The Sacrament of Holy Order

There are three ranks or orders of clergy: Bishops, Priests and Deacons; and they are made Bishops, Priests and Deacons by the Sacrament of Holy Order.

Minister

This Sacrament, which admits candidates to the Sacred Ministry of the Church, can be administered only by a bishop.  The other Sacrament which can be administered only by a bishop is Confirmation, which admits people to full membership of the Church.

Matter

The matter of the Sacrament of Holy Order is the laying on of hands.

Form

The form is the prayer or blessing which goes with the laying on of hands, and shows that the person being ordained, as we say, is being made a Bishop, Priest or Deacon as the case may be.

Character of the Sacrament

The Sacrament of Holy Order, like Baptism and Confirmation, makes a mark, or character as it is called, on the soul which can never be removed.  That is why one can never receive any of these three Sacraments more than once.  So, once people are baptised, they are always baptised.  Once people are priests, they are always priests.

Deacons

The first rank or order of the Ministry to which people are ordained is that of Deacon.  The very first deacons were ordained by the Apostles in Jerusalem.  Among the Christians were a number of poor widows who were supported by the gifts of the rest.  After a time the Apostles found that they could not do everything, and some of the widows were not getting their share in the daily distribution of food.  So the Apostles called a meeting and said it was not right that they should neglect teaching the word of God in order to distribute the food.  So seven deacons were chosen to see that the widows were properly looked after.  The Apostles ordained the deacons by laying their hands on their heads with prayer (Acts 6: 1-6).  Besides looking after the widows, some of these deacons also helped by baptising and preaching.  The most famous of them was Stephen, the first martyr, who was stoned to death for the Faith.  Later, as the Church spread, so the Apostles ordained more deacons to help in each place.

In order to become a deacon in the Church of England you need to fulfil certain selection criteria (1) and successfully complete a theological training course. (2)

Ordination

The Sacrament of Holy Order is administered during the Eucharist.

In Common Worship the Liturgy of Ordination comes after the Creed.  At the actual time of ordination the candidates, or ordinands as we call them, kneel before the bishop who lays hands on the head of each one and says:

“Send down the Holy Spirit on your servant N
for the office and work of a deacon in your Church”. (3)

In the Prayer Book, the words are, “Take thou authority to execute the office of a Deacon in the Church of God committed unto thee; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen”. (4)

After ordination

After being ordained the deacons go to the parishes where they are to begin their ministries.  Deacons, unlike priests, have no special powers, but they have duties and privileges.  They read or sing the Gospel at the Eucharist, they help with the chalice at the Communion, they preach, read the lessons in church, teach the children, baptise in the absence of the parish priest, take the Blessed Sacrament to the sick and visit in the parish.  Besides that, if they are going to be ordained as priests, they have to study because there are more exams to pass before they can be ordained priests, which is normally a year after ordination as deacons.

Ember Days

Ember Days are days in the week before an ordination when prayers are offered for those about to be ordained and also for the clergy in general.  But, of course, you should pray for the clergy of your parish much more often than that.

The Prayer Book has fixed dates for Ember Days and these may be observed or bishops may set the dates in their own dioceses.

Even if there is no ordination in the diocese, Ember Days may also be observed as more general days of prayer for people who serve the Church in its various ministries, both ordained and lay, and for vocations. (5)

SUMMARY

1. There are three ranks or orders of clergy – Bishops, Priests and Deacons.  The first order to which people are ordained is that of Deacon.

2. After completing their training and being ordained by a bishop, deacons may sing the Gospel; take the Blessed Sacrament to the sick; baptise; and preach and teach.

3. The Ember Days are days specially set apart for prayer for those about to be ordained as well as for the clergy in general.  But we should also pray regularly for the clergy all the year round.

References

1. Church of England (not dated) Ministry in the Church of England.  (Criteria).  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/ministry/ministryinthecofe/  (Accessed 02 December 2010) (Internet).

2. Church of England (not dated) Ministry in the Church of England.  (What about training?).  Available from:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/ministry/ministryinthecofe/  (Accessed 02 December 2010) (Internet).

3. The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England (2007) Common Worship.  The Ordination of Deacons.  Notes.  Available from:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/commonworship/texts/ordinal/deacons.html  (Accessed 02 December 2010) (Internet).

4. Church of England (1662) The Book of Common Prayer.  The Form and Manner of Making of Deacons.  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/bcp/texts/ordering-of-deacons.html  (Accessed 25 August 2010) (Internet).

5. ©The Archbishops’ Council (2000) Common Worship.  Rules for Regulating Authorized Forms of Service.  Available from: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/downloads/pdf/mvlectionary524-591.pdf  (Accessed 25 August 2010) (Internet).