Priesthood with the New Christians

The teaching of the SAVIOUR is a teaching of the heart rather than an intellectual doctrine. It is the teaching of love. Studies and other school qualifications are much appreciated but for the priesthood with the Church of the New Christians they are no requirement. The training to become a priest takes place in accordance with the example of JESUS CHRIST, who called men of the common people, even uneducated and married ones.
1 Cor. 8,1: „Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies.“

The Sword-Bishop does not train priests of the intellect, but priests of the heart.

The unmarried priest, however, has the advantage that he can devote himself to the cause of GOD in an undivided way.

1 Cor. 7,32ff: „But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. But he that is with a wife is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife. And he is divided.“
It is out of the question, though, that an ordained priest should marry! Holy Orders is above Matrimony. One cannot climb down, only higher up to GOD.

Married priests were a matter of course in the early Christian period. Thus St Paul writes – 1 Tim. 3,2ff: „It behoves therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, apt to teach. Not given to wine, no striker but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but one that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity.“ Especially in the pastoral care of marriages and families the married priest can work beneficially.

The episcopal consecrations and presbyteral ordinations, which were repeatedly examined and declared valid, can be traced back via St Ignatius of Antioch to Apostle Peter.