Ministry Resources
Ordination Service and Guidelines for Ordination for the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ)
VIII. Host Congregation Check List
The following is a guide to the major responsibilities of the
congregation. (Note: the list may not identify every detail.)
- Date and Time
After the candidate has consulted with the regional minister,
the congregation is to establish a date and time for the ordination
service in consultation with the candidate. All dates and
invitations are to be confirmed in writing.
- Ordination Service Consultation
As soon as it is feasible, the host pastor and other designated
persons are to meet with the candidate and review the ordination
service and procedures as outlined in this document. This
manual is available from the regional office or may be purchased
from Disciples Home Missions, P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis,
IN 46206. At this consultation, the plans for the ordination
should begin. Some of the items to be considered are: participants,
music, scriptures, reception, worship bulletin, etc. The host
pastor and candidate are to review together the persons who
are to participate and who shall contact whom. Since it is
the congregation hosting the service, in most instances it
is appropriate that the host pastor extend invitations to
participants.
- Gifts and/or Signs of the Office of Ministry
The host pastor in consultation with appropriate persons in
the church is to explore the presentation of signs of the
office of ministry. If any gifts are to be presented, the
presenters are to be selected. The host congregation may invite
other sponsoring congregations to share in these acts.
- Rehearsal
The host pastor is to schedule and conduct the ordination
service rehearsal.
- Worship Bulletin
The congregation is to prepare the worship bulletin. Information
is to be submitted two weeks prior to the service.
- Seating
The host pastor is to select ushers and arrange for appropriate
seating arrangements. G. Music-- The host pastor is to make
sure that music arrangements are complete and fully understood.
- Music
The host pastor is to make sure that music arrangements are
complete and fully understood.
- Communion Service
The congregation is to make the arrangements for the communion
service, giving attention to recommendations for the service
contained in this book.
- Reception
The congregation plans and provides the reception.The host
pastor assists in setting up a reception line, if it is desired.
Acknowledgments
The working group of the Commission on Theology which has developed
this "Ordination Service and Guidelines for the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ)" is indebted to the following
resources for the preparation of this material:
"The Ordination Service: A Theological Explanation, the
Suggested Service and Guidelines." Prepared by the Task
Force on Ordination of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
in Kentucky, 1986.
"A Manual: Provisional Ordination Service and Guidelines."
Prepared by the Commission of Ministry of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in Indiana, March, 1987.
"A Suggested Order for the Service of Ordination."
Prepared by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois
and Wisconsin.
"Policies and Criteria for the Order of Ministry of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada."
Available from Disciples Home Missions of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ), 1971 (as amended).
The COCU Consensus, Consultation on Church Union, Research
Park, 151 Wall Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, 1954.
Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, World Council of Churches,
Geneva, 1982.
"Word to the Church on Ministry." Appendix in Ministry
among Disciples, Newell Williams, St. Louis: CBP Press, 1987.
Christian Worship: A Service Book, G. Edwin Osborn,
ed., St. Louis: Bethany Press, 1953.
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