Some Random Theses On Ordination

A myopic set of thoughts generated by narrow minded considerations and personal questions, which set forth a snapshot of my thinking on the subject as of 8:53p.m. on 2/3/2007. Might comment on each at a later time.

1. Christ is The High Priest.
2. Salvation comes through Union with Christ, so that what is his becomes ours.
3. This includes his priestly authority and responsibilities. Everyone who is united to Christ shares in his priesthood- we affirm the Priesthood of all Believers.
4. Christ was anointed for his priestly duties at his baptism.
5. We are objectively united to Christ and anointed as priests at our baptism.
6. To be a priest is to serve before God in his house.
7. Service implies the “Other”- one is not a priest for himself, but always for another.
8. If all Christians are priests, then it is certainly permissible to refer to a minister as a “priest.”
9. The church is the body of Christ on earth- mystically united to her head. Both head and body make up the Christus totus.
10. Therefore, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church has been charged with speaking and acting in Christ’s name for she is, in reality, Christ acting and speaking. We are “to be Christ to each other”- for that’s what we are through our baptisms.
11. Apostolic continuity is preserved through the priesthood of the church- her member’s baptisms.
12. The historic Episcopacy is a powerful and helpful memorial of that unity and continuity. It is apostolic in origin and originally catholic in practice. It's loss should be lamented and remedied.
13. Ordination is the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic church’s- that is, Christ’s- declaration that an individual has been examined and charged to speak, whether through word or action, for King Jesus. It is no longer Rev. Smith speaking, absolving, baptizing, etc, rather it is Christ. Liturgy must reflect this precious truth.
14. The pastor's authority is not due to some ontological change conferred through ordination. All baptized Christians, in fact, speak and act for Christ. Rather it is a pastoral matter of authority and role. An individual should have complete assurance in the church of God that she is being fed, forgiven, received and washed by Christ himself- not some yahoo with a penchant for the spotlight.