Ordination
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the process of ordaining clergy. For other meanings, see ordination (disambiguation).
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which one is consecrated (set apart for the undivided administration of various religious rites). That is, it is the process in which clergy, monks or nuns are set apart and authorized by their religious denomination or seminary to perform religious rituals and ceremonies or otherwise to minister in a clerical capacity. One who is in preparation for, or who is undergoing the process of ordination, is sometimes called an ordinand.
Ordination is a requirement in a number of jurisdictions to officiate weddings. In places where ordination is not required by secular law, it is left to the requirements of the particular denomination or church whether ordination is required to officiate weddings.
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[edit] Buddhism
The tradition of the ordained monastic community (sangha) began with Buddha, who established orders of Bhikkhu (monks) and later, after an initial reluctance, of Bhikkuni (nuns).
Within Buddhism, the legitimacy of ordaining women as bhikkhuni (nuns) has become a significant topic of discussion in recent years. It is widely accepted that Buddha created an order of bhikkhuni, but the tradition of freeorder has died out in some Buddhist traditions such as Theravada Buddhism, while remaining strong in others such as Chinese Buddhism.
Pabbajja is an ordination procedure for novice Buddhist monks in the Theravada tradition.
NKT
In the New Kadampa (Buddhist) Tradition lay people can take ordination to become monks or nuns by requesting permission from the founder of the tradition, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Ordination ceremonies are usually held twice a year in the Temple at the tradition's main Buddhist college in Cumbria, UK.
Ordained monks and nuns shave their heads and wear maroon and saffron robes (as much as possible/practical). Upon ordaining each ordainee is given a new name.
There is no process of being a novice or training to become a monk or nun. Practitioners approach their Buddhist teacher when they feel ready, and request formal permission once they have their teacher's consent.
A monk or nun takes 10 vows to keep for the rest of their life. They may decide to live in one of the NKT's many Buddhist centres, but this is not a requirement. They are not financially provided for in any way by the NKT, and if they live in a NKT centre still have to pay rent for their accommodation and pay for meals and untility bills. Thus many work in paid employment.
[edit] Christianity
In the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Oriental Orthodox churches, ordination is distinguished from religious or consecrated life or to Holy Orders and is the means by which one is included in one of the priestly orders: bishop, priest, or deacon. In other Christian communities with a lower view of or lacking a priesthood, ordination is understood more generally as the acceptance of one for pastoral work.
In the higher view of ordination it can be administered only by a bishop in a line of succession of bishops dating back to the Apostles. The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches hold that ordination to the priesthood confers supernatural powers including the power to perform the transubstantiation, the power to absolve the sins of penitents, and various others.
In most Protestant churches, ordination is the rite by which the Church
- recognizes and confirms that an individual's has been called by God to the ministry of Word and Sacrament,
- acknowledges that the individual has gone through a period of discernment and training related to this call, and
- authorizes that individual to take on the office of ministry.
For the sake of authorization and church order (and not for reason of 'powers' or 'ability'), individuals in most mainline Protestant churches must be ordained in order to preside at the sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion) and to be installed as a called pastor of a congregation/parish.
The Roman Catholic Church states that the hierarchical structure that includes the ordained ministerial priesthood is ordered to benefit the holiness of the entire body of the faithful, and not to ensure the salvation of the ordained minister.<ref>"Catechism of the Catholic Church" 1120</ref>
Women are also able to live the Consecrated Life as a nun or abbess.
A key theological doctrine for most Protestants is the 'priesthood of all believers'. The notion of a priesthood reserved to a select few is seen as an Old Testament concept, inappropriate for Christians. Prayer belongs equally to all believing women and men.
However, most (although not all) Protestant denominations still ordain church leaders, who have the task of equipping all believers in their Christian service (Ephesians 4:11-13). These leaders (variously styled, elders, pastors, ministers etc) are seen to have a distinct role in teaching, pastoral leadership and the administration of sacraments. Traditionally these roles were male preserves, but over the last century, an increasing number of denominations have begun ordaining women.
[edit] Islam
Muslims do not formally ordain religious leaders. The imam serves as a spiritual leader and religious authority.
[edit] Judaism
Semicha (Hebrew: סמיכה, "leaning [of the hands]"), also semichut (Hebrew: סמיכות, "ordination"), or semicha lerabanim (Hebrew: סמיכה לרבנות, "rabbinical ordination") is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism.
[edit] Ordination of women
The ordination of women is a controversial issue in religions where either the office of ordination, or the role that an ordained person fulfils, is traditionally restricted to men, for various theological reasons.
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