Holy Orders

Holy Orders in the modern Roman Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, Assyrian, Old Catholic, and Independent Catholic Churches, includes three degrees: bishop, priest, and deacon. While Anglicans are divided on the question, the other Churches mentioned regard ordination as a sacrament. Other Protestant denominations have varied conceptions of the church offices, but none of them considers ordination a sacrament, and some would not consider their ministries in terms of holy orders at all.

Print resources

• Campbell, Dennis. Yoke of Obedience, 1988. ISBN 0687466601
• Oden, Thomas. Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry, 1983. ISBN 0060663537
• Willimon, William. Calling & Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life, 2000. ISBN 0687090334
• Willimon, William. Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry, 2002. ISBN 0687045320