We adhere to a simple belief that power or anointing of any other necessary quality can be transmitted from one person touching another. The Levitical priesthood first practiced this.

Numbers 8:10-11;

¹⁰ You are to bring the Levites before the Lord, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them. ¹¹ Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the Lord.

Numbers 27:22-23;

²² Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. ²³ Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.

Jesus practiced it as a blessing

Mark 5:22-23;

²² Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. ²³ He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”

Mark 16:18;

 They will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Acts 14:3;

 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.

Acts 19:11-12;

¹¹ God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

Acts 28:8;

⁸ His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.

Luke 4:40;

At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

Conferring office

Acts 8:16-18;

¹⁶ because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money

Receiving anointing

1 Timothy 4:14;

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

For ordination

1 Timothy 4:14;

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

We believe in the doctrine of the laying on of hands for:

1. The confirming of believers to commitment and ministry in the local church.
2. The confirming of one’s call by God to special ministry in the local church

Acts 13:1-3;

¹ Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

• The imparting of spiritual gift

1 Timothy 4:14;

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

2 Timothy 1:6;

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

• The experiencing of the baptism of the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:17-18;

¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.

• The ministry of healing of the sick through the Lord Jesus Christ

Mark 16:16;

 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

• The blessing and dedicating of children to the Lord

Mark 10:16;

And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

We further believe that, in obedience to the Holy Scriptures, we should lay hands on no man suddenly, but that the laying on of hands confirms a ministry, which is already observable and has been proven

1 Timothy 5:22;

 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.