{
  "id": "dict_004157",
  "term": "Ordination",
  "slug": "ordination",
  "letter": "O",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Ordination is the church’s public recognition and setting apart of a qualified person for ministry leadership. In evangelical use, it commonly refers especially to pastors and elders, though practices differ among churches.",
  "simple_one_line": "",
  "tooltip_text": "",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [],
  "see_also": [],
  "lede_intro": "",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [],
  "description_academic_short": "Ordination is the formal act by which a church recognizes God-given calling, biblical qualifications, and readiness for ministry in a person and sets that person apart for service. The New Testament shows prayer and the laying on of hands in connection with appointing leaders, but churches differ on exactly what ordination means and which offices require it. The safest conclusion is that ordination is an important church practice of recognition and commissioning, not a magical conferring of spiritual power.",
  "description_academic_full": "Ordination is the church’s solemn and public recognition that a believer has been called, examined, and found qualified for a ministry role, especially leadership roles such as elder, pastor, or deacon where a church’s polity includes formal appointment. In Scripture, leaders are appointed with prayer and sometimes the laying on of hands, which signifies identification, blessing, and commissioning for service. Faithful Christians differ on the precise nature of ordination, how it relates to office, and whether it is best understood chiefly as recognition, appointment, or commissioning; however, conservative evangelical teaching generally rejects any view that treats ordination as automatically imparting grace or authority apart from biblical qualification and the church’s discernment. The clearest biblical emphasis falls on godly character, sound doctrine, and orderly recognition by the church.",
  "background_biblical_context": "",
  "background_historical_context": "",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "",
  "key_texts_primary": [],
  "key_texts_secondary": [],
  "original_language_note": "",
  "theological_significance": "",
  "philosophical_explanation": "",
  "interpretive_cautions": "",
  "major_views_note": "",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "",
  "practical_significance": "",
  "meta_description": "Ordination is the church’s public recognition and setting apart of a qualified person for ministry leadership. In evangelical use, it commonly refers especially to pastors and elders, though practices differ among churches.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/ordination/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/ordination.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}