What is "Ordination"?

Several people have recently asked me to address questions regarding ordination. Here’s my brief, rather limited, overview of the history of ordination.

The term “ordinatio” was a first century Roman term that referred to the process of installing someone into a position of rank or office. Roman society consisted of various “ordines” (orders). “Ordinatio” was the process of being assigned to one. Roman emperors would also "ordain" individuals to various positions, from senators to military officers.

Long before the Romans, Jews embraced the concept of ordination, known as "semikhah," which involved the laying on of hands to confer religious authority on those whom they believed God was working and speaking through. The New Testament reflects this practice of “semikhah” in the early church. Since the first century, the church has recognized those set aside for the work of ministry through this approach.

In 300 A.D., when Emperor Constantine formed the Roman Catholic Church, the term “ordinatio” became the accepted term for formally appointing Roman Catholic priests, bishops… Over time, non-Catholic churches began using the same term as a replacement for the Jewish “semikhah.”

In 1910, a group of church leaders from multiple states began lobbying the U.S. Congress to acknowledge ordained ministers (and the various other ordained titles – pastors, priests, preachers…) as those who had been set apart by a local church or a denomination to lead worship and other affairs of a defined religious community. The purpose of this lobbying was to request specific tax relief using the arguments that

(a) In ordaining an individual, the ordaining church or denomination was accepting responsibility to provide for the financial needs of the ordained individual and his family as they set aside the person for the full-time work and leadership of the church.

(b) Since the money being given to churches through tithes and offerings had already been taxed, and the responsibilities of the welfare of the ordained minister and his family were accepted by the church and therefore removed from the government, those finances should not undergo the same level of taxation as it passed to the ordained minister.

Congress responded with the Revenue Act of 1913 making housing allowances for ordained pastors and the equivalent roles in other religions. This simply eliminated income tax on the portion of an ordained minister’s income that could be documented as being spent on legitimate expenses related to one’s housing. Prior to this the U.S. government did not formally recognize ordination.

Congress farther allowed for ordained ministers to withdraw from the Social Security System with FDR’s 1935 Social Security Act since through ordination the church was committing to provide for the welfare of the ordained minister until his death.

In 1989, the Internal Revenue Service ruled that a person would be determined “ordained,” therefore receiving various tax benefits and legal authorities based on the responsibilities one executed rather than on a mere title. The government was responding to a growing number of churches, denominations, and other self-appointed organizations and individuals who first created licenses and certifications for something less than a church or denomination setting an individual aside for ministry and committing to provide for him, then began using the terms “license”, “certification”, “commissioning”, as synonymous with ordination though the responsibilities were often significantly less.

These practices prompted the IRS to define five minimum requirements for the government to recognize one’s ordination. Those requirements are:

1. The individual must be recognized, set-aside, and ordained, licensed, or commissioned by a local church, denomination, or a parachurch ministry functioning under the authority or parallel to the ministry of a church or denomination.

2. The ordained minister must have the authority and opportunity to administer most, but not all, sacerdotal duties – including officiating marriages, funerals, worship services, preaching, baptizing, dedicating or baptizing infants, administering sacraments, and providing spiritual guidance.

3. The ordained minister must be recognized in his community as a religious leader.

4. One must conduct religious worship.

5. One must have on-going management responsibilities for the ministry of the church, denomination, or parachurch ministry.

In summary, both Judaism and Christianity have embraced the concept of ordination as the recognition by a community of faith of a calling by God of an individual to do his work while being physically and financially supported by the community of faith.

Based on the church’s request, the United States government has provided specific tax relief and authority to those ordained by communities of faith. Though following widespread abuse, the government limits both that relief and authority to those who conduct a specific list of duties within any year which one is seeking to exercise the tax relief (housing allowance) or civic authority (legally officiate weddings…).

Many well-meaning churches, ministries, and individuals embrace this relief and/or authority understanding neither the implied responsibilities nor the minimum requirements.

Just a personal note...

While I’m often asked my thoughts on individual ordinations, it is neither my wish nor responsibility to judge the legitimacy of anyone’s ordination. Rather, I hope to embrace anyone committed to honoring and obeying the Lord. I am simply providing a brief, and perhaps grossly incomplete historical overview of ordination in response to multiple people asking me the same or similar questions concerning this issue.

Thanks for Reading,

John