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== The Purpose of Ordination ==

== The Purpose of Ordination ==

{{cquote|

{{cquote|

# Ordination for such ministry is a gift from God to the Church. In ordination, the Church affirms and continues the apostolic ministry which it authorizes and authenticates through persons empowered by the Holy Spirit. As such, those who are ordained are committed to become conscious representatives of the whole gospel and are responsible for transmission of that gospel to the end that all the world may be saved. Their ordination is fulfilled in the ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order.<ref name="Discipline 2"> ''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 429 - Ordination and Apostolic Ministry'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>

# Ordination for such ministry is a gift from God to the Church. In ordination, the Church affirms and continues the apostolic ministry which it authorizes and authenticates through persons empowered by the Holy Spirit. As such, those who are ordained are committed to become conscious representatives of the whole gospel and are responsible for transmission of that gospel to the end that all the world may be saved. Their ordination is fulfilled in the ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order.<ref name="Discipline 2">''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 429 - Ordination and Apostolic Ministry'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>

# Ordained persons are authorized to preach and teach the Word of God, administer the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, equip the laity for ministry, exercise pastoral oversight, and administer the Discipline of the Church.<ref name="Discipline 2"> ''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 429 - Ordination and Apostolic Ministry'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>  

# Ordained persons are authorized to preach and teach the Word of God, administer the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, equip the laity for ministry, exercise pastoral oversight, and administer the Discipline of the Church.<ref name="Discipline 2">''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 429 - Ordination and Apostolic Ministry'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>  

# The efficacy of the mission of the Church is dependent on the viable interaction of the general ministry and the ordained ministry of the Church. Without creative use of the diverse gifts of the entire [[Body of Christ]], the ministry of the Church is not effective. Without responsible leadership, there is no focus and definition of such ministry.<ref name="Discipline 2"> ''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 429 - Ordination and Apostolic Ministry'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>}}

# The efficacy of the mission of the Church is dependent on the viable interaction of the general ministry and the ordained ministry of the Church. Without creative use of the diverse gifts of the entire [[Body of Christ]], the ministry of the Church is not effective. Without responsible leadership, there is no focus and definition of such ministry.<ref name="Discipline 2">''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 429 - Ordination and Apostolic Ministry'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>}}

== The Act of Ordination ==

== The Act of Ordination ==

:''Further information'': ''[[Apostolic_succession#Methodist_Church|Apostolic Succession in the Methodist Church]]''

:''Further information'': ''[[Apostolic succession#Methodist Church|Apostolic Succession in the Methodist Church]]''

{{cquote|Ordination is a public act of the Church which indicates acceptance by an individual of God's call to the upbuilding of the Church through the ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order and acknowledgement and authentication of this call by the Christian community through prayers and the [[laying on of hands]].  

{{cquote|Ordination is a public act of the Church which indicates acceptance by an individual of God's call to the upbuilding of the Church through the ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order and acknowledgement and authentication of this call by the Christian community through prayers and the [[laying on of hands]].  

United Methodist tradition has entrusted persons in the ordained ministry with the responsibility for maintaining standards: for education and training and for examination and granting credentials to those who seek ordination. By the authorization of the ministerial members of the Annual Conference, candidates are elected into the Annual Conference and are ordained by a [[bishop]].

United Methodist tradition has entrusted persons in the ordained ministry with the responsibility for maintaining standards: for education and training and for examination and granting credentials to those who seek ordination. By the authorization of the ministerial members of the Annual Conference, candidates are elected into the Annual Conference and are ordained by a [[bishop]].

Ordination, thus, is that act by which the Church symobolizes a shared relationship between those ordained for sacramental and functional leadership and the Church community from which the person ordained has come. The community is initiated by God, is given meaning and direction by [[Christ]], and is sustained by the [[Holy Spirit]]. This relationship is a gift which comes through the [[Divine grace|grace of God]] in assurance of the ministry of Christ throughout the world. — ''[[Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church]] ¶ 431''<ref name="Discipline 6"> ''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 431 - The Act of Ordination'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>}}

Ordination, thus, is that act by which the Church symobolizes a shared relationship between those ordained for sacramental and functional leadership and the Church community from which the person ordained has come. The community is initiated by God, is given meaning and direction by [[Christ]], and is sustained by the [[Holy Spirit]]. This relationship is a gift which comes through the [[Divine grace|grace of God]] in assurance of the ministry of Christ throughout the world. — ''[[Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church]] ¶ 431''<ref name="Discipline 6">''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 431 - The Act of Ordination'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>}}

== Standards ==

== Standards ==

According to the ''[[Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church]]'', {{cquote|1. There are persons within the ministry of the baptized who are called of God and set apart by the Church for the specialized ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order.<ref name="Discipline 5"> ''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 402'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>

According to the ''[[Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church]]'', {{cquote|1. There are persons within the ministry of the baptized who are called of God and set apart by the Church for the specialized ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order.<ref name="Discipline 5">''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 402'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>

2. While such persons set apart by the Church for the ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards represented by the practice of fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleless. Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-awowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.<ref name="Discipline 5"> ''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 402'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>

2. While such persons set apart by the Church for the ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards represented by the practice of fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleless. Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-awowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.<ref name="Discipline 5">''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 402'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>

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== Educational requirements ==

== Educational requirements ==

In most cases, Methodist elders must have graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in liberal education or equivalent degree in a college or university listed by the ''University Senate of the United Methodist Church'' and must have a [[Master of Divinity]] or equivalent degree in a [[Seminary|school of theology (seminary)]].<ref name="Discipline 3"> ''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 415 - Educational Requirements'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref> However, individual [[Annual Conference]]s may require that a [[Master of Divinity]] or equivalent first professional degree be the minimum standard for entrance into the [[Annual Conference|Annual Conference's]] Order of Elders, or [[presbyterate]]. While not often used and just beginning to develop as an informal tradition, a United Methodist Elder may place the initials "OP" (Ordinate Presbyterium [Order of Elders]) after his or her name in formal title or signature. This is a result of the changes made by the 1992 and 1996 General Conferences which revamped many aspects of the ordained offices in the [[United Methodist Church]]'s polity and doctrine and made the Order of Deacon a permanent, rather than transitional, office. These reforms also elevated the previously ''un''ordained office of Diaconal Minister, who were lay persons performing specialized tasks within a congregational or ministry staff setting (such as music, education, youth ministry, etc.) to ordained status as permanent Deacons as well. The informal use of "OP" is starting to be used to differentiate between the two permanent Orders, making clear that the person in question is, in fact, an Elder in full time, vocational, ordained, [[itinerant|''itinerant'']] (unique to Elders) ministry. <ref name="Discipline 4"> ''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 417 - Educational Requirements'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>

In most cases, Methodist elders must have graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in liberal education or equivalent degree in a college or university listed by the ''University Senate of the United Methodist Church'' and must have a [[Master of Divinity]] or equivalent degree in a [[Seminary|school of theology (seminary)]].<ref name="Discipline 3">''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 415 - Educational Requirements'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref> However, individual [[Annual Conference]]s may require that a [[Master of Divinity]] or equivalent first professional degree be the minimum standard for entrance into the [[Annual Conference|Annual Conference's]] Order of Elders, or [[presbyterate]]. While not often used and just beginning to develop as an informal tradition, a United Methodist Elder may place the initials "OP" (Ordinate Presbyterium [Order of Elders]) after his or her name in formal title or signature. This is a result of the changes made by the 1992 and 1996 General Conferences which revamped many aspects of the ordained offices in the [[United Methodist Church]]'s polity and doctrine and made the Order of Deacon a permanent, rather than transitional, office. These reforms also elevated the previously ''un''ordained office of Diaconal Minister, who were lay persons performing specialized tasks within a congregational or ministry staff setting (such as music, education, youth ministry, etc.) to ordained status as permanent Deacons as well. The informal use of "OP" is starting to be used to differentiate between the two permanent Orders, making clear that the person in question is, in fact, an Elder in full time, vocational, ordained, ''[[itinerant]]'' (unique to Elders) ministry.<ref name="Discipline 4">''The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church: ¶ 417 - Educational Requirements'' (retrieved 22 May 2007).</ref>

== References ==

== References ==