History of Women and Ordination The Ordination of Women in Medieval Context

This first volume contains two studies, the first by Gary Macy, one of the series editors, and the other by Fr. John Hilary Martin. Macy provides the background to the earliest understanding of ordination and discusses some of the controversy surrounding the change in the definition of the term in the 12th century. Until that time ordination meant, installed, as a king was said to be ordained when he was crowned king; a deacon was ordained into the diaconate and so was a deaconess. Then the theologians and canonists of the period insisted that the only true ordination was to those roles that served at the altar, and that, furthermore, only men could serve in those roles.Macy, Gary is the author of 'History of Women and Ordination The Ordination of Women in Medieval Context' with ISBN 9780810843271 and ISBN 0810843277.