This week's message...

Ordination

In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:1-3)

The Early Church gave us a precedent of “setting apart” God’s people for the work to which God has called them to do. We see this in Acts 13 where the leadership of the church responded to the Holy Spirit’s command to set apart Barnabas and Saul. In obedience they prayed, placed their hands and sent them out. The setting apart, prayer, laying of hands and commissioning are what we know today as Ordination. 

The Anglican Church maintains the traditional threefold ministry (orders) of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, passed down from the apostles. Therefore, Ordination is a divine calling and sacred trust to whom the Lord has set apart for His work of grace.

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