Ordination

Ordination is a religious ceremony by which individuals are consecrated or commissioned to perform religious duties and rites within a religious community. The term derives from Latin ordo, meaning order, reflecting the appointment into a defined ecclesial role.

In Christian contexts, ordination typically confers Holy Orders, enabling a person to preside over sacraments and lead worship. Distinct orders may include deacon, priest, and bishop, with varying theological implications by denomination. Catholicism teaches that ordination imprints a permanent sacramental character; Orthodoxy and many Anglican, Lutheran, and some Methodist traditions likewise ordain multiple orders, though the theology and limitations differ.

Rites usually involve discernment and preparation, the laying on of hands, and a prayer of consecration by existing clergy or bishops. The ceremony may include vesting in liturgical attire and the presenting of symbolic instruments. Requirements vary by tradition but commonly include education, period of formation, and public profession of faith.

Not all religious groups practice ordination in the same way. Some Protestant churches issue licenses or authorizations rather than ordination to preach; Judaism has a form of rabbinic ordination; Islam generally lacks clergy and formal ordination; Buddhist and Hindu traditions have monastic or priestly ordinations with different structures.

Contemporary discussions around ordination often address inclusion—whether women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others may be ordained—and the scope of authority granted to those ordained within a given denomination.