Ordination

Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination vary by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is undergoing the process of ordination is sometimes called an ordinand. The liturgy used at an ordination is sometimes referred to as an ordination.

Buddhism

The tradition of the ordained monastic community (sangha) began with the Buddha, who established orders of monks and later of nuns. The procedure of ordination in Buddhism is laid down in the Vinaya and Patimokkha or Pratimoksha scriptures. There exist three intact ordination lineages nowadays in which one can receive an ordination according to the Buddha's teachings:

Mahayana

Saicho repeatedly requested that the Japanese government allow the construction of a Mahayana ordination platform. Permission was granted in 822 CE, seven days after Saicho died. The platform was finished in 827 CE at Enryaku-ji temple on Mount Hiei, and was the first in Japan. Prior to this, those wishing to become monks/nuns were ordained using the Hinayana precepts, whereas after the Mahayana ordination platform, people were ordained with the Bodhisattva precepts as listed in the Brahma Net Sutra.

Minister (Christianity)

In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community. The term is taken from Latin minister "servant, attendant", which itself was derived from minus "less".

Roles and duties

Ministers may perform some or all of the following duties:

Life.Church

Life.Church (formerly known as LifeChurch.tv, Life Covenant Church, and Life Church) is an American evangelical multi-site church with multiple locations. Craig Groeschel is the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church (pronounced "Life Church").

As of May 2015, there are twenty-four Life.Church locations in seven states across the United States.

History

In January 1996, Life.Church began in Oklahoma City with 40 congregants meeting together "in a two-car garage, equipped with just a borrowed overhead projector and two construction lights purchased at Lowe's for $19.99." From 1996 to 1999 the church membership grew rapidly. During this time, Life.Church acquired its first facility (now known as the "Oklahoma City Campus"). In 2001, MetroChurch, a 25-year-old, nondenominational church in nearby Edmond, Oklahoma joined with Life.Church, effectively making it a multi-site church. Following the success of the additional location, the church launched campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2002, and these new campuses began incorporating satellite video teaching into their services.

Universal Life

Universal Life (German: Universelles Leben, unofficially abbreviated "UL") is the name of a controversialnew religious movement based in Würzburg, Germany, which is described by members as a part of the new revelation movement, and by critics as a cult. The group was originally called Heimholungswerk Jesu Christi, but has been known as Universal Life since 1984.

Organisation

The founding of Universal Life was through teachings distributed by Gabriele Wittek. These works were claimed to be revelations from Jesus Christ or other spiritual beings, which Gabriele received as a prophetess and promulgated. These are, along with the Sermon on the Mount and the 10 Commandments, the fundamental basis of the faith. In 2003 Wittek published her own bible, Das ist mein Wort (This is My Word).

Members of Universal Life run, among other institutions, a school, a natural healing clinic and a publisher. The beliefs of the group are propagated by Radio Santec GmbH of Marktheidenfeld through two TV stations, Die Neue Zeit TV and Sophia TV, transmitted from SES Astra 1KR satellite at the 19.2° East orbital position. They operate agricultural establishments, which farm according to the principles of Organic farming. However, these establishments are not officially connected to Universal Life.

Universal Life Church

The Universal Life Church (ULC) is a religious denomination that has no traditional doctrine, believing merely in doing "that which is right". It offers anyone ordination as a minister free of charge, primarily to those who marry couples. In 1969, soon after its foundation, critics referred to it derisively as an ordination mill due to its simplified ordination procedures. The organization states that anyone can become a minister without having to go through any process.

The Universal Life Church believes that it is every person’s responsibility to act holistically, to do nothing to infringe on the rights of others, and to uphold religious diversity and freedom. Additionally, everyone must be able to practice their spiritual and religious beliefs without interference or threat from any government, religious, or societal force. The ULC's stated beliefs are: