A long and early Christian tradition places Ordination in the context of worship and especially of the Lord's Supper. Such a place for the service of Ordination preserves the understanding of Ordination as an act of the whole community. The act of Ordination by the laying on of hands of those appointed to do so is at one and the same time the invocation of the Holy Spirit, a sacramental sign, and an acknowledgment of gifts and commitment. In the act of Ordination, the Church Ordains in confidence that God, being faithful to the promise in Christ, enters sacramentally into historical forms of human relationship, and draws upon those relationships for God's purpose. Ordination is thus a sign performed in faith that the spiritual relationship signified is present in, with, and through the words spoken, the gestures made and the forms employed. Finally, Ordination is an acknowledgment by the Church of the gifts of the Spirit in the one Ordained, and a commitment by both the Church and the Ordinand to the new relationship. By receiving the new minister in the act of Ordination, the Church acknowledges the minister's gifts and commits itself to be open to these gifts. Likewise those Ordained offer their gifts to the Church and commit themselves to the burden and opportunity of new authority and responsibility; at the same time, they enter into a collegial relationship with all ministers.

From the Preface and Ordained Ministry sections of Theological Foundations and Criteria

for the Ordering of Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)