On Ordination
The laying on of hands
Based on the subtitle, those of you unfamiliar with the (I would dare to say ‘sacramental’) nature of Ordination may be thinking one of two things: 1) What does Ordination have to do with fighting people? (a little ‘laying on of hands’ joke…) Or, 2) Is Ordination just like laying your hands on people to pray for them? Firstly, Ordination has far less to do with fighting against people; rather, it has to do with fighting for people’s souls and fighting against the devil. Secondly, you would not be entirely off base to assume the laying on of hands has something to do with prayer, but it is far deeper and wider than just prayer in the specific case of Ordination. For example, consider how ‘the laying on of hands’ is used in this passage:
“Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”[1]
This is one of my favorite passages to go to when I explain the offices of Ordination. Yes, I am indeed using the word ‘favorite’ in reference to something in the book of Acts, which is certainly not my favorite, but I digress. Where was I? Ordination. Offices of Ordination. What is Ordination?
Here is a working and incredibly reductive definition of Ordination: Ordination is the laying on of hands by an Elder/Bishop on someone who has been called, qualified, and charged to shepherd God’s people. Ordination is what is seen in the passage above and all over the New Testament (even in the Old Testament, in a slightly different sense, with the priesthood). The Apostles in Acts 6 are made aware of a problem that would inhibit their duties as Elders, which comes from the Greek word presbuteros. In the Global Methodist Church, along with most High-Church denominations of Christianity,[2] the office of Elder is one where those who are called, qualified, and charged to shepherd God’s people do so by presiding over Word, Sacrament, and Order. If you are Low-Church, think of this like a founding or lead pastor. Here in Acts 6, the Elders lay hands on (or ‘ordain’) Deacons. Deacons stem from the Greek word diakonos, which translates literally to servant. In the Global Methodist Church, along with most High-Church denominations of Christianity, the office of Deacon is one where those who are called, qualified, and charged to shepherd God’s people do so by presiding over Word, Service, Compassion, and Justice. Deacons, in the passage above, are those who are commissioned by the Apostles (Elders) to serve the widows. Again, if you are Low-Church, think of this like an associate pastor.
It is critical to point out that the Ordination of those who have been called, qualified, and charged to shepherd God’s people is not a difference in nature, necessarily, but rather a difference in role or rank. Meaning, those who shepherd God’s people are no more human than those who do not. But they are, because of God’s calling and their obedience (which indeed carries a greater weight of responsibility before God), set apart in role or rank to preside over that which they are charged with as shepherds. In the same sense that there is not necessarily a difference in nature between clergy and laity, so too within the ‘ranks’ of clergy: Bishop, Elder, Deacon, etc.
In the Global Methodist Church, along with most High-Church denominations of Christianity, those who are called, qualified, and charged to shepherd God’s people, the Ordination process is often Deacon, then Elder, then, if God calls, an Elder with more responsibility in oversight, such as a presiding Elder or Bishop. It is not necessary to continue through that order for every person; it is up to the call of God on each individual shepherd’s life. Finally, to come full circle from the opening of this article to now, the laying on of hands is the duty of the Bishop to the ordinand to confer the authority of the Church, the duties of their charge of Elder/Deacon, the power of the Holy Spirit for such a work, and much more, all done before the witness of the Church. If you are longing to see more biblical roots for Ordination, read through Acts and St. Paul’s pastoral epistles (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus).
All of this is a ‘good enough’ introduction to Ordination, and I am confident that this is lacking in many areas. If your interest has been piqued and you would like a deeper dive on Ordination, I strongly recommend parts one, two, and three of Dr. Kisker’s (one of my former seminary professors) articles on this very topic.
Nevertheless, as some of you know, I am currently in this process and recently completed my final interviews to be ordained as a Deacon in the Global Methodist Church this June. It has indeed been a long and formative journey, which I am growing to realize is precisely the purpose of the Ordination process. I am writing this for a few reasons, one of them being that many people have little to no idea what Ordination is, which is understandable. Not only has the rise in seeker-sensitive Christianity watered down the efficacy and significance of Ordination, but our culture in the West is largely unchurched. Therefore, the biblical and historical understanding of Ordination has sadly become somewhat antiquated. Another reason is to show that no, you cannot just click a button on the universal life church’s website and become ordained. That is as much of a ‘church’ that ‘ordains’ people as if I grabbed a pen, doodled on my arm, and called/advertised myself as a tattoo artist. Is that snide of me to say? Probably. I am still in the process of sanctification when it comes to my choice of words. But, it ought to drive home the point: Ordination is, with as much leniency as I can say this, sacramental. It is done by the Church, for the sake of the Church and the world, and it is a holy setting apart of those who are called, qualified, and charged to shepherd God’s people.
The purpose of this Substack is mostly for me to share something I am in the process of as well as to hopefully enlighten those who read of the deeply biblical, holy, humbling, and formative call of Ordination. God-willing, I will be ordained this June at Annual Conference, and I am both incredibly humbled and filled with reverent fear for the call that has been put on me by the Lord and confirmed by the Church.
During the days leading up to my final interview for Ordination, I reread St. Paul’s pastoral epistles, and they were, as they always have been, sobering. I will close with one of those passages in hopes that it is equally sobering for you, that it acts as a reminder to pray for your pastor(s), and that it enlightens you to the weight of this call.
“The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money; they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons. Women likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be married only once, and let them manage their children and their households well; for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”[3]
[1] Acts 6:1-7 NRSV
[2] Low-Church is a term used to describe Christian denominations such as Pentecostals, Non-Denominational, Baptist, etc. who typically do not have much tradition, liturgy, or a focus on the sacraments in their ecclesiology. High-Church would describe the opposite, so denominations like Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, as well as some Methodists, Presbyterians, and Lutherans. These terms are for designation/description, they are not derogatory.
[3] 1 Timothy 3:1-13 NRSV