Ordinance (Christianity)

Ordinance is a Protestant Christian term for baptism, communion and other religious rituals. Some Protestants, like the Mennonites, do not call them "sacraments" because they believe these rituals are outward expressions of faith, rather than impartations of God's grace.

While a sacrament is seen as something in and of itself sacred, an ordinance is a practice that merely demonstrates the participants' faith. The ordinances are observed in remembrance of Jesus, primarily his baptism and the last supper (communion or eucharist).

See also

• Baptism
• Baptist ordinance
• Eucharist
• Infused righteousness
• Ordinance (Latter Day Saints)