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St. Thomas Christian Church |
HOLY ORDERS
The Holy Orders of the St.Thomas
Christian Church
The St. Thomas Christian Church
administers Holy Orders to all qualified candidates regardless of gender,
marital status or nationality. In general, minimum age for reception of Holy
Orders is twenty-one. Determination of qualification for orders is the
responsibility of the Bishop administering the sacrament and the Dean of the
Seminary. Completion of curriculum requirements is not a sufficient condition
for ordination, but is a necessary condition. Candidates are expected to be of
good character, to express general assent to the tenets and principles of the
St. Thomas Christian Church and to abide by common procedure with respect to
their functioning as clergy.
ACOLYTE
The acolyte participates in
liturgical services assisting the minister or priest in his/her duties.
MINISTER
The minister performs all
clerical duties in accordance with his/her office. As part of the sacramental
ministry, the minister offers all sacraments, excepting Holy Unction. The
minister offers Holy Eucharist while using the reserved sacrament . Other
traditional sacraments administered by the minister are Baptism, Healing
(Reconciliation), Matrimony and Burial.
PRIEST
The priest is ordained by a
bishop who has been consecrated by other bishops, in an unbroken line of
succession going back to the original apostles. The priest becomes part of the
central core structure of the church. On both inner and outer planes, the church
structure is a receptacle and sanctuary for Divine force, while the priest is a
transformer and transmitter of that force into physical existence. The priest
administers all the traditional sacraments including Holy Eucharist, Baptism,
Healing (Reconciliation), Matrimony, Burial and Holy Unction.
St. Thomas Christian Church
2531 Briarcliff Rd.
Suite 217
Atlanta, Georgia 30329
Telephone (404)320-1038 Fax (404) 320-1042
