Ministry Resources

Ordination Service and Guidelines for Ordination for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

IV. Arranging the service

A. Participants

There are a variety of liturgical roles in the ordination service. The candidate and host pastor together are advised to study the service and enumerate the various liturgical roles and functions as a basis for determining the participants needed. The candidate is to work in close cooperation with the host pastor in selecting and inviting persons to participate. Be clear as to who extends each invitation.

1. The host pastor ordinarily conducts the opening and the closing of the service and other portions as agreed upon. The host pastor brings greetings during the time of preparation and states the purposes of the service. The purpose might be stated as follows: "The purpose of this worship service is to ordain (Name) into Christian ministry. It is a service of thanksgiving and praise in response to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It includes the covenant of ordination and the laying on of hands. This service expresses the unity of the Church and celebrates God's continuing care for the Church and the world, through the anointing of God's servants."
2. The candidate may invite someone who has been influential in the candidate's life to preach the sermon. Since the host pastor has responsibility for preaching in the congregation, the candidate consults the host pastor about whom she or he wishes to invite to preach. A former minister of the host church may be asked to preach with the consent of the current pastor, in consultation with officers of the congregation. The host pastor extends an invitation to the selected preacher.
3. A representative from the Regional Commission on Ministry is to be invited to present the candidate's credentials. Another person may be designated to do this if a representative is unavailable.
4. Ministers from other Disciples congregations and ministers from other communions are ordinarily invited to participate in the service. Their presence signifies the ecumenical fellowship of the church. These ministers should not be asked to do anything that their own churches would not permit them to do. Specifically, some churches would not allow their clergy to take an active part in the laying on of hands or to participate in the communion service. Inquiry when guests are invited will avoid embarrassment at the ordination service. Ministers wear their usual liturgical attire.
5. If the candidate desires elders from other congregations to participate in the communion service, the candidate expresses these wishes to the host pastor, who will consult with the chair of the local elders and take steps to extend invitations. Also, local elders need an invitation to take part in the laying on of hands.

B. Participants' Dress and Rehearsal

1. Leader's Attire-- If the clergy participants in the service are to be robed, the clergy participants are to be advised. Stoles are appropriate. The appropriate color is RED.
2. Candidate's Attire-- Normally the candidate would not wear any liturgical vestments until the presentation of the signs of the office.
3. Rehearsal-- The host pastor is in charge of the rehearsal for the service. All participants are to be advised of the time and place for the rehearsal, scheduled for at least one hour before the service. Special directions for the arrangements for the laying on of hands are given by the regional minister or the designated representative.

C. Music

1. Music is an integral and enriching part of the ordination service. The candidate should discuss music with the host pastor and, where appropriate, with the local music director and/or minister of music. Ample time should be allowed for the choir to prepare for this occasion. The host congregation's musicians may not be able to perform all the music that is desired. Other musicians may be invited, in consultation with the local music director.
2. Hymns, choir anthems, and solos are to be used as an integral part of the service. However, they should not interrupt the ordination rite itself. Sung responses may be used where appropriate.
3. If special music is used, its content, style and performance should be consistent with the purposes of the service.
4. Hymns are an important part of the service. Criteria for selection include faithfulness to the theme of ordination, particularly hymns invoking the Holy Spirit, personal significance to the candidate as well as the congregation, and showing inclusiveness in language and ethnic cultural diversity. The Chalice Hymnal (Chalice Press, St. Louis, 1995) contains a section dealing specifically with the ministry on pages 451-457.

Congregations are to write to the publisher to secure permission to publish copyrighted materials.

D. Scripture Readings and The Sermon

1. Scripture Readings
   
   The following passages are suggestions. The preacher may wish to select other readings.
• Law:
  • Exodus 18:13-23
  • Deuteronomy 4:32-40; 6:4-9
• Prophets:
  • Isaiah 6:1-8; 40:1-11; 42:1-9; 43:1-7; 52:7-10; 58:6-12; 61:1-6a
  • Jeremiah 1:4-10
  • Ezekiel 33:1-9
  • Psalms: 16; 27; 84; 95; 96; 99; 113; 132:8-19; 133
• Epistles:
  • Acts 8:26-40; 20:17-35
  • Romans 1:16-17; 10:1-17; 10:13-17; 12:1-12
  • I Corinthians 12:12-16
  • II Corinthians 4:1-18; 5:17-21
  • Ephesians 4:7-16; 6:10-18
  • Philippians 2:1-16
  • Colossians 3:1-17
  • I Thessalonians 5:12-23
  • II Timothy 1:3-14; 3:14 - 4:5; 4:1-7
  • I Peter 5:5-13
• Gospels:
  • Matthew 9:35-38; 15:13-19; 28:18-20
  • Luke 4:14-21; 10:1-12, 16-20; 24:44-49a
  • John 10:1-16; 13:3-11; 13:12-17, 20; 17:6-19; 21:15-17.
2. The Sermon The sermon focuses on the church, the nature of the ministry, the meaning of discipleship, and the role of the Holy Spirit. This is not the time to become sentimental about the ministry or eulogize the candidate and his or her family.

E. Procedures for Presenting the Candidate

1. Congregational representatives may give brief descriptions of the candidate's personal characteristics, and a statement of the congregation's support.
2. The region's representative will present the credentials: this statement is less than one typed page in length and includes a brief background on the person to be ordained; how he or she received a call to ministry; a short survey of preparation, education, experience; and a very brief statement on the region's nurture and certification processes and the region's recommendation. ***
3. An elder calls the candidate by name to come forward. Preparatory vows are asked. (See the model service included in this document for the form and content of these preparatory vows.)

F. Covenant of Ordination and Laying on of Hands

The regional minister leads in the "Covenant of Ordination" and the laying on of hands, including the ordination prayer.

1. 1. The Regional minister or designated alternate moves to a position to speak directly to the candidate. Provision should be made for all persons to hear the words that are spoken. It is not necessary to print the promises of the candidate or the ordination prayer in the worship bulletin, but copies are to be given to the regional minister and the candidate.
2. At the laying on of hands, the regional minister will very briefly relate the significance and meaning of this rite. (See the text on page 21.)
1. The ceremony should take place where it can be observed by the congregation and without undue crowding. If the architecture permits, the laying on of hands occurs in the chancel in front of the communion table. A cushion or kneeling pad may be provided.
2. The inclusion of elders and ministers from other churches is a witness to the wholeness of the church. Ordinarily, one or two elders from each of the sponsoring congregations, designated representatives of the ordained ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and designated ministerial representatives of other churches whose church disciplines permit participating, may be invited to share in the laying on of hands. In addition to the regional minister, or designated alternate, these other participants shall ordinarily be no more than twelve persons.
3. The weight of the hands directly on the candidate should be firm but gentle, and the candidate should be helped to rise after the prayer.

G. Presentation of the Signs of the Office

The presentations recognize significant dimensions of the office of ministry. The host church usually makes the presentations but may share with the other sponsoring congregations.

1. The Bible-- The Bible is a sign of apostolic faith that is to guide the person in ministry. The presenter may say, "So live that the word is near you, on your lips and on your heart."
2. The Certificate of Ordination-- The certificate of ordination is a sign of the person's authority for ministry, a sign of one's collegial ties with other ministers and of the obligation to uphold the ethics of ministry. The regional minister or designated representative is to present the certificate. The presenter may say, "I present you with this certificate of ordination. May it be a sign of your apostolic authority, your collegial ties with all ministers, and your promise to uphold the sacred calling of the office of ministry. Remember that Jesus said, 'Let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.' "
3. Ministerial Code of Ethics-- The Ministerial Code of Ethics describes the standard of behavior to which the church calls its ministers in their personal and professional conduct and relationships. The presenter may say, "Receive this copy of the Ministerial Code of Ethics of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). By signing this Code you affirm your commitment to be a faithful and responsible minister of the gospel performing your ministry in obedience to Christ and the Church." (At this point the candidate signs the code.)
4. Liturgical Vestments-- The robe/alb is a sign of the liturgical and sacramental dimension of ministry. The stole is a sign of the yoke of Christ, and thus signifies ordination to vocational ministry. The colors - red, green, purple and white - represent the different seasons of the church year. The presenter may say, in presenting a robe or alb, "Rejoice in God; and may you be clothed in the garments of salvation and covered with the robe of integrity."
5. Gifts-- If a robe/alb is given as a sign of office, the giver should prepare in advance to select one that is an appropriate liturgical style, color, size, etc. Robes usually have to be ordered some considerable time in advance. If the candidate already has a liturgical robe, it may be used in the service to symbolize the ministerial function of the celebrant in conjunction with the stole. Since the sharing of communion is integral to weekly worship in the Christian Church, the presentation of a chalice and paten is also appropriate as a sign of office. The presenter may say, "I (we) present you with this chalice and paten. May they serve as a sign of the savings acts and presence of Christ." Other gifts, such as books, plaques, and photographs, are presented at the reception following the service.

H. Communion Service

It is appropriate for the regional minister and the newly ordained person to co-preside at the Lord's Supper. The regional minister gives the invitation to the Table, and the newly ordained minister leads in other presiding functions, including the words of institution.

I. Worship Bulletin

1. Complete, accurate information regarding the service is to be submitted to the host pastor two weeks prior to the service. The candidate and host pastor will work closely together. The use of titles of participants should follow a uniform pattern.
2. It is appropriate to include a brief biographical paragraph about the candidate.
3. Not all of the liturgy needs to be printed in the bulletin. In the model service which follows, material printed in italics is for the principals, and does not need to be printed for the congregation.
4. The candidate and host pastor are to select the worship bulletin cover in consultation with one another.
5. The names of the sponsoring congregations are to be listed in the worship bulletin.

J. Seating

The host congregation makes arrangements for ushers to help with the seating of guests and the distribution of worship bulletins. Arrangements are made for special seating for family and special guests of the church and the candidate. The candidate and the host pastor plan the seating arrangements in advance of the service.

K. Length of Time

It is recommended that the service be no more than 75 minutes.

L. Signing the Ordination Certificate

The host pastor will have the responsibility for securing the signatures of all designated participants.

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