[[Ecclesiology]] / Ordained Ministry > [!note] New - 2026-03-26 ![[assets/covers/ordained-ministry.jpg]] Ordained ministry in the Anglican tradition refers to the role of clergy set apart by the church to lead worship, proclaim the gospel, and administer sacraments. This set-apartness is not a matter of rank or privilege but of function: the church recognises that certain tasks require ordained leadership. ## [[Gospel Proclamation]] and Sacramental Function Ordained ministers bear distinctive responsibility for proclaiming the gospel in the church’s liturgical life. This extends to key sacramental moments: the absolution in the Communion service, for instance, is properly read by an ordained minister because ‘proclaiming the gospel is the task for which ministers of the church are set apart’ (Mark 16:14-18; Acts 20:24; 2 Timothy 4:1-2). The grounding of this practice in scripture transforms it from mere convention into theological principle: the function flows from the nature of ordination itself, rather than from practical necessity or custom. Debate exists about whether lay persons or deacons might read absolution when no priest is available, but the authors’ explicit theological reasoning vindicates the practice and illuminates why ordination matters liturgically.[^bray-common-prayer-p33] ## Preaching as Distinctive Ministry The homily’s place within the liturgy signals the church’s understanding of ordained ministry. The Communion service contains a rubric requiring a sermon, whereas [[Morning and Evening Prayer]] do not mandate one.[^bray-common-prayer-p83] This structural distinction reflects the pairing of word and sacrament: in Holy Communion, the proclaimed gospel accompanies the sacramental action, and both require ordained leadership. The sermon is not incidental to the service but integral to it, marking the difference between gathered assemblies with differing purposes and expectations. ## Selected passages > ‘There’s a rubric in the Communion service saying **there** **has** **to** **be** **a** **sermon** (p. 247).’ > > *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, p. 83 ([[data/bray-common-prayer/source-images/p83.jpg|🖼️]]) > ‘Note that **some** **think** **only** **a** **priest** **can** **say** **the** **absolution.** < Others think that when a priest isn’t present, the absolution + in Morning and Evening Prayer may be said by a deacon or lay person.’ > > *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, p. 33 ([[data/bray-common-prayer/source-images/p33.jpg|🖼️]]) ## Appearances - *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, Samuel L. Bray and Drew Nathaniel Keane - 1. Preparing, p. 33 - 2. Hearing, p. 83 ## Related [[Gospel Proclamation]] . [[Sacramental Theology]] . [[Ordination and the Doctrine of Ministry]] . [[Ecclesiastical Authority]] [^bray-common-prayer-p33]: [[How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy]], p. 33 ([[data/bray-common-prayer/source-images/p33.jpg|🖼️]]) . ‘Note that **some** **think** **only** **a** **priest** **can** **say** **the** **absolution.** < Others think that when a priest isn’t present, the absolution + in Morning and Evening Prayer may be said by a deacon or lay person.’ [^bray-common-prayer-p83]: Ibid., p. 83 ([[data/bray-common-prayer/source-images/p83.jpg|🖼️]]) . ‘**There’s** **also** **an** **important** **addition** **that** **is** **not** **part** **of** **the** **”script”** **of** **Morning** **and** **Evening** **Prayer—** **a** **sermon.** **There’s** **a** **rubric** **in** **the** **Communion** **service** **saying** **there** **has** **to** **be** […]’