COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, THEOLOGY, HUMANITIES AND

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SCIENCES

ORDINATION

Name: Jose Rei Lunda

ID: 210255

Lecturer: PHD. Beauty Maenz

Date: 23, October 2023

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Introduction

Ordination is a significant religious practice that involves the formal recognition and

authorization of individuals to serve as clergy or religious leaders within a specific faith

tradition. This process varies across different religions and denominations, but it

generally entails a series of rituals, training, and examinations to ensure the candidate's

suitability for spiritual leadership. Ordination holds great importance as it establishes a

sacred connection between the individual and their religious community, granting them

the authority to perform sacraments, lead worship services, and provide pastoral care.

This paper will delve into the concept of ordination and quickly exploring its historical

origins, purposo of ordination, Why is it needed? How is it performed? When is it

appropriate to ordain a person? Who should be ordained? women´s ordination.

The term "ordination" comes from the Latin "ordinatio," which refers to arranging or

setting in order. In a religious context, ordination refers to the process by which

individuals are consecrated and officially recognized as members of the clergy.

According to THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE OF THE UNITED METHODIST

CHURCH ( 2024 ) at ¶ 303 “Ordination is fulfilled in leadership of the people of God

through ministries of Service, Word, Sacrament, Order, Compassion, and Justice. The

Church’s ministry of service is a primary representation of God’s love. Those who

respond to God’s call to lead in service, word, compassion, and justice and equip others

for this ministry through teaching, proclamation, and worship and who assist elders in

the administration of the sacraments are ordained as deacons”. However,

The practice of ordination dates back to ancient times. In Christianity, for example, it is

believed to have begun with the apostles who were chosen and ordained by Jesus Christ

himself. This is mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, in books such as Acts

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and the Epistles, where apostles like Paul ordained elders and deacons in the churches

they established.

The Purpose of Ordination

According to Willimon, The act of ordination serves as a reminder to the church of its

collective duty to assess a ministerial candidate's call.. Thus, “ordination is a gift of

God, to be sure, but a gift of God through the church, for the church, that the church

might be the church of God.” The church acknowledges, examines, and confirms God's

calling. You can identify the messengers of God in the previous period claiming to have

commissions from Lord by consulting the Old Testament. The apostle says, “Now then

we are ambassadors for God” (2 Corinthians 5:18, 19.) Willimon further suggest that,

“Pastors are called by the church for specific communal leadership, therefore the

community has a responsibility to prayerfully examine those who come forward to be

considered for ordination.”

According to THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE OF THE UNITED METHODIST

CHURCH ( 2024 ) at ¶ 303. “Ordination to this ministry is a gift from God to the

church. In ordination, the church affirms and continues the apostolic ministry through

persons empowered by the Holy Spirit. As such, those who are ordained make a

commitment to conscious living of the whole gospel and to the proclamation of that

gospel to the end that the world may be saved”.

"Holy Orders: Sacrament or Vocation?" (n.d.). Retrieved from

<https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/

rc_con_cclergy_doc_20140414_en.html> 23/10/2023, 1. To confer the sacrament of

Holy Orders: The sacrament of Holy Orders is the sacrament through which men are

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ordained into the clergy, and it is only valid when conferred by a validly ordained

bishop. The ordination of a priest confers the sacrament of Holy Orders on the

individual, allowing him to administer the sacraments and perform other sacred duties.

2. To provide spiritual leadership: As a priest is ordained to lead and serve the

faithful, he is given the authority to preach the Gospel, celebrate the sacraments, and

provide spiritual guidance to his congregation.

3. To maintain the apostolic succession: The apostolic succession is the line of

succession of bishops and priests that can be traced back to the apostles. The ordination

of a priest helps to maintain this succession, ensuring that the teachings and traditions of

the apostles are preserved and passed down to future generations.

nt order, is not repeatable. According to THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE OF THE

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ( 2024 ) at ¶ 304. Qualifications for Ordination.

“Those whom the Church ordains shall be conscious of God’s call to ordained ministry,

and their call shall be acknowledged and authenticated by the Church. God’s call has

many manifestations, and the Church cannot structure a single test of authenticity.

Nevertheless, the experience of the Church and the needs of its ministry require certain

qualities of faith, life, and practice from those who seek ordination as deacons and

elders. In order that The United Methodist Church may be assured that those persons

who present themselves as candidates for ordained ministry are truly called of God, the

Church expects persons seeking ordination to: a) Have a personal faith in Christ and be

committed to Christ as Savior and Lord. b) Nurture and cultivate spiritual disciplines

and patterns of holiness. c) Teach and model generous Christian giving with a focus on

tithing as God’s standard of giving d) Acknowledge a call by God to give themselves

completely to ordained ministry following Jesus’ pattern of love and service. e)

Communicate persuasively the Christian faith in both oral and written form. f) Make a

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commitment to lead the whole Church in loving service to humankind. g) Give evidence

of God’s gifts for ordained ministry, evidence of God’s grace in their lives, and promise

of future usefulness in the mission of the Church. h) Be persons in whom the

community can place trust and confidence. i) Accept that Scripture contains all things

necessary for salvation through faith in God through Jesus Christ; be competent in the

disciplines of Scripture, theology, church history, and Church polity; possess the skills

essential to the practice of ordained ministry; and lead in making disciples for Jesus

Christ. j) Be accountable to The United Methodist Church, accept its Doctrinal

Standards and Discipline and authority.”

According to Baxter, “God also giveth men the qualifications which he requireth; so

that, all that the Church hath to do, whether pastors or people, ordainers or electors, is

but to discern and determine which are the men that God hath thus qualified, and to

accept of them that are so provided, and, upon consent, to install them solemnly in this

office.” The church and its leadership welcome the person who has been ordained, and

they are expected to answer and be accountable to God and the church in order of

precedence. On the hand, it is appropriate to ordain a person when they have

demonstrated a deep commitment to their faith, a strong sense of calling to religious

service, and the necessary knowledge, skills, and character to fulfill their duties as a

religious leader. Anyone who meets the qualifications and requirements of their

religious tradition or organization may be considered for ordination. However, it is

typically reserved for those who have completed a period of study and training, and

have demonstrated their ability to lead and serve others in a religious context.

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Women´s Ordination

Women's ordination refers to the practice of allowing women to be ordained as clergy in

religious traditions that traditionally restrict this role to men. The issue of women's

ordination has been a topic of debate and controversy within various religious

denominations, particularly within Christianity. According to James on his book

Introduction to Christian Worship at page 279-282, ordination should be based on

spiritual qualifications, rather than gender or social status. He argued that both men and

women should be ordained for ministry, a progressive stance compared to other

Christian denominations. White's views were influenced by biblical principles,

emphasizing spiritual gifts, character, and competence. He believed ordination should

recognize God's calling, not create a hierarchical distinction between clergy and laity.

Conclusion

To sum up, the ordination is significant because it demonstrates the church's

cooperation with the triune God. Furthermore, the church recognizes that God is

working through those he appoints to the ministry. They are acknowledged by the

church and extended a right hand of fellowship, which promotes duty and

accountability. Church leaders need to exercise discernment in order to make well-

informed decisions, even though not every member may comprehend all of the

problems surrounding ordinationThe appointed servants must always keep in mind that

they report to the entire body and that there is no ministry or calling that is more

honorable than another.

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Reference

White, James F. Introduction to Christian Worship 279-284, Revised Edition 1990

General Board

UMC. (2004). THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE OF THE UNITED METHODISTE

CHURCH. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House.

Holy Bible: (2 Corinthians 5:18, 19.)

Waltz, A. K. (1991). A DICTIONARY FOR UNITED METHODISTS. Nashville:

Aingdon Press.

Johnson, Maxwell E. The Origins of Christian Worship: The Biblical Evidence. (Print)

Vol. 1: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition (100-600). (Print)

Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church: Volume II - Ante-Nicene Christianity

AD 100-325. Hendrickson Publishers, 2004.

Willimom, William. Worship as Pastoral care. Nashville: Abingdon, 1999

The Code of Canon Law" (1983). (2012). Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of

America.

3. "Holy Orders: Sacrament or Vocation?" (n.d.). Retrieved from

<https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/

rc_con_cclergy_doc_20140414_en.html> ( 21/10/2023) .