Roman Catholic candidates for the diaconate prostrate themselves before the altar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California during a 2004 diaconal ordination liturgy. Prostration is the placement of the body in a Reverentially or Submissively Prone position An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, also called the Los Angeles Cathedral, is a Cathedral church of the United States in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West

In a general sense, the term Holy Orders refers to those in the Christian religion who have been ordained in Apostolic Succession. In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies As a more theologically technical term in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, Old Catholic, Independent Catholic and Assyrian churches, it is a Sacrament or Holy Mystery in which the candidate is ordained as a bishop, priest or deacon. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The Old Catholic Church is a Christian denomination originating with churches (many of them German -speaking that split from the Roman Catholic Church in Independent Catholic Churches are Christian denominations (or congregations) which claim apostolic succession The Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East (ܥܕܬܐ ܩܕܝܫܬܐ ܘܫܠܝܚܝܬܐ ܩܬܘܠܝܩܝ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܪ̈ܝܐ ‘Ittā Qaddishtā wa-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active The term sacred mysteries generally denotes the area of Supernatural phenomena associated with a Divinity or a religious ideology. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions

Historically, the word "order" (Latin ordo) designated an established civil body or corporation with a hierarchy, and ordinatio meant legal incorporation into an ordo. The word "holy" refers to the Church. In context, therefore, a holy order is simply a group with a hierarchy that is set apart for ministry in the Church.

Other offices such as Pope, Cardinal, Monsignor, Archbishop, Archimandrite, Archpriest, Protopresbyter, Hieromonk, Protodeacon, Archdeacon, etc. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. Monsignor, pl monsignori is the form of address for those members of the Clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain Ecclesiastical In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated Bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others this means that they lead The title Archimandrite ( Greek: - archimandrites) primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches "Forane" redirects here For the veterinary anesthetic see Isoflurane. "Forane" redirects here For the veterinary anesthetic see Isoflurane. Hieromonk, or Hieroschemamonk, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, ( Greek: Ἱερομόναχος Ieromonachos; Slavonic: Ieromonakh Protodeacon derives from the Greek proto- meaning 'first' and diakonos, meaning 'deacon' A position of archdeacon is a senior position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, and in some other Christian denominations above that of most , are not sacramental orders. These are simply offices and titles and thus, though they are usually imparted with a blessing of some sort, their reception is not an instance of the sacrament of holy orders.

Roman Catholicism

Main articles: Priesthood (Catholic Church) and Bishop (Catholic Church)

The Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Catholic Churches number Holy Orders, which is the Sacrament that confers ordination as bishops, priests, and deacons of the church, among three sacraments that create an indelible mark called a sacramental character^[1] on the recipient's soul (the other two are baptism^[2] and confirmation). The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church includes both the orders of bishops and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. In the Catholic Church, a Bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the priesthood. This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies In the Catholic Church, a Bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the priesthood. Presbyterium is a modern term used in the Catholic Church and Eastern Catholic Churches after the Second Vatican Council According to Roman Catholic Church teaching a sacramental character is an indelible spiritual mark (the meaning of the word character in Latin In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted Confirmation is a Rite of initiation in many Christian Churches normally in the form of Laying on of hands and/or Anointing for ^[3]

The purpose of the Sacrament is to constitute a person as a minister within the Church.

Deacons are ministers of service, delegated to act in the name of the Church and therefore are able to witness marriages (the Sacrament of Matrimony is actually conferred by the couple on each other, with the deacon as witness), to baptize solemnly (any human being may baptize in an emergency but a deacon may do so on ordinary occasions with full ceremony), and to preach. An emergency baptism is a Baptism administered to a person in imminent Danger of Death by a person not normally authorized to administer the Sacrament

Priestly Ordination, a popular devotional depiction of ordination in the Roman Catholic Church from the 1920s. The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada

Bishops receive the "Spirit of governance" and are the successors of the Apostles, as a group (that is, the "college" or body of bishops is the successor body to the college of apostles; in Roman Catholic theology, there is a belief that the apostle Peter had a role of leadership in the college of apostles, which the pope retains today among the bishops, but this is not accepted by the Orthodox churches; sacramentally the pope is a bishop). Bishops, since they have the "fullness of orders," therefore may confer all seven of the sacraments. Bishops are governors of the church to the point where a bishop in the Catholic Church, even if not given authority over a functional diocese, will be given a "titular" or honorary diocese (a diocese that no longer exists) as a gesture toward the notion that a bishop is ordained for leadership.

Priests, as cooperators of the bishops in their sacramental ministry, may confect all of the sacraments except Holy Orders, the sacrament of governance, itself.

Until 1972 the Catholic Church also had four minor orders leading up to the major order of subdeacon, which were conferred on seminarians pro forma before they became deacons. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The term major orders or sacred orders was a part of the clerical terminology of the Roman Catholic Church until shortly after the Second Vatican Council Subdeacon (or sub-deacon is a title used in various branches of Christianity. A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is a specialized and often live-in Higher education institution for the purpose of instructing students The term pro forma ( Latin "as a matter of form" is a term applied to practices that are perfunctory, or seek to satisfy the minimum requirements Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions 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. Pope The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twentieth century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. ^[4] They were, however, retained by the Eastern Catholic Churches and by Traditionalist Catholics, including papally-approved Indult priestly associations. This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See Traditionalist Catholics are Roman Catholics, or people who identify as Roman Catholics who believe that there should be a restoration of many or all of the liturgical Indult Catholics is a term used to denote Roman Catholics who prefer to attend the older Tridentine rite of Mass rather than the ordinary present-day form of the liturgy A list of priestly societies and religious institutes using a pre-1970 version of the Roman Missal some but not all are in communion with the Holy See. Only the sacramental orders (deacon, priest, bishop) were retained in the Latin Rite, but seminarians are "instituted" in "ministries" called acolyte and reader or lector, which replace the former "minor orders. The Latin Rite is one of the 23 Sui iuris Particular Churches within the Catholic Church. "

Eastern Christianity

Alexius II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, together with other bishops, conferring the Holy Order of bishop upon a Russian Orthodox priest. Metropolitans Maximus ( 1283 - 1305) St Peter ( 1308 - 1326) vacant A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities

The Eastern Orthodox Church considers Ordination to be a Sacred Mystery (what in the West is called a sacrament). The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world The term sacred mysteries generally denotes the area of Supernatural phenomena associated with a Divinity or a religious ideology. This Mystery is limited in that it may only be conferred by a bishop, and not by a priest (all of the other Mysteries may be performed by a priest). Certain archimandrites may be given permission to bestow minor orders, but only a bishop may ordain a priest, deacon or another bishop. The title Archimandrite ( Greek: - archimandrites) primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy.

It was the mission of the Apostles to go forth into all the world and preach the Gospel, baptizing those who believed in the name of the Holy Trinity (Matthew 28:18-20). The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e This article is about the canonical books of the New Testament SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных In the Early Church those who presided over congregations were referred to variously as episcopos (bishop) or presbyteros (priest). Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations then a synonym of episkopos (which has now come to mean Bishop These successors of the Apostles were ordained to their office by the laying on of hands, and according to Orthodox theology formed a living, organic link with the Apostles, and through them with Jesus Christ himself. The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e The laying on of hands is a religious practice found throughout the world in varying forms Eastern Orthodox Christian theology is the Theology particular to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) ^[5] This link is believed to continue in unbroken succession to this day. Over time, the ministry of bishops (who hold the fullness of the priesthood) and presbyters or priests (who hold a portion of the priesthood as bestowed by their bishop) came to be distinguished. In Orthodox termology, the terms priesthood and sacerdotal refer to the ministry of bishops and priests. All of the ordination ceremonies take place during the Divine Liturgy. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy.

A bishop is the Teacher of the Faith, the carrier of Sacred Tradition, and the living Vessel of Grace through whom the energeia (divine grace) of the Holy Spirit flows into the rest of the church. Sacred Tradition or Holy Tradition is a technical theological term used in some Christian traditions primarily in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Energeia (grc ἐνέργεια is an important Greek technical term in the works of Aristotle. In Christianity, divine Grace refers to the sovereign favour of God for humankind — especially in regard to Salvation — irrespective of actions ^[5] A bishop is consecrated through the laying on of hands by other bishops, normally at least two or three, but in emergency situations, such as times of persecution, a single bishop may ordain another. Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service usually religious The persecution of Christians refers to the Religious persecution of Christians both historically and in the current era His consecration takes place before the Little Entrance of the Liturgy. In Eastern Orthodoxy, an entrance is a Procession during which the Clergy enter into the Sanctuary through the Holy Doors. A Gospel Book is laid over the head of the one being ordained, and the consecrating bishops lay their hands upon the Gospel Book, while the prayer of ordination is read, after this, he ascends the synthranon (bishop's throne in the sanctuary) for the first time. The Gospel Book, or Book of the Gospels ( Greek:, Evangélion) is a Codex or bound volume containing one or more of the four Gospels Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state A cathedra ( Latin, "chair" from Greek, kathedra, "seat" is the Chair or Throne of a Bishop

A priest may serve only at the pleasure of his bishop. A bishop bestows faculties (permission to minister within his diocese) by giving a priest chrism and an antimension; he may withdraw faculties by demanding the return of these items. A faculty is a Legal instrument or warrant in Canon law, especially a Judicial or Quasi-judicial warrant from an Ecclesiastical In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop. Chrism (Greek word literally meaning "an anointing" also called "Myrrh" ( Myron) "Holy Oil" or "Consecrated Oil" is a Consecrated The Antimension ( Greek "instead of the table" Slavonic: Antimíns) is one of the most important furnishings of the Altar in many The ordination of a priest takes place at the Great Entrance of the Liturgy. In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies In Eastern Orthodoxy, an entrance is a Procession during which the Clergy enter into the Sanctuary through the Holy Doors. He is taken three times around the Holy Table (altar) and then kneels on both knees, resting his forehead upon the Holy Table. An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place The ordaining bishop then places his omophorion over the ordinand's head and reads the prayer of ordination. In the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgical tradition the omophorion ( Greek:; Slavonic: омофоръ omofor) He will then be vested as a priest. Later, after the Epiklesis of the Liturgy, the bishop hands him a portion of the Lamb (Host) and says the words:

Receive thou this pledge, and preserve it whole and unharmed until thy last breath, because thou shalt be held to an accounting therefor in the second and terrible Coming of our great Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. In most Christian churches the epiclesis (also sometimes spelled epiklesis, since it is a transliterated Greek word is that part of the The Lamb ( Greek:άμνος amnos; Slavonic: Агнецъ agnets) is the square portion of bread cut from the Prosphora in the Sacramental bread, sometimes called Lamb or Host is the bread which is used in the Christian ritual of the Eucharist. . ^[6]

A deacon is ordained after the epiklesis. He is taken three times around the Holy Table and then kneels on one knee, resting his forehead on the Holy Table. The ordaining bishop then places his omophorion over the ordinand's head and reads the prayer of ordination. He will then be vested as a deacon and given an hexateryga (liturgical fan). An Orthodox deacon is not permitted to perform weddings or baptisms (except, in the case of baptism in extremis, under which circumstances any Orthodox layman may do the same). An Orthodox deacon will not normally preach, unless he has the bishop's explicit permission to do so.

The Orthodox Church has two minor orders, those of reader and subdeacon. In some Christian churches the Reader is responsible for reading aloud excerpts of the Scripture at a Liturgy. Altar servers are normally not invested with a special service, though the rank of "taper-bearer" has been incorporated into the rite of blessing for readers. An altar server or Acolyte is a lay assistant to a member of the Clergy during a religious service Candidates for ordination receive the clerical tonsure prior to being ordained by the laying on of hands to these minor orders. Tonsure is the practice of some Christian churches mystics Buddhist novices and Monks and some Hindu temples of cutting the Hair from the There is a distinction between the laying on of hands for minor orders (chirothesis) and that for major orders (chirotony). The laying on of hands is a religious practice found throughout the world in varying forms Those in these lesser orders are not considered clergy in the same sense as those in major orders. Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion.

Anglicanism

The Anglican Communion believes its bishops to be in Apostolic Succession, though there is some difference of opinion with regard to whether ordination is to be regarded as a sacrament or not. See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches The Book of Common Prayer provides rites of ordination for bishops, priests and deacons, and only permits bishops to administer ordination. The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and used throughout the Anglican Communion. Typically, within Anglicanism three bishops are required for ordination to the episcopate, and one bishop will perform ordinations to the priesthood and diaconate. Anglo Catholics will tend to be closer to the Roman Catholic position with regard to the sacramental nature of ordination and in the use of Minor Orders. The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism (or sometimes possibly incorrectly High Church &mdashsee below describe people The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy.

Lutheranism

One of the central differences between the Lutheran churches on the one hand and the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches on the other has been their understanding of the Eucharist. Lutheran theology does not hold that the Eucharist is a "sacrifice," though it holds a theology of a "real physical, not just spiritual, presence" of Christ in Communion. This difference over the understanding of the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist is an essential component of the differentiation between the denominations of their theology of Holy Orders.

Process and sequence

At priestly ordination the bishop imposes hands upon the deacon who is by that matter and the form of the consecratory preface ordained to the priesthood This is a photograph of the pre-Vatican II rite. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions In liturgical use the term Preface is applied to that portion of the Eucharistic Prayer that immediately precedes the Canon or central portion of the Eucharist Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion.

The sequence in which holy orders are received are: minor orders, deacon, priest, bishop.

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". A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is a specialized and often live-in Higher education institution for the purpose of instructing students In the Roman Catholic church a transitional deacon is a celibate man who has been ordained a Deacon and who intends to become a Priest This is to distinguish men bound for priesthood from those who have entered the "permanent diaconate" and do not intend to seek further ordination. Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions Deacons, whether transitional or permanent, are licensed to preach sermons (under certain circumstances a permanent deacon may not receive faculties to preach), to perform baptisms, and to witness Catholic marriages, but to perform no other sacraments. In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted Catholic marriage, also called ''matrimony'', is an indissoluble bond between a man and a woman created by human contract and ratified by divine grace They assist at the Eucharist or the Mass, but are not able to consecrate the bread and wine. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Normally, after six months or more as a transitional deacon a man will be ordained to the priesthood. Priests are able to preach, perform baptisms, confirm, witness marriages, hear confessions and give absolutions, anoint the sick, and celebrate the Eucharist or the Mass. A sermon is an oration by a Prophet or member of the Clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted Confirmation is a Rite of initiation in many Christian Churches normally in the form of Laying on of hands and/or Anointing for The confession of one's Sins is a religious practice important to many faiths e Absolution is a traditional theological term for the forgiveness experienced in the traditional Churches in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil milk water melted butter or other substances a process employed ritually by many religions and races The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those

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. Tonsure is the practice of some Christian churches mystics Buddhist novices and Monks and some Hindu temples of cutting the Hair from the In some Christian churches the Reader is responsible for reading aloud excerpts of the Scripture at a Liturgy. Some deacons remain permanently in the diaconate, many go on to be ordained priests. Orthodoxy has two types of clergy: married (known as "white clergy") and monastic (known as "black clergy"). Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from Greek monos, alone is the religious practice in which one Monastic deacons are called hierodeacons, monastic priests are called hieromonks. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, a Hierodeacon ( Greek: Ηεροδιάκονος Ierodiákonos; Slavonic: Ierodiakón) sometimes Hieromonk, or Hieroschemamonk, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, ( Greek: Ἱερομόναχος Ieromonachos; Slavonic: Ieromonakh Orthodox clergy must either marry or be tonsured as monks prior to ordination to the diaconate (according to some jurisdictions, before the subdiaconate), though some bishops may make economia (dispensation) to allow a candidate to marry after his ordination to the diaconate. MONK is a Monte Carlo software package for simulating nuclear processes particularly for the purpose of determining the neutron multiplication factor or k-effective In the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches and in the teaching of the Church Fathers which undergirds the theology of those Churches economy But once a man has been ordained a priest he may not marry. If his wife dies, he may not remarry, and must remain celibate. Often, widowed priests will take monastic vows. Religious vows are the public Vows made by the members of the religious life – cenobitic and eremitic – of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox bishops are taken from among the monks.

For Anglicans, a person is ordained a deacon once they have completed their training at a theological college. Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions They then typically serve as a curate and may be ordained as a priest, at the discretion of the bishop, following a period of time. From the Latin curatus (compare Curator) a curate is a person who is invested with the ''care'' or ''cure'' (''cura'' ''of souls'' of a A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Other deacons may choose to remain in this order. Anglican deacons can preach sermons, perform baptisms and conduct funerals, but, unlike priests, cannot conduct marriages or celebrate the Eucharist. In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those In most branches of the Anglican church, women can be ordained as priests, and in some, can be ordained a bishop. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight

Bishops are chosen from among the priests in churches that adhere to Catholic usage. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight 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. A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion usually In the case of both Catholics- (Western and) Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox, they are usually leaders of territorial units called dioceses (or its equivalent in the east, an eparchy). In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop. Eparchy is an Anglicized Greek word authentically Latinized as eparchia and loosely translating as 'rule over something' but has the following Only bishops can validly administer the sacrament of holy orders.

Recognition of other churches' orders

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 Apostles, just as Catholic and Anglican bishops do. The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e Consequently, if a priest of any 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 church economy. In the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches and in the teaching of the Church Fathers which undergirds the theology of those Churches economy

Anglican churches, unlike Protestant churches, claim to maintain apostolic succession. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs ^[7] The succession of Anglican bishops is however, not universally recognized. The Roman 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 time of Archbishop William Laud, thus causing a break of continuity in apostolic succession. Pope Leo XIII ( March 2, 1810 – July 20, 1903) born Count Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci, was the 256th Pope Archbishop William Laud (7 October 1573 - 10 January 1645 was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645 Eastern Orthodox bishops have, on occasion, granted "economy" when Anglican priests convert to Orthodoxy. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Changes in the Anglican Ordinal since King 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. Edward VI (12 October 1537 &ndash 6 July 1553 became King of England and Ireland on 28 January 1547 and was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time In order to reduce doubt concerning Anglican apostolic succession, since the 1930 Bonn agreement many Anglican bishops have been consecrated by bishops of the Old Catholic Church whose holy orders are recognised by the Holy See. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Old Catholic Church is a Christian denomination originating with churches (many of them German -speaking that split from the Roman Catholic Church in The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent Episcopal see of the Roman Catholic

Neither Roman Catholics nor Anglicans recognize the validity of ordinations of ministers in Protestant churches that do not maintain the apostolic succession. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Rome also does not recognize the apostolic succession of (high church) Lutheran Protestant denominations. " High Church " relates to Ecclesiology and Liturgy in Anglican theology and practice

Anglicans accept the ordinations of those denominations in full communion with the Anglican Communion such as some Lutheran denominations. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther They may preside at services requiring a priest if one is not available.

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. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known 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. The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent Episcopal see of the Roman Catholic

Marriage and holy orders

See also: Clerical celibacy and Clerical celibacy (Catholic Church)

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. Clerical celibacy is the practice in various religious traditions, in which Clergy, Monastics and those (of either sex in religious orders adopt a Clerical celibacy is the discipline by which in some of the Particular Churches that constitute the Catholic Church, only unmarried men are as a rule to be See clerical celibacy for a more detailed discussion. Clerical celibacy is the practice in various religious traditions, in which Clergy, Monastics and those (of either sex in religious orders adopt a

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. The Latin Rite is one of the 23 Sui iuris Particular Churches within the Catholic Church. In the Eastern Catholic Churches and in the Eastern Orthodox Church married deacons may be ordained priests, but may not become bishops. This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Bishops in the Eastern Rites and the Eastern Orthodox churches are almost always drawn from among monks, who have taken a vow of celibacy. Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from Greek monos, alone is the religious practice in which one They may be widowers, though; it is not required of them never to have been married.

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 Anglican church or in a Lutheran Protestant church have been ordained to the Catholic priesthood — never sub conditione (conditionally), as there is no recognised true priesthood in the Protestant denominations — 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. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther

Anglican clergy may be married and may marry after ordination.

Other concepts of ordination

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.

Methodist churches

The American Methodist model an is episcopal system loosely based Anglican model and was first devised under the leadership of Bishops Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the late 18th century. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Thomas Coke ( September 9, 1747 &ndash May 2, 1814) was the first Methodist Bishop and is known as the Father of Methodist Missions Francis Asbury ( August 20 1745 &ndash March 31 1816) was one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the For individual churches named Methodist Episcopal Church, see Methodist Episcopal Church (disambiguation The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes In this approach, an 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. An elder (in Greek, πρεσβυτερος; see Presbyter) in Christianity is a person valued for his Wisdom who accordingly holds a particular Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions

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. The United Methodist Church is the largest Methodist denomination and the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States. 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.

At the present time, the British Methodist Conference does not have bishops but just the two distinct orders of presbyter and deacon.

Presbyterian churches

Presbyterian churches, following their 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 Titus 1.5-9 and I Tim. 3.2-7). Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Their form of church governance is known as presbyterian polity. Ecclesiastical polity is the operational and governance structure of a Church or Christian denomination. Presbyterian polity is a method of Church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of Presbyters or elders 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.

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.

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.

Some Presbyterians identify those appointed (by the laying on of hands) to serve in practical ways (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.

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. The Church of Scotland (Eaglais na h-Alba known informally by its Scots language name The Kirk, is the National church of Scotland.

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.

Congregationalist churches

Congregationalist churches implement different schemes, but the officers usually have less authority than in the presbyterian or episcopalian forms. Congregationalist polity, often known as congregationalism is a system of Church governance in which every Local church congregation is independent 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.

Latter Day Saint Movement

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Main article: Priesthood (LDS)

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. In the Latter Day Saint movement, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority of God including the authority to act as a leader in the church and to perform 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. "

Community of Christ

Main article: Priesthood (Community of Christ)

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). See also Priesthood (Latter Day Saints In the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints priesthood is 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.

Non-traditional organizations

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. The Universal Life Church (or ULC) is a religious organization that offers anyone semi-immediate Ordination as a ULC minister free of charge 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.

Other unaffiliated religious organizations, such as Rose Ministries^[8], feel that everyone has the right to the distinction of being ordained who show a willingness to pursue and share the truth. Their ordination process is one way of accommodating this belief.

Still others, such as Spiritual Humanism^[9], believe that religion must be able to adapt to new knowledge about the universe without rejecting the deep spiritual connections to human history and the natural world that we are a part of, and that all humans have an inalienable right and duty to practice their own religious traditions.

Ordination of women

Main article: Ordination of women

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. In general religious use Ordination is the process by which a person is consecrated (set apart for the administration of various religious rites 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.

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, though the Episcopal Church USA (the United States denomination that is part of the Anglican Communion) does. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service usually religious 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 or deacon. An elder (in Greek, πρεσβυτερος; see Presbyter) in Christianity is a person valued for his Wisdom who accordingly holds a particular Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions 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 in 1994, 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. Ordinatio Sacerdotalis ( Latin for On Ordination to the Priesthood) is a Roman Catholic document discussing the Roman Catholic Church's position Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Pope In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies

Ordination of homosexuals

See also Homosexuality in the Roman Catholic priesthood and Homosexuality and Christianity

The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is the most prominent American denomination with an official stance allowing non-celibate gays and lesbians to be ordained. In Roman Catholicism, homosexual acts are contrary to natural law and sinful while homosexual desires are disordered (but not themselves sinful The Metropolitan Community Church (in full The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches or UFMCC or more commonly MCC is an international fellowship of The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. Smaller denominations, like the Liberal Catholic Church, the Swedenborgian Church of North America and the Apostolic Johannite Church also do so. The Liberal Catholic Church (LCC is a form of Christianity open to Theosophical ideas and even Reincarnation. The Swedenborgian Church in North America (also known as the General Convention of the Church of the New Jerusalem) 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. The United Church of Christ ( UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, Doctrine (Latin doctrina) is a codification of beliefs or "a body of teachings quot or "instructions" taught principles or positions as the 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. The Episcopal Church is the official name of the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches Most of the mainline Protestant denominations, such as the Presbyterian Church USA, the Moravian Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA), are openly discussing the issue. The Presbyterian Church (USA or PC (USA is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. This page is about the Moravian Church globally For information about the church in a particular geographic area use the links at Organisation below The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ( ELCA) is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago Illinois. 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 Church of Canada was founded in 1925 as a merger of four Christian denominations two thirds of the Presbyterian Church in Canada (then the largest Canadian Protestant The Uniting Church in Australia ( UCA) was formed on June 22 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, 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. The United Methodist Church is the largest Methodist denomination and the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States. " In theory, a homosexual who is celibate is a fit candidate for ordination within the United Methodist Church, but in practice this rarely happens. The United Methodist Church is the largest Methodist denomination and the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States.

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. The Right Reverend V Gene Robinson (born May 29 1947) is the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, a Diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA covers the entire state of New Hampshire Jeffrey Philip Hywel John, SCP, (born 10 February 1953) is a Church of England cleric and the current Dean of St Albans The Bishop of Reading is an Episcopal title given to a Suffragan bishop in the Church of England Diocese of Oxford, which is within the The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican The Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches 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. The Windsor Report was the document containing the finding of the Eames Commission In response, the Episcopal Church placed a moratorium on confirming the consecrations of all bishops.

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 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. The Right Reverend John Neil Alexander is the 9th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, being elected to that office March 31, 2001 The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta is the Diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, with jurisdiction over middle and north Georgia

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. The Confessing Movement is an Evangelical movement within several American mainline Protestant denominations to return those

The Roman Catholic Church allows the ordination of men who have, in the past, experienced 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. Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. ^[10] Previously ordination of these homosexually inclined males was strictly forbidden, even though this discipline was often not observed by local bishops after the 1960s. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints only ordains men to the priesthood that have covenanted not to have sex with anyone besides their wife. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known In the Latter Day Saint movement, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority of God including the authority to act as a leader in the church and to perform The law of chastity is one of two moral codes established by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some gay men have chosen to remain celibate, while others have chosen to get married. See also Sexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Homosexuality is officially ^[11] However, a man must be married in order to become a bishop, regardless of orientation. Bishop is the highest priesthood office of the Aaronic priesthood in the Latter Day Saint movement. ^[12] Transgendered persons 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.

Footnotes

Print resources

• Campbell, Dennis. Yoke of Obedience, 1988. ISBN 0-687-46660-1
• Oden, Thomas. Thomas Clark Oden (born October 21, 1931) is an American United Methodist religious author associated with Drew Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry, 1983. ISBN 0-06-066353-7
• Willimon, William. William H Willimon (born May 15, 1946) is a Bishop in the United Methodist Church in the U Calling & Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life, 2000. ISBN 0-687-09033-4
• Willimon, William. William H Willimon (born May 15, 1946) is a Bishop in the United Methodist Church in the U Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry, 2002. ISBN 0-687-04532-0

External links

• Old Catholic Vocations Website
• Priesthood - Catholic Sacrament of Holy Orders - Ordination
• The Steps to Orders in The United Methodist Church (PDF)
• Elder's Orders in the UMC: The Disciplinary Questions and Sample Answers by Gregory S. Neal

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