The Four Degrees of Holy Orders
Laity in the Body of Christ
Often, we think of the ordained ministry as three-fold, or in three degrees: composed of the order of deacons, priests (or elders), and bishops. It’s no surprise, really. Since the inception of the Church of Jesus Christ, ordination has been a vital thing, signified by the laying on of hands. These three orders have stood the test of time and proven to be vital to the apostolic ministry of the Church of God.
The Church believes that in ordination and the laying on of hands, the Holy Spirit sets people apart for the work to which He has called them. Take for example Barnabas and Saul in Acts 13: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (v. 2-3 ESV). Notice who is operative in this passage. It is the Holy Spirit.
Ordination is an essential sacrament and function of the Church. It exists to safeguard the Church, equip those who are called to set apart ministry, and ensure that candidates are truly “called, tried, examined, and ascertained to have such qualities as are requisite.”1 Through Ordination, the Holy Spirit commissions Baranbases and Sauls. Sometimes, though, because of the set apart-ness of Ordination, it can seem like there are two tiers in the Church: ordained and laity. Pop culture doesn’t help with this perception, often presenting ministers as holier-than-thou types. Bishops can seem somehow higher than the rest of us when we see them wear their miters, like in the picture above. It can sometimes seem like the white collar around the neck of a pastor is staring us in the heart, examining us, and making us think they have it all together. However, as Scripture and tradition teach us, this is not the whole story of the laying on of hands.
Another Laying on of Hands
Aside from Ordination to the diaconate, priesthood, and episcopate the Church has historically practiced an additional laying on of hands. This other laying on of hands is the rite or sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is a reception of grace from the Holy Spirit where, after a period of instruction called catechesis, the baptized publicly affirm their faith, renew their baptismal vows, and receive the laying on of hands.
In the Bible, we see this occur as the Apostles lay hands on new converts after the new converts received Baptism from St. Phillip the Deacon. We are told this is so they may receive the strengthening of the Holy Spirit from the Apostles, who received it directly from Jesus Himself in the Upper Room.2 This tradition continues today with Confirmation as the successors of the Apostles, Bishops, perform the laying on of hands.
“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.” - Acts 8:14-17 (ESV)
Instead of viewing the Church as a two-tiered body where only some are ordained and are above the laity, Confirmation should be rightly viewed as an ordination to the fourth order of ministry: the laity. This is an order to which all people are called and all Christians are ordained. Just like in ordinations, in Confirmation the Bishop prays for the Holy Spirit to equip the Christian for the work of their particular ministry.
Almighty and everliving God, we beseech you to strengthen these your servants for witness and ministry through the power of your Holy Spirit. Daily increase in them your manifold virtues of grace: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness, and the spirit of holy fear, now and for ever. Amen.3
Confirmation, even for those who will later be ordained to another office, serves as every Christian’s first ordination and calling. Bishop-elects are required to reaffirm the vows they made at their two previous ordinations before consecration. Priestly ordinands are likewise required to reaffirm the vows they made at their ordination to the diaconate. It is often said that priests and Bishops are first and foremost deacons—servants—and they never ought to forsake that first calling.
Taking that analogy one step further, everyone’s true first calling is to the Church, being a faithful disciple, and to the priesthood of all believers. This does not license everyone to preside at the Eucharist or mean anyone ought to carry out the functions of those set apart for specific purposes, like Saul and Barnabas. The Church still has order. But the Church does participate alongside the Spirit in setting all of us apart for what God has called us to, individually and universally as Christians. The Book of Common Prayer states as much in the Confirmation exhortation that duly prepared candidates “desire the strengthening of grace through the laying on of hands, that the Holy Spirit may fill them more and more for their ministry in the Church and in the world.”4
It is no mistake that Confirmation resembles Ordination so closely and they both share many parallels. The most significant part is in the laying on of hands, receiving a strengthening by the Holy Spirit, equipping Christians for the work of ministry. This is for every member of the Church of God. It’s for you, and it’s for me. We are all called to “the ministry”. Author Os Guinness puts it this way: “Our primary calling as followers of Christ is by him, to him, and for him.” He continues, “Our secondary calling, considering who God is as sovereign, is that everyone, everywhere, and in everything should think, live, and act entirely for him.” There aren’t tiers in the Kingdom: ordained ministers aren’t more beloved by God for their specific (secondary) calling than you are beloved for yours. On the contrary, St. James mentions that they will be judged more harshly.5 Quoting Guinness again, “Secondary callings matter, but only because the primary calling matters most.”6 Confirmation intimately expresses our primary calling and enunciates that laity are not second-class citizens of the Church, but the principal part of its ministry to the world, an indispensable part of the Body of Christ that participates in making it whole.
What is it that God has called you to in his Holy Church?
2019 Book of Common Prayer, 470.
John 20:19-23
2019 BCP, 190
2019 BCP, 176.
James 3:1
Os Guinness. The Call: Finding and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life. W Publishing Group, 2018, p. 61.