Laying On of Hands

Definition and Meaning

The Korean term ansu (按手) means "placing the hands." It refers to the act of placing one's hands on another person's head or body while praying. In Korean churches the term is used in two main senses. The first is ordination, the laying on of hands performed when installing church officers such as pastors, elders, and deacons. The second is prayer with the laying on of hands, offered when seeking blessing or healing. In Presbyterian churches the setting apart of elders and deacons is commonly called jangnip (ordination and installation).

Biblical and Historical Background

In the Old Testament, Jacob lays his hands on his grandsons to bless them (Genesis 48:14), and Moses lays his hands on Joshua to appoint him as his successor (Numbers 27:18-23). In the New Testament, Jesus lays his hands on children and blesses them (Mark 10:16). The apostles laid hands on the seven men when appointing them (Acts 6:6) and on Barnabas and Saul when sending them out (Acts 13:3). There is also an account of people receiving the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands (Acts 8:17). The counsel given to Timothy includes the words "Lay hands suddenly on no man" (1 Timothy 5:22).

From the time of the early church onward, the laying on of hands became established as the rite by which clergy are ordained. The Catholic Church regards it as Holy Orders (the sacrament that confers ordained ministry), one of the seven sacraments. The Orthodox Church and the Anglican churches likewise understand it as ordination administered by a bishop. Most Protestant churches shaped by the Reformation recognize only two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's Supper. Accordingly, they do not regard the laying on of hands as a sacrament but understand it as a rite through which the church entrusts a person with an office.

Practice in Korean Churches

• Presbyterian churches: The ordination of pastors is conducted by the presbytery. Candidates who have completed theological training and, depending on the denomination, have gone through the licentiate stage are examined by the presbytery and then ordained. Elders are elected by the congregational meeting, pass a presbytery examination, and are ordained and installed at an ordination service. Ordained deacons are likewise set apart through the laying on of hands. Kwonsa (exhorters) are usually installed without the laying on of hands.
• Methodist churches: In the Korean Methodist Church, pastors are ordained at the annual conference, with a bishop presiding.
• Baptist churches: In keeping with the congregational tradition, in which each church makes its own decisions, ordination is known to take place after a request from and examination by the local church.
• Anglican churches: In the Anglican Church of Korea, bishops ordain deacons and priests.
• Pentecostal and charismatic churches: In addition to ordination, prayer with the laying on of hands for healing and for baptism in the Holy Spirit is common at revival meetings and prayer meetings.

Denominations differ on whether women may be ordained as pastors or elders (see women's ordination).