College of Levantine Churches: Difference between revisions

Although commonly thought of as a sacrament, the College teaches holy orders cannot be a sacrament directly because it rejects a {{wp|Sacerdotalism|sacerdotalist}} understanding of the Christian faithful, teaching that holy orders is a conveyance of a sacred trust to bishops and clerics while arguing that Christ alone is the mediator of the Christian faithful. Despite this, the College teaches that holy orders nonetheless has a "sacramental character" confering the status of {{Wp|Apostolic succession|successor of the Apostles}}. The sacramental character of the act is confirmed, according to Collegiate teaching, by Christ's historical call of the twelve apostles. {{wp|Ordination of women}} is prohibited within the College of Levantine Churches. Historically, resolutions on the issue are proposed and defeated in each year's session of the Congress of Bishops.