A Theology Of Ordination In The West

The main distinction among Christians in the question of ordination remains the matter of apostolic succession of bishops, who in turn are responsible for ordination of other ministers. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and the Eastern Orthodox believe in a direct succession of ordination from the time of the apostles. Other churches, even though they have leaders they call bishops, do not view them in direct apostolic succession. The ecumenical consensus statement on Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry (1982) attempts to rejoin the two positions by referring to a general continuity in apostolic ministry. Catholic and Anglican Positions Throughout history, the church's understanding of the meaning of ordination has changed according to the particular theological presuppositions current at the time. The Reformation was a period in which a wide variety of interpretations of ordination and ecclesiastical ministry flourished within the church. After the Reformation, the Roman Catholic church co…