Ordination
In Catholicism and Orthodoxy, ordination is one of the seven sacraments, variously called holy orders or cheirotonia ("Laying on of Hands").
[8] However, Canon Law requires that bishops always be consecrated with the mandate (approval) of the Pope, as the guarantor of the Church's unity.
[9] Moreover, at least three bishops are to perform the consecration, although the Apostolic See may dispense from this requirement in extraordinary circumstances (for example, in missionary settings or times of persecution).
[11] While some Eastern churches have in the past recognized Anglican ordinations as valid,[12] the current Anglican practice, in many provinces, of ordaining women to the priesthood—and, in some cases, to the episcopate—has caused the Orthodox generally to question earlier declarations of validity and hopes for union.
In the Catholic and Anglican churches, ordinations have traditionally been held on Ember Days, though there is no limit to the number of clergy who may be ordained at the same service.
For instance: For most Protestant denominations that have an office of bishop, including certain Lutheran and many Methodist churches, this is not viewed as a separate ordination or order of ministry.
[25] Governments have generally recognized that Jehovah's Witnesses' full-time appointees (such as their "regular pioneers") qualify as ministers[26] regardless of sex or appointment as an elder or deacon ("ministerial servant").
[29] In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a rite of ordination is performed to bestow either the Aaronic or Melchizedek priesthood (Hebrews 5:4–6) upon a worthy male member.
"[30] Latter-day Saints believe in a line of priesthood authority that traces back to Jesus Christ and his apostles.
[citation needed] Instead, the faith’s religious leaders are usually called imams, sheikhs, or mawlānā—none of which imply ordination.
The word mawlana is a title bestowed upon students who have graduated from a madrasa (Islamic theological academy) throughout the Indian subcontinent.
The term is derived from the Hebrew verb for "to lean [up]on" (לִסְמוֹך, lismôq) in the sense that prospective rabbis are "to be authorized" as Jewish religious leaders.
The tradition of the ordained monastic community (sangha) began with the Buddha, who established orders of monks and later of nuns.
Although the general tenor was that full ordination was overdue, the Dalai Lama presented a pre-drafted statement[36] saying that more time was required to reach a decision, thus nullifying the intentions of the congress.
To solve this problem, the Sōtō school developed the practice of ordaining laypeople after death, thus allowing monastic funeral rites to be used for them as well.
[41] Kelsang Gyatso's ordination has been publicly criticised by Geshe Tashi Tsering as going against the core teachings of Buddhism and against the teachings of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa school from which Kelsang Gyatso was expelled[42][43][44] As Unitarian Universalism features very few doctrinal thresholds for prospective congregation members, ordinations of UU ministers are considerably less focused upon doctrinal adherence than upon factors such as possessing a Masters of Divinity degree from an accredited higher institution of education and an ability to articulate an understanding of ethics, spirituality and humanity.
Others altered it in fundamental ways, often favoring a rabbinical-type married minister of teaching (word) and discarding any notion of a sacrificial priesthood.
[citation needed] Beginning in the twentieth century, many Protestant denominations began re-evaluating the roles of women in their churches.
She was instrumental in implementing a strategic military strategy that delivered the Israelites from the oppressive Canaanite king Jabin.
Based partially upon the leadership of the prophetess, Deborah, some Protestant and non-denominational organizations grant ordination to women.
Other denominations refute the claim of a precedent based on Deborah's example because she is not specifically described as ruling over Israel, rather giving judgments on contentious issues in private, not teaching publicly,[45] neither did she lead the military.
The Episcopal Church in the United States of America ordains women as deacons, priests and bishops.
The Lutheran Evangelical Protestant Church ordains women at all levels including deacon, priest and bishop.
In response to the growing call for the ordination of women, Pope John Paul II issued the statement Ordinatio sacerdotalis in 1995.
In the wake of this definitive statement, many theologians considered the issue settled, but many continue to push for the ordination of women in the Catholic Church.
The United Church of Christ ordained openly gay Bill Johnson in 1972, and lesbian Anne Holmes in 1977.
