Question: "What does the Bible say about ordination?" Answer:
The modern definition of ordination is “the investiture of
clergy” or “the act of granting pastoral authority or sacerdotal
power.” Usually, we think of an ordination service as a ceremony
in which someone is commissioned or appointed to a position
within the church. Often, the ceremony involves the laying on of
hands. However, the biblical definition is a little different.
The word ordain in the Bible refers to a setting in place or
designation; for example, Joseph was “ordained” as a ruler in
Egypt (Acts 7:10); the steward in Jesus’ parable was “ordained”
to oversee a household (Matthew 24:45); deacons were “ordained”
to serve the Jerusalem church (Acts 6:1-6); and pastors were
“ordained” in each city in Crete (Titus 1:5). In none of these
cases is the mode of ordination specified, nor is any ceremony
detailed; the “ordinations” are simply appointments. The word
can even be used negatively, as an appointment to punishment
(Luke 12:46). Acts 13 in