ordaining

Ordaining is the act of conferring official authority to perform religious duties and administer sacraments. The term derives from Latin ordinare, meaning to set in order or to appoint. In many religious communities, ordination marks a formal transition from lay status to a recognized leadership role within a church or faith organization.

In Christian contexts, ordination typically involves the laying on of hands and a prayer of consecration, conferring the power to lead worship, teach, and supervise a community. Distinct roles—such as deacon, priest, and bishop—define different responsibilities and levels of authority. Many traditions, including Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches, uphold a belief in apostolic succession, the idea that ordination is transmitted through an unbroken line of bishops. Some Protestant groups emphasize local church authority and may ordain ministers under different procedures; practices regarding gender and the scope of ministry vary widely.

Outside Christianity, similar rites of formal religious authorization exist. In Buddhism, monastic ordination confers the status of monk or nun and involves vows and acceptance by a monastic community. In Judaism, rabbinic ordination is the conferment of the title of rabbi after study and examination in a yeshiva. Hindu and Jain traditions have initiation rites and vows that confer spiritual status within their lineages. In many faiths, ordination also grants practical permissions, such as the authority to officiate rites or marriages, though civil recognition of such powers varies by jurisdiction. Overall, ordination serves to establish legitimacy, responsibility, and community trust in a religious leader.