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Appendix H-8: Alternative Order for Ordination and/or Induction of a Minister
(Regulations 251-252)
The requirements of Regulations 251-252 can be met, in the case of ordination or induction by including in a service of public worship the following sections of the Alternative Ordinal and Induction Service authorised for use by the 1983 General Assembly. (1982 White Book p143ff)
<typohead type=4>Ordination and Induction</typohead>
After an invocation and greeting
<typohead type=2>Presentation of the Ordinand</typohead>
The Interim Moderator and the Session Clerk bring the Ordinand to the Moderator of the Presbytery.
The interim moderator says:
Moderator, I bring N.N. to be ordained to the ministry of the Word and sacraments.
The session clerk says:
Moderator, on behalf of the people of this parish I ask that N.N. be inducted as our minister.
The moderator addresses the congregation:
Since we believe that God has called N.N. to the ministry of the Word and sacraments, do you agree that the Presbytery of X proceeds to his/her ordination.
All say:
We do. Thanks be to God.
The Moderator continues:
Do you further agree that N.N. be inducted as the minister of this parish and congregation?
The members of the local congregation say:
We do. To God be the glory.
The moderator asks:
In accepting N.N. as your minister and pastor are you resolved to show him/her all dutiful respect, and to give him/her encouragement and support in the Lord?
The members of the local congregation reply:
With God’s help, we are.
The service proceeds.
<typohead type=4>The Ordination</typohead>
After a sermon a brief narrative may be read.
The moderator says:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King and Head of the Church, who has given gifts for the building up of his body, the Presbytery of X is now to ordain N.N. to the office of the holy ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands; and to induct him/her to the pastoral charge of this parish.
Addressing the ordinand the moderator says:
N, in ordination God gives you grace and authority for the office and work to which you are called. God does this in answer to the prayers of the Church and through the actions of those ministers appointed for this task. We act and speak as part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, and we act and speak in that Church’s faith which we now declare with united voice in the words of the Creed:
Either the Nicene or Apostles’ Creed is said by all.
The moderator then continues: (This paragraph is discretionary)
A minister is called and empowered by God to proclaim the word and to celebrate the sacraments. He/She is to share in the mission of the Church, and to assume pastoral responsibility for those committed to his/her care. He/She is to lead the worship of the congregation, and to minister the gospel of forgiveness and reconciliation. He/She is to maintain the doctrine and discipline of the Church, and to teach the truths of the Christian Faith.
Addressing the ordinand the moderator says:
N, my brother/sister in Christ, before your ordination takes place it is fitting that you should declare openly your faith in God, and your intention to undertake the office of the holy ministry.
The ordinand replies:
I gladly confess my faith in God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and I wholeheartedly reaffirm my trust in Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Lord.
I readily accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as containing the Word of God, which is the supreme rule of faith and life. Further, I accept the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms as witnessing to the faith set forth in the Holy Scriptures.
I shall earnestly strive, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to dedicate my life to Christ, that I may faithfully teach and proclaim God’s word, and minister the sacraments of the Gospel.
The moderator, addressing the ordinand, says:
Do you believe that a deep longing for God’s glory, love for our Lord Jesus Christ, and a true desire for the salvation of all, so far as you know your own heart, are your principal motives for entering the holy ministry?
The ordinand replies:
So far as I know my own heart, I do.
The moderator continues:
Do you accept the discipline of this church and undertake to serve responsibly as one under authority in the Lord?
Do you accept your share in the life and work of the church by upholding its doctrine, worship, government and discipline seeking its unity and peace, and being open in heart to all followers of the Lord?
The ordinand replies:
I do.
The moderator continues:
Do you accept the call to be minister to this parish and congregation?
The ordinand replies:
I do; and I intend, by constant prayer and careful study of the Holy Scriptures, to equip myself to be a faithful pastor, that I may witness to Christ always, maintaining peace and love among all people, and seek in every way to advance the kingdom of God; to whom be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever.
<typohead type=4>The Formula</typohead>
The Moderator, addressing the ordinand, says:
The Clerk will read the Formula which you are now required to sign as a seal of the vows you have taken and of the promises you have made.
The Formula (Appendix H-9) is read.
The ordinand signs the Formula.
The people stand for the Ordination prayer and the laying on of hands:
<typohead type=4>Ordination Prayer</typohead>
Presiding Minister:
We glorify you, Father almighty,
who in your infinite love and goodness
gave Jesus Christ, your only Son,
to be our Redeemer
and Saviour of the world.
We thank you that by his death
he overcame death;
and having ascended to your right hand on high,
sent down gifts of ministry on the Church,
to build up all your people
in faith, hope and love.
We thankfully acknowledge the grace and mercy you continue to show us in Christ, and humbly pray:
Send down your Holy Spirit
upon your servant N,
whom we, in your name,
and in obedience to your will,
by the laying on of our hands,
ordain and appoint to the office of the holy ministry
in your holy, catholic, and apostolic Church,
committing to him/her authority
to minister your word and sacraments,
to declare your forgiveness to all who repent,
and to be a shepherd of your people.
Give him/her wisdom, understanding, and inner conviction,
that with courage he/she may proclaim your saying word.
Make him/her a loving and dedicated pastor of your people, and
an example of holiness to all.
Enable him/her to fulfil his/her ministry in every way,
and to live his/her life according to your will;
so that persevering to the end,
he/she may be received with all your faithful servants
into the joy of your eternal kingdom.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom with you,
and the Holy Spirit,
be all glory, majesty and power,
world without end.
Amen
The ordinand stands and the presiding minister addressing him/her says:
I now declare you ordained to the office of the holy ministry; and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King and Head of the Church, and by the authority of this presbytery, I declare you inducted to the pastoral charge of this parish, in acknowledgement of which we offer you the right hand of fellowship.
The service proceeds, and may include the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
<typohead type=4>Induction (When Ordination is Not Involved)</typohead>
After appropriate preparation, invocation, adoration, confession, assurance of forgiveness, bible readings and sermon.
<typohead type=4>The Induction</typohead>
A brief narrative may be read.
The moderator says:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King and Head of the Church, who has given gifts for the building up of his body, the Presbytery of X is now to induct N.N. to the pastoral charge of this parish.
The moderator says:
The word proclaimed in the readings and the sermon serve to remind us that the Word of God contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments is our supreme rule of faith and life. We accept as our subordinate standards the Confession and catechisms formulated by the Westminster Assembly of Divines, as interpreted by the Declaratory Act. Now let us reaffirm the faith of the ancient Church and the Church of all the ages by saying together the Apostles’ Creed:
Either the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed is said by all.
The minister-to-be-inducted now stands facing the moderator who addressing him/her says:
As a minister you are called to be an ambassador of Christ, and to declare before all humankind the Gospel of God’s grace.
Rejoicing always in the power of the Holy Spirit, you are faithfully to preach and teach God’s word to the people and be their shepherd. You are to encourage God’s people to exercise the gifts they have been given, so that together you may build up the body of Christ, and proclaim Christ’s Lordship to the world.
As a minister you are to visit the people in their homes, especially those who are sick or in any kind of trouble. You are to comfort the sad, console the bereaved, encourage the saints, and commend those who lives reflect Christ’s love. You are to rejoice with those who rejoice and be said with those in sorrow. As a minister you are to lead sinners to repentance and faith by declaring to them God’s loving mercy and forgiveness. You are to strive for peace and goodwill among all. As a minister you are devoutly to lead the worship of the people, regularly celebrating the sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, so that you and the people, by coming together in Christ’s name, may glorify and enjoy God for ever.
N, my brother/sister in Christ: as a minister of God’s Church, and as a shepherd of his flock – which Christ has bought with his own most precious blood, you know to what awesome and sacred trust you are called. I invite you now to express gladly your faith in God and to reaffirm the declaration you made at your ordination, and to show that you are resolved with God’s help, to exercise conscientiously your ministry in this parish.
The minister-to-be-inducted replies:
It is my joy on the occasion of this induction publicly to state once again my faith in God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and to reaffirm my commitment to Jesus Christ, who is my Saviour and Lord.
I accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as expressing everything that is necessary for salvation, for the Word of God contained in these Scriptures is our supreme rule of faith and life, Further, I readily accept the call to minister in this parish, and I intend, by God’s grace, to equip myself more and more to be a faithful pastor to this people.
<typohead type=4>The Formula</typohead>
The Moderator says:
You are now required to sign the Formula which the clerk will read.
(After the Formula (Appendix H-9) has been read and signed the minister-to-be-inducted stands alongside the moderator, facing the congregation.)
Addressing the assembled gathering the moderator says:
You, the people of God, have been called to spread the Gospel among your neighbours and throughout the world You are to be faithful witnesses to Christ in your homes and in your daily life and work. You have been called to glorify God’s name by exercising every gift bestowed upon you, relying gladly on the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, and honouring Christ in all things. This requires that you come together for worship, especially on the Lord’s Day, and that you participate regularly in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
It requires, too, that you attend expectantly to the preaching and teaching of those who minister to you; and that you be faithful in reading and hearing the Bible, in private prayer and devotion, believing firmly that it is through the faithful use of your gifts that Christ will fulfil his ministry to the world. In all things you are to act justly, to show constant love, and to walk humbly with God.
Addressing the local congregation the moderator says:
Members of the local congregation:
you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people. Since you have agreed to call N.N. to be your minister and pastor, in accepting him/her into your midst, are you resolved to show him/her all dutiful respect, and to give him/her encouragement and support in the Lord?
Members of the local congregation reply:
With God’s help, we are.
<typohead type=4>The Induction Prayer</typohead>
While the minister-to-be-inducted kneels, all stand as the moderator leads the Induction Prayer:
Almighty Father,
you have willed that under Christ – the great shepherd
of the sheep – your people are to be fed and guided
by your ministering servants.
We thank you that in N you have provided a pastor for this people.
We ask you to give him/her your Holy Spirit
that being so filled with wisdom, understanding and insight,
he/she may discern your will and boldly proclaim your word.
Enable him/her to be a faithful and loving pastor,
that your people may be
challenged by the preaching of the Gospel,
strengthened by the sacraments,
and firmly grounded in a Christian way of life.
We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honour and glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen
The moderator, addressing the minister (who is now standing) says:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King and
Head of the Church, and by the authority of this
Presbytery, I declare you inducted to the pastoral
charge of this parish (or: the parish of M), in
acknowledgment of which we offer you the right
hand of fellowship.
The service proceeds.