In my theology the Sacrament of Holy Orders is "an outward sign, instituted by God/Christ, to give grace." However, while many seem to feel that the recipient of the grace of this sacrament is the ordained, I would respectfully disagree. I do profess that ordination prints an indelible character upon the soul of the ordained, but I believe that the ultimate recipient of the graces of ordination is the people of God. Ordination is not a reward for services rendered, it is a call to services yet to be performed. Ordination is not a reward for seminary, or for clean living, or for faithful tithing, or even for impressing a bishop. Rather, ordination is a commissioning for service to God's people and the primary recipient of any "reward" associated with Holy Orders is the people who have their spiritual needs met by the person so ordained to meet their needs.

This is not to say that the ordained should not experience a sense of fulfillment in their ministry. On the contrary, the best ministry is when those ministering and those being ministered to are in a complimentary relationship and both parties [all parties] benefit from the relationship. But, we must always be cognizant that the Sacrament of Holy Orders was instituted for the service of the people of God as opposed to setting up a priestly caste that would be served by the people of God.