The Sacrament of Holy Orders consists of three ministries:

     The Diaconate

     The Priesthood

     The Episcopacy

Because the Bishop is the head of the Diocese, his consecration to the Episcopacy is through the laying on of hands by three other bishops so that the fullness and unity of the Church is maintained. In the office of deacon, men can be ordained as deacons, and women may appointed as sub-deacons within the Church. For the Holy Order of priest and bishop only men are ordained by the Church.

The primary function of all three offices is to serve the Church by preaching God's Word" ... in season and out of season" [2Timothy 4:2], and by making all of the sacraments available, especially the Holy Eucharist. A call to service in the Church comes from God and is acknowledged and validated by the Church.  Like the prophets of old and the apostles of the New Testament, once a person is consecrated by God for special task, their ultimate meaning is bound up with the task, "for one cannot put their hand to the plow and then keep looking back" [Luke 9:62).

The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the setting apart of individuals in the Church to bear special responsibilities and to perform certain tasks.  The Ordained person receives a special gift of grace from the Holy Spirit to perform their work.  This is given in response to the prayers of the Church. The person ordained takes a new place in the order of the Body of Christ. [1 Corinthians 12:12-29; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; Titus 1 :5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-3; 1 Peter 5:1-5].