Ministry Resources
Ordination Service and Guidelines for Ordination for the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ)
VI. A Service of Ordination to Christian Ministry
The Preparation
Prelude
Hymn of Praise
Leaders of the service may enter in procession
during this hymn.
Call to Worship
Leader: Come, let us worship God. There are different
gifts,
People: but it is the same Spirit who
gives them.
Leader: There are different ways of serving God,
People: but it is the same God who
is served.
Leader: Each one is given a gift by the same Spirit,
People: to use for the common good.
Leader: Together we are the Body of Christ,
People: and individually members with
one another.
Opening Prayer
Leader:
Holy God, you give the church varied gifts and ministries
and call forth men and women to receive and fulfill them.
Open us to the power of your Holy Spirit
as we gather to offer you our thankful praise.
Be present with us, we pray, as we ordain
our sister/brother to your service.
All these things we ask
in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
The Service of the Word
Statement about the Service
The host pastor states that the church has gathered
to ordain (Full Name) to Christian Ministry. Representatives
of the sponsoring congregation(s), the region(s) of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ), and the ecumenical Church may
be acknowledged.
A Reading from the Old Testament and/or the Epistles
Psalm, Hymn, or Anthem
A Reading from the Gospel
The Sermon
Hymn or Anthem
The Presentation of the Candidate
Statement
Leader:
Ordination to Christian ministry is preceded by study, work,
and prayer, guided by the Spirit of God. I now call on representatives
of the sponsoring congregation(s) and of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in (region) to present (Full Name) and
to offer their witnesses to his/her readiness for ordination.
Presentation by a Representative(s) of the Congregation(s)
The person to be ordained is presented by name
to the presiding minister and a few sentences testifying to
the candidate's life in the church may be offered.
Presentation by a Representative(s) of the Region(s)
A representative of the region states that the
person to be ordained has been nurtured through a process of
preparation for public leadership in the church, has been examined
concerning the Christian faith and manner of life, and has been
approved for ordination.
The Ordination Covenant
The Promises of the Candidate for Ordination
Regional Minister
My sister/brother in the faith, do you believe that you are
truly called by God and the Church to the life and work of
ministry in the name of Jesus Christ?
I do.
Paul the apostle testified, "It is no longer I who live
but Christ who lives in me." Will you endeavor to be
diligent in your practice of the Christian life: reading the
Bible, continuing steadfastly in prayer, and taking up your
cross daily to follow Christ?
I will, with the help of God.
Scripture teaches that the Church was devoted to the apostles'
teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the
prayers. Will you endeavor faithfully to fulfill your calling
among the people committed to your care: by preaching the
word of God and the apostolic faith; and by presiding at the
celebration of baptism and the Lord's Supper?
I will, with the help of God.
In scripture, ministers are exhorted to tend the flock of
God committed to their care, not by constraint but willingly,
not for selfish gain but eagerly, not by domineering over
those in their charge but by example. Will you endeavor to
care for the people of God: nourishing, teaching, and encouraging
them; giving direction to the life of the congregation; counseling
the troubled; declaring God's forgiveness of sin; and proclaiming
victory over death?
I will, with the help of God.
The Spirit of God led Jesus to preach good news to the poor,
proclaiming release to the captives and recovery of sight
to the blind, setting at liberty the oppressed, and proclaiming
the time of God's good favor. Will you endeavor to lead the
people of God in their obedience to the global mission of
the Church: guiding their concern for justice, peace, and
freedom for all people; and taking a responsible place in
the governance of the Church and in service to the world?
I will, with the help, of God.
The apostle Paul proclaims the Church to be one body with
many members. Will you endeavor to live and work in unity
with all Christians: witnessing to the visible unity of the
Church; cooperating with Disciples colleagues in the ministry
of the congregational, regional, general and ecumenical church;
and leading the Church in fulfilling its ministry of reconciliation?
I will, with the help of God.
Paul also wrote, "For me to live is Christ." Will
you endeavor to conduct yourself so that your life is shaped
by Jesus Christ, who took the form of a servant for our sake;
and will you, with the help of the Holy Spirit, continually
rekindle the gift of God that is in you, to make known to
all people the gospel of the grace of God?
I will, with the help of God.
May God who has given you the will to do these things give
you grace to perform them. (Name), God who scalled you is
faithful and will not fail you.
The Promises of the People
Regional Minister:
You have heard the promises of our brother/sister. Will you
as members of God's Church affirm this call and accept (Name)
as an ordained minister of the Gospel?
People:
(Name), we accept you as one called to public
leadership in the Church and affirm the decision that you
be ordained. We pledge our love and offer our prayers that
together we may glorify God and make Christ known in the world.s
The Affirmation of Faith
Regional Minister:
Together, let us renew our covenant with Christ.
People:
We confess that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of the Living God,
and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world.
In Christ's name and by his grace,
we accept our mission of witness
and service to all people.
We rejoice in God,
Maker of heaven and earth,
and in the covenant of love
which binds us to God and one another.
Through baptism into Christ
we enter into newness of life
and are made one with the whole people of God.
In the communion of the Holy Spirit
we are joined together in discipleship
and in obedience to Christ.
At the table of the Lord
we celebrate with thanksgiving
the saving acts and presence of Christ.
Within the universal Church
we receive the gift of ministry
and the light of Scripture.
In the bonds of Christian faith
we yield ourselves to God,
that we may serve the One
whose Kingdom has no end.
Blessing, glory and honor
be to God forever.
Amen. 1
Hymn
A hymn invoking the Holy Spirit is sung.
The Laying On of Hands
Statement
Regional Minister:
The laying on of hands with prayer is attested in scripture
as a sign of reconciliation, empowering, and sending forth.
The church uses this prayerful act to be a visible sign of
the gift of the Holy Spirit, to affirm the Church's confirmation
of this person's vocation, and to entrust to her/him the power
and authority to do the work of God in our midst.
The Ordaining Action
The candidate kneels, facing the congregation.
The regional minister places a hand on the candidate's head.
Other ordained ministers, elders, and ecumenical representatives
may also place hands on the head or shoulders of the candidate.
The regional minister offers the ordination prayer.
Regional Minister:
Eternal God, you are worthy of our thankful praise.
In your love you called your church to be
a holy people and a royal priesthood.
Through your Holy Spirit
you have given a variety of gifts,
making some apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry
and for the building up of Christ's body, the Church.
We pray that you will send your Spirit upon (Name)
whom we ordain to the ministry of your Church.
Confirm in her/him the grace and power
to proclaim the gospel and celebrate worship,
to lead the church in its faith, life and mission,
and to be an example to your people in love,
patience, and holiness of life.
Grant that through this ministry
your name will be glorified in all the earth
and your people strengthened.
This we ask through Jesus Christ,
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Greeting and Blessings
Regional Minister:
Rise, (Name), to the ministry which God gives you and receive
the acclamation of the people.
People:
By the Spirit of God you are worthy of the
ministry of Christ.
As the newly ordained stands, the congregation may welcome
her/him with applause. Participants in the laying-on-of-hands
may offer one-sentence blessings to the newly ordained.
Presentation of the Signs of the Office
A Bible is given to the newly ordained with this charge:
So live that the Word is near you, on your lips, and in your
heart.
A robe/alb may be given, with this charge:
Rejoice in God; and may you be clothed in the garments of
salvation and covered with the robe of integrity.
A stole may be given with this charge:
Receive this stole as a sign of your being yoked with Christ,
remembering his words, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn
from me."
A chalice and paten may be given with this charge:
I (we) present you with this chalice and paten. May they
serve as a sign of the savings acts and presence of Christ.
The certificate of ordination may be presented with this
charge:
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."
The Ministerial Code of Ethics of the Christian Church (Disciples
of
Christ) may be presented with this charge:
Receive this copy of the Ministerial Code of Ethics of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by which you affirm
your commitment to be a faithful and responsible minister
of the gospel performing your ministry in obedience to Christ
and the Church. (If the Code of Ethics is signed in the service,
"by which" can be read as, "by signing this
Code.")
Response of the Newly Ordained
The newly ordained may say a brief word of thanksgiving
to the congregation and to those who have challenged and sustained
him or her in his or her faith journey.
The Peace
The newly ordained says to the congregation:
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People:
And also with you.
The people greet the newly ordained and members of the family
and one another.
The Service of the Lord's Supper
The Regional Minister offers the Invitation, and
the newly ordained minister leads in the other presiding functions.
The Invitation
My sisters and brothers,
we have been called to live by the truth and in love,
and so we shall grow completely into Christ
who is the head by whom the whole Body of the Church
is fitted and joined together,
every joint adding its own strength,
each part working according to its own function.
So the body grows until it has been built up in love.
Come now to this table with the gifts of our life and labor,
that we may meet our Savior who promises to unite us
to himself and to one another.
The Offering of the Gifts
Bread and communion wine, and other gifts, are
brought forward while the following hymn or another hymn is
being sung.
"From all that dwell below the skies,
let the Creator's praise arise:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Let the Redeemer's name be sung
through ev'ry land, in ev'ry tongue:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!" 2
The Great Thanksgiving
Dialogue
Minister: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Minister: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and
praise.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Remembrance
Over the Bread (offered by an elder)
Over the Cup (offered by an elder)
Prayer of Consecration
Minister: Holy God, you have blessed your people with gifts
of life.
People: You have sent your Holy Spirit to
uphold us this day.
Minister: Now let this same Spirit
descend upon these gifts
and upon your people,
that in the breaking of the bread
and the sharing of this cup
we may know the living presence of Jesus.
People: Feed us with spiritual food
and inspire our thoughts, words, and actions
with your Spirit,
that the world may be renewed.
Blessing, glory, and honor
be yours, O God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord's Prayer (A version which is more familiar to the
congregation may be substituted.)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your Kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
The Words of Institution and the Breaking of the Bread
Minister:
On the night before he died for us,
our Lord Jesus Christ took bread;
and when he had given thanks he broke it,
and gave it to his disciples, and said,
"Take, eat: This is my Body,
which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me."
After supper he took the cup of wine;
and when he had given thanks,
he gave it to them, and said:
"Drink this, all of you:
This is my Blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it,
do this for the remembrance of me."
Sharing the Bread and the Cup
Prayer after Communion
People:
O God, we thank you
for uniting us by baptism
in the body of Christ
and by this meal filling us with joy and hope.
Grant that in the days ahead
our lips which have sung your praises
may speak the truth,
our eyes which have seen your love
may look with compassion
on the needs of the world;
our hands which have held
this loaf and this cup
may be servant hands for Jesus Christ;
in whose name we ask it all. Amen.
The Dismissal
Recessional Hymn
The Blessing
Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous,
be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Postlude
Alternate Ordination Prayers
The Ordination Prayer, offered by the regional minister, is
the
sacred center of the service. The ordination service text includes
a
prayer. The following are two additional prayers for consideration:
- Holy God, you speak and the world comes to be.
You touch the people and they are made to be holy.
We stand in awe of your work in making all that is.
We stand in awe because you have called us to be your people.
Merciful God, we praise you for your infinite love
in calling us to be disciples of Jesus Christ,
who reveals your eternal and invisible glory.
We are grateful to be a people baptized to serve in Christ's
name.
We give you thanks for the gifts Christ Jesus gives your Church,
making some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some
pastors and teachers.
For all who have been ordained to serve in your church, we
thank you.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon your servant (Name).
Give him/her authority to lead the church as one of its ministers.
Fill him/her with grace and power to be a devout steward
of your word and sacraments.
Make her/him a faithful pastor, a patient teacher, a wise
counselor and a bold witness.
Grant that in all things she/he may serve without reproach
so that your people may be strengthened and your name glorified
in all the world.
This we pray, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with you
and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God forever and
ever.
- Sovereign God, whose Spirit inspired the prophets of old
and touched with celestial fire the tongues of the apostles,
we offer you our praise. Age after age, you have raised up
for the church passionate heralds of the cross—missionaries,
teachers, preachers, ministers of baptism and communion, pastors.
In Jesus' name you have sent them to publish the gospel to
all the world and so claim it for your Holy Commonwealth.
Today we ordain your servant (Name) to the holy office of
the Christian ministry to which you have called him/her .
By your Holy Spirit, make her/him to be a minister in your
Church and give wisdom and power that he/she may lead your
people in their worship and witness.
Enter increasingly into her/his experience so that she/he
may fulfill this ministry. Grant a growing awareness of your
presence
that brings joy, revives faith, and recalls her/him to the
commissioned task wherever you direct.
Let neither discouragement, nor sloth, nor weariness ever
bring regret.
By this same Holy Spirit enrich him/her with good judgement,
wholesome humor, kindly insight, gracious utterance and unflagging
zeal.
Endow her/him with patience, genuineness, tolerance, and good
will that, following the example of Jesus Christ, she/he may
fulfill
this ministry and at the end be received into glory with you.
This we pray, with the Church of all ages, in the name of
the One God,
Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Adapted from G. Edwin Osborn, ed., Christian Worship: A Service
Book, St. Louis: Bethany Press, 1953.)
- The Preamble from the Design of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
- Isaac Watts, "From All That Dwell
Below the Skies," Chalice Hymnal, 49. Tune: Lasst
uns erfreuen
Chapter VII >
