Читать книгу Amt, Ordination, Episkopé und theologische Ausbildung / Ministry, ordination, episkopé and theological education - Группа авторов - Страница 29

62. Ordination is the official action in God’s name (vocatio externa) by which a church recognises and confirms a person’s calling (vocatio interna) and aptitudes for a particular ministry, and mandates the ordinand for this service. The liturgical act of ordination takes place in the midst of the worshipping congregation and includes the laying on of hands with prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit. This act reflects the dependence of any minister on God’s strength and guidance, as well as the prayer of the congregation that God will accompany the ordinand with the Holy Spirit in the service which lies ahead. Ordination does not create, however, a qualitative distinction between ordained and non-ordained persons within the whole people of God.

63. Within the CPCE there are differences about the relation of ordination to other forms of calling and installation. There is, nevertheless, broad agreement upon some basic lines regarding ordination that were already stated in the Neuendettelsau Theses (1982/86). They include the conviction that a ministry in the church which involves proclamation of the gospel and administration of sacraments in any case has to be conferred through ordination.⁵¹ For other ministries ordination is not necessary, but suitable liturgical acts of recognition are required.

64. In the CPCE context ordination is understood in a basic sense as referring to the church mandate given to a person to serve in the ministry of word and sacraments (cf. LA 33). Through this ministry, “the congregation can time and again be impacted (touched) with the word of God […] in a critical and liberating manner” and the church reveals “the point where it is particularly dependent on God’s help and mercy”.⁵² In some churches of the CPCE elders and deacons are ordained (even in the cases where these ministries do not include administration of the sacraments). This issue deserves further consideration.⁵³