ordinations

Ordinations are rites through which a person is conferred with a specific religious office and its accompanying authority. In Christian usage, ordination commonly refers to the process by which a candidate is made a deacon, priest, or bishop, though the terms and scopes vary by tradition. In Catholic, Orthodox, and many Anglican and Lutheran churches, ordination is closely linked to the sacrament of Holy Orders and is understood as conferring grace and a permanent character on the recipient; in many Protestant churches, ordination is a formal authorization to exercise ministry and administer certain rites, but is not universally treated as a sacrament.

Typical elements of ordination rites include discernment via a period of training and examination, the laying on of hands by bishops or other ordained clergy, and prayers of consecration or blessing. In many rites, the candidate makes promises—often regarding obedience to the church, fidelity to the gospel, and, for some, continued celibacy or chastity—and the bishop confers the office through the specific rite for the order being received. Additional rites, such as the anointing with chrism or investiture with liturgical insignia, may also accompany the ceremony.

The threefold order of ministry—bishop, priest, and deacon—has roots in the early church and remains central in many traditions, though structures and titles differ. Ongoing debates in some churches concern matters such as the ordination of women, the reception of married candidates, and ecumenical recognition of ordination across denominations.

Ordinings continue to serve as formal methods of credentialing and governance within Christian communities and, in broader use, may denote formal commissioning of religious leaders in other faiths or contexts.