gallery>
 +
Image:BentoXVI-30-10052007.jpg|'''Catholic:''' Pope Benedict XVI, currently holding the highest rank in the holy orders of the Roman Catholic church, during a visit to São Paulo, Brazil.
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Image:Göran Zettergren-1.jpg|'''Protestant:''' Göran Zettergren, director of the Mission Covenant Church of Sweden.
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Image:Ole.D.Hagesaether.jpg|'''Anglican:''' Bishop Ole D. Hagesaether of the Church of Norway
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Image:Bishop Alexander (Drabynko).jpg|'''Orthodox:''' Bisop Alexander (Drabynko) of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi. Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
  
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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 [[Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta|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.
+
Image:Jan Graubner.jpg|'''Catholic:''' Archbishop Jan Graubner of the Czech Republic.
 +
Image:Pastor Rick Warren.jpg|'''Protestant:''' Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California
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Image:Vashti Murphy McKenzie.jpg|'''Episcopal:''' Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination that permits women to hold any of the holy orders.
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Image:Peter Rusnák.jpg|'''Catholic:''' Newly ordained Bishop Peter Rusnák, with Cardinal  Leonardo Sandri on his left and Cardinal Jozef Tomko on his right.
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Image:Butta 2006 09 28.jpg|'''Ecumenical:''' Tomáš Butta, patriarch of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church, a Christian Church which separated from the Roman Catholic Church after World War I.
  
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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.
 
  
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The [[Roman Catholic Church]] allows the ordination of men who have, in the past, experienced [[Homosexuality|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.<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_20051104_istruzione_en.html Full text of the 2005 Vatican document on ordaining homosexuals into the priesthood]</ref> Previously ordination of these homosexually inclined males was strictly forbidden, even though this discipline was often not observed by local bishops after the [[1960s]].
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Image:Orthodox priests.jpg|Monks in the '''Syriac Orthodox Church,''' which split from the Orthodox and Catholic churches in the fifth century.
  
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[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] only ordains men to the [[Priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|priesthood]] that have covenanted [[Law of chastity|not to have sex]] with anyone besides their wife.  Some gay men have chosen to remain celibate, while others have chosen to [[Homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints#Marriage for homosexuals|get married]].<ref>Moore, Carrie A. [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660207378,00.html Gay LDS men detail challenges] March 30, 2007.  Deseret Morning News</ref>  However, a man must be married in order to become a [[Bishop (Latter Day Saints)|bishop]], regardless of orientation.<ref> [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=27f71f1dd189f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=726511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD Interview with Elder Oaks and Wickman]</ref>  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.
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Image:Josef Hrdlička.jpg|'''Catholic:''' Josef Hrdlička, auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic
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Image:Saint-Albin, Charles de.jpg|'''Catholic:''' Charles de Saint-Aubin (1698-1764), Archbishop of Cambrai, France
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Image:Noailles, Louis Antoine.jpg|'''Catholic:''' Louis Antoine, cardinal de Noailles, France.
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Image:Cardinal Rohan2.jpg|'''Catholic:''' Cardinal de Louis Rene Edouard Rohan, the Prince de Rohan-Guemenee and Archbishop of Strassburg, Germany
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Image:Carl Fredrik af Wingård.jpg|'''Protestant:''' Carl Fredrik af Wingård (1781-1851), archbishop, Church of Sweden (Lutheran)
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Image:Holy Orders Picture.jpg|''Priestly Ordination,'' a popular devotional depiction of ordination in the Roman Catholic Church from the 1920s.
 +
Image:Padre António Vieira.jpg|'''Catholic:''' Father António Vieira of Portugal
  
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==Footnotes==
 
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{{reflist}}
 
  
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== Print resources ==
 
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* Campbell, Dennis. ''Yoke of Obedience'', 1988. ISBN 0-687-46660-1
 
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* [[Thomas Oden|Oden, Thomas]]. ''Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry'', 1983. ISBN 0-06-066353-7
 
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* [[William Willimon|Willimon, William]]. ''Calling & Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life'', 2000. ISBN 0-687-09033-4
 
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* [[William Willimon|Willimon, William]]. ''Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry'', 2002. ISBN 0-687-04532-0
 
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== External links ==
 
  
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* [http://www.catholic-vocations.com Old Catholic Vocations Website]
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<!--Image:Biskop Erik Norman Svendsen.jpg|'''Protestant''': Bishop Erik Norman Svendsen of the  Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark.-->
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* [http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Sacraments/HolyOrders.asp Priesthood - Catholic Sacrament of Holy Orders - Ordination]
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</gallery>
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* [http://www.gbhem.org/ResourceLibrary/stepord.pdf The Steps to Orders in The United Methodist Church] (PDF)
+
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* [http://www.revneal.org/Writings/eldersorders.html Elder's Orders in the UMC: The Disciplinary Questions and Sample Answers] by Gregory S. Neal
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==See also==
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*[[Ecumenical Council]]
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*[[Holy orders]]
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*[[Papacy]]
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*[[Sacrament]]
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*[[Worship]]
  
 +
==References==
 +
*Campbell, Dennis M. ''The Yoke of Obedience: The Meaning of Ordination in Methodism''. United Methodist studies. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1988. ISBN 9780687466603
 +
*Oden, Thomas C. ''Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry''. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1983. ISBN 9780060663537.
 +
*Willimon, William H. ''Calling & Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life''. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000. ISBN 9780687090334.
 +
*Willimon, William H. ''Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry''. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2002. ISBN 9780687045327.
 +
 
[[Category:philosophy and religion]]
 
[[Category:philosophy and religion]]
 
[[Category:religion]]
 
[[Category:religion]]
  
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{{credits|161093853}}
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{{credits|Holy_Orders|216007967}}

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The term Holy Orders comes from the Latin Ordo (order) and the word holy referring to the church. Historically, an order refers to an established civil body or organization with a hierarchy. Thus, the term holy order has come into usage referring to a group with a hierarchy that is engaged in the ministry and leadership of religious group. Within the Christian Church, the term takes on an even more specific meaning when it is used to refer to a holy order as one of the Holy Sacraments/Mysteries instituted by Jesus Christ as a tenet of faith of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Church.

Members of holy orders, as leaders of their religious communities, hold the power to make their respective communities thrive or founder. They are responsible to lead the members of their communities of faith in the right direction, toward a moral and holy life, toward mutual support in their community, and toward spiritual health. Sometimes, in their zeal to further their own community of faith, members of holy orders may influence those following them to pursue the vitality and success of their own community of faith even at the expense of others, giving rise to conflicts between religious communities, an unfortunate contribution to the modern world in its struggle to achieve universal peace.

Catholic: At priestly ordination the bishop lays hands upon the deacon as part of the process of ordaining him to become a priest. This is a photograph of the pre-Vatican II rite.

Origin

Protestant: Bishop Július Filo of Slovakia, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession
Orthodox: Georgian Orthodox priest, in Mtskheta, Georgia.
Catholic: Father George H. Clements, Holy Angel Catholic Church, Chicago's largest black Catholic church.


Early in his ministry, Jesus Christ called several individuals, most of them fishermen, to follow him and be his disciples, and they came to be known as the twelve apostles. These were his assistants and close aides.

He appointed twelve, that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons (Mark 3:14-15, TNIV).

They were even given the authority to perform miracles, such as casting out demons as Jesus did. Before leaving this world, Jesus sent them to spread his gospel throughout the world, to find new disciples (John 20:21) and to be his representatives on earth.

As the apostles started their mission, the need to get help and assistance and even to nurture successors arose. They needed to ordain new converts to join them in leading the church. The ordination ritual was characterized by the laying of hands on the appointee (Acts 6:1-7). This ritual of ordination for those called to Holy Orders is now one of the Holy Sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the ceremony is considered one of the Holy Mysteries.

According to the theory of apostolic succession, the ritual of successors and assistants being appointed by those who preceded them in the ministry is the key element of the legitimacy of the holy order of each church. As a member of a holy order, one must be ordained by someone who was himself ordained. The chain of ordination links each member of the order back in a direct line of succession to one of the apostles. Thus, there exist a historical and spiritual connection between each member of a holy order, the apostles, and the Christ.

The effect of being ordained

Being ordained in a holy order allows one to partake in special grace as God’s minister and to receive spiritual power. That power conferred at ordination is permanent and cannot be revoked, in contrast to the power given to office holders such as archbishops or deans that is revoked immediately when the person leaves office.

In all denominations and religions, holy orders are considered more of a vocation than occupation as they involve complete commitment to their practice. The responsibilities and roles held by members of holy orders vary according to the faith, location, size, and history of the religious community to whom they serve.

These duties include leading worship services, offering intercession prayers, offering guidance to members of the religious community, instructing members of the community in rites, practices, and scriptures of their respective faiths. Those under holy orders minister to the poor, sick, elderly, and serve a host of other duties. In some communities, social or political leadership is provided by the same persons who provide religious leadership.

The hierarchy

Members of holy orders in the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches are divided into three levels, the order of Bishop, the order of Priest and the order of Deacon. The bishop occupies the highest rank and is said to have the 'fullness of the order'. He is followed in the hierarchy by the priest, who may also be known as presbyter. The lowest in the hierarchy, bearing the mission of servant is the deacon. These three levels are described as the major orders in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The Orthodox Church recognizes another group of orders known as the minor orders. Minor orders are composed of the reader and the subdeacon.

The Priest

The word "Priest" is a translation of a derivation of the Latin sacerdos, meaning sacrifice. The priesthood is a sacrificial ministry and the priest is the official celebrant of the Eucharist, a rite following the commandment of Jesus at the Last Supper, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

In ancient Israel, the culture from which the roots of the Christian church sprung, priests were the ones in charge of the altar and the temple, and the central priests were also allowed to offer sacrifices, and instruct the people about the laws of Moses. According to the teachings of the Apostle Paul, the Christians are the priests of the new Israel. This interpretation extends to the Roman Catholics who indicate that while all Christians are priests, the one who are ordained, in the position of successor to the apostles and as stewards of the Church, have a higher status of priesthood and thus receive special grace.

Starting from the third century, the term priest was applied to bishops who were the celebrants of the Eucharist. In the fourth century, the term was given to presbyters because of their newly granted authority to officiate the Eucharist. In the Catholic Church, priests hold only slightly less authority than bishops, and may confer all the sacraments except the sacrament of ordaining persons with holy orders. In the Orthodox Church, the priest serves at the direction of the Bishop who may confer to the priests the authority to minister in his diocese, or withdraw it, as he desires.

The Bishop

According to the tradition of apostolic succession, the order of bishop has its roots in apostolic times. Apostles appointed their successors as bishops through prayer and the laying of hands, giving them the apostolic authority and priority of rank. As the highest in rank, they can administer all of the sacraments/mysteries, and have the power to ordain priests and deacons. Under ordinary circumstances, the ordination of a bishop is usually officiated by three other bishops; only in some exceptional circumstances can a bishop be ordained by a single bishop.

A bishop is ordained for leadership, and has the spirit of governance. He is the chief priest, ruler and teacher of one or a number of churches, usually in a specific geographic area. In the Roman Catholic and the Anglican Church, this area is called diocese and the place the bishop officiates from is called a cathedral. In the Orthodox Church, a bishop governs over an autocephalous (independent) Church.

The Petrine doctrine, based on Matthew 16:18-19 and other Biblical references, is a doctrine of the Roman Catholic church, which holds that, since Peter was appointed by Christ as the head of the church, and then martyred in Rome, the seat of the worldwide church from that time on remained in Rome.

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of death will not overcome it (Matthew 16:18-19, TNIV).

On this basis, the Roman Catholics argue that the Bishop of Rome, as the official spiritual successor of Peter, is the head of the church. The Bishop of Rome has the title of Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. However, in the Orthodox Church as well as the Anglican Church, all bishops are equals and patriarchs or synods of bishops exercise only an :oversight of care" among the body of coequal bishops.

It is also interesting to note that while bishops are appointed by the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church, in the Orthodox and Anglican Communions, they are elected. In the Anglican Church of England however, the bishops are appointed by the reigning monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Deacon

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

According to Christian tradition, the order of deacon started when the apostles ordained seven men to wait on them at table (Acts 6 1-7). Deacons serve as assistants to the bishop and the minister of service. In the early days, this meant taking care of the property of the diocese, a function that was terminated during the middle ages. In the Roman Catholic church, the liturgical function of the deacon consists in helping and serving the celebrant, who leads the mass and administers the Eucharist. Many protestant churches have deacons as lay officers with no sacramental or liturgical functions.

Who can be ordained

Any individual who feels a vocation to serve for the sake of God’s honor and the sanctification of service may be a candidate for ordination. Generally however, appointment to the holy orders is reserved for seminary graduates. In the Roman Catholic Church, a seminarian is often ordained as a deacon in his final year. Those who intend to continue and seek ordination as priests are referred as "transitional deacons." In the Orthodox Church, before entering the seminary, students are tonsured as readers, and may later be ordained as deacons or subdeacons. In the Anglican Church, ordination as deacons is given after graduation from theological college. It is important to note that as the elder and leader of the church, the Bishop has the last say in any ordination and often will make further inquiries about a candidate's life to ascertain his moral, intellectual and physical fitness before deciding whether to approve a candidate's application for ordination.

Holy orders and women

In some Christian 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. In some denominations women can be ordained as elders or deacons. 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 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, officially teaches that it has no authority to ordain women as priests and thus there is no possibility of female priests at any time in the future.

Holy orders and marriage

Historically the issue of marriage was a matter of personnel choice, as exemplified by the letters of Saint Paul. Celibacy is not a sacrament. It was not demanded of those with holy orders in the early church, and St. Peter was recorded as doing his mission along with his wife. However, in later times, the Roman Catholic church came to require celibacy for its priests and bishops. By contrast, in the Orthodox Church, marriage is allowed to deacons and priests, although Orthodox bishops are required to live in celibacy.

Ordination and orders in the Protestant church

There are many denominations of protestants, and likewise many variations in the process of calling and ordination to the ministry; however, there are some distinct differences between the state of being ordained in the protestant Christian church in contrast with the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches. Perhaps the most important difference is that in the protestant denominations, the process of ordination affirms and lends authority to the calling to ministry, but without imparting a special spiritual state. One of the main points of the protestant reformation was that all believers have equal and direct access to God and to salvation, and that it was not necessary to approach the Lord through a mediator. The differences in ordination, and the accompanying differences in church hierarchy reflect this difference in beliefs.

Typically, protestant churches have three ranks of ordained leadership; pastors, who are required to be seminary graduates, and are ordained by the central authority of the denomination, and elders and deacons, who are ordained by the gathered congregation. Women and men are equally qualified for all positions, including pastor, in nearly all, if not all, protestant denominations. Protestant pastors, elders, and deacons are all permitted to marry.

Responsibilities

Members of holy orders are endowed with authority by the churches who ordain them. In addition, the legal systems in many modern societies also give special privileges to the clergy, in order to protect the sanctity of the church and the separation of church and state. This means that it is particularly for those who have taken holy orders to serve with sincerity, and be responsible to lead their congregations in the right direction, toward a good and holy life.

Unfortunately, there are times when members of holy orders do not live up to their responsibility, sometimes misusing funds that are entrusted to their care, sometimes sexually abusing those under their ministry, and sometimes leading those in their communities to oppose or work against other communities on the basis of different religious beliefs. Hopefully, the time will come when these problems can become a thing of the past.

A Gallery of Christian holy orders

  • Catholic: Pope Benedict XVI, currently holding the highest rank in the holy orders of the Roman Catholic church, during a visit to São Paulo, Brazil.

  • Protestant: Göran Zettergren, director of the Mission Covenant Church of Sweden.

  • Anglican: Bishop Ole D. Hagesaether of the Church of Norway

  • Orthodox: Bisop Alexander (Drabynko) of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi. Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

  • Catholic: Archbishop Jan Graubner of the Czech Republic.

  • Protestant: Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California

  • Episcopal: Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination that permits women to hold any of the holy orders.

  • Catholic: Newly ordained Bishop Peter Rusnák, with Cardinal Leonardo Sandri on his left and Cardinal Jozef Tomko on his right.

  • Ecumenical: Tomáš Butta, patriarch of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church, a Christian Church which separated from the Roman Catholic Church after World War I.

  • Monks in the Syriac Orthodox Church, which split from the Orthodox and Catholic churches in the fifth century.

  • Catholic: Josef Hrdlička, auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic

  • Catholic: Charles de Saint-Aubin (1698-1764), Archbishop of Cambrai, France

  • Catholic: Louis Antoine, cardinal de Noailles, France.

  • Catholic: Cardinal de Louis Rene Edouard Rohan, the Prince de Rohan-Guemenee and Archbishop of Strassburg, Germany

  • Protestant: Carl Fredrik af Wingård (1781-1851), archbishop, Church of Sweden (Lutheran)

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

  • Catholic: Father António Vieira of Portugal

See also

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Campbell, Dennis M. The Yoke of Obedience: The Meaning of Ordination in Methodism. United Methodist studies. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1988. ISBN 9780687466603
  • Oden, Thomas C. Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1983. ISBN 9780060663537.
  • Willimon, William H. Calling & Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000. ISBN 9780687090334.
  • Willimon, William H. Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2002. ISBN 9780687045327.

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