What is “Ordination”?

Ordination refers to appointing or installing persons into certain positions of service in the church. Although the ceremony varies by church denomination or by local congregation, it typically includes prayer, words of instruction and promise, and a ceremony of “laying on of hands”—Church representatives place their hands on the person being ordained during a prayer of commitment. This act is seen as giving the blessing of the church on the one being ordained, or “set apart” to ministry.

The New Testament gives examples of ordination of missionaries (Acts 13:1-3), evangelists (1 Tim 4:14), elders (1 Tim 5:22) and, possibly, deacons (Acts 6:6). Some church bodies ordain all such church workers; others ordain only those on the paid ministerial staff.

Some church bodies and denominations require “ministers” or “pastors” to be ordained; others make it optional. The term “ordained (or licensed) minister” is sometimes used by government agencies in determining who qualifies for various privileges. I believe ordination is an important way for a church to recognize, test, and affirm a person’s calling to and fitness for ministry. Ordination is also a meaningful way for a person to make a public commitment to ministry. For more information see Everett M. Ferguson, “Ordination,” in Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, 2^nd ed., vol. 2 (New York: Garland, 1997), 832-34.