Celebration of a New Ministry

<Celebration of a New Ministry>

*A hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung.*

<The Institution>

*The Wardens, standing before the bishop with the new minister, say these or similar words*

Bishop &N., we have come together today to welcome &N.&N., who has been chosen to serve as =Rector= of (=name of church=). We believe that =he= is well qualified, and that =he= has been prayerfully and lawfully selected.

*The Bishop may read the Letter of Institution, or else may state the purpose of the new ministry.*

*The Bishop then says*

&N., do you, in the presence of this congregation, commit yourself to this new trust and responsibility?

*New minister* I do.

*The Bishop then addresses the congregation*

Will you who witness this new beginning support and uphold &N. in this ministry?

*People* We will.

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*The Bishop, standing, says*

Let us then offer our prayers to God for all his people, for this congregation, and for &N. their =Rector=.

*The Litany for Ordinations, or some other appropriate litany, is led by a person appointed. At the end of the litany, the Bishop, standing, says the following or some other Collect, first saying*

The Lord be with you.

*People* And also with you.

*Bishop* Let us pray.

Everliving God, strengthen and sustain &N., that with patience and understanding he may love and care for your people; and grant that together they may follow Jesus Christ, offering to you their gifts and talents; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. =Amen.=

<At the Liturgy of the Word>

*The Readings are selected from the following list, or in accordance with the directions on page 565.*

=Old Testament= Joshua 1:7-9, *or* Numbers 11:16-17,24-25a

=Psalm= 43, *or* 132:1-9, *or* 146, *or* 133 and 134 (especially suitable for use in the evening)

=Epistle= Romans 12:1-18, *or* Ephesians 4:7,11-16

=Gospel= John 15:9-16, *or* Luke 10:1-2, *or* John 14:11-15

=The Sermon=

*After the Sermon, and any responses to it, the congregation sings a hymn.*

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<The Induction>

*Representatives of the congregation and of the clergy of the diocese stand before the bishop with the new minister. Any of the presentations that follow may be added to, omitted, or adapted, as appropriate to the nature of the new ministry, and to the order of the minister. In the absence of the bishop, the deputy substitutes the words given in parentheses.*

*Representatives of the congregation present a Bible, saying*

&N., accept this Bible, and be among us (*or* be in this place) as one who proclaims the Word.

*People* Amen.

*The Bishop presents a vessel of water, saying*

&N., take this water, and help me (help the bishop) baptize in obedience to our Lord.

*People* Amen.

*Others present a stole or other symbol, saying*

&N., receive this =stole=, and be among us as a pastor and priest. *People* Amen.

*Others present a book of prayers or other symbol, saying*

&N., receive this =book=, and be among us as a =man= of prayer.

*People* Amen.

Others present olive oil or some other symbol, saying

&N., use this =oil=, and be among us as a healer and reconciler.

*People* Amen.

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*If the new minister is the rector or vicar of the parish, a Warden may now present the keys of the church, saying*

&N., receive these keys, and let the doors of this place be open to all people.

*People* Amen.

*Representative clergy of the diocese present the Constitution and Canons of this Church, saying*

&N., obey these Canons, and be among us to share in the councils of this diocese.

*People* Amen.

*Other Representatives of the congregation present bread and wine, saying*

&N., take this bread and wine, and be among us to break the Bread and bless the Cup.

*People* Amen.

*The Bishop then says*

&N., let all these be signs of the ministry which is mine and yours (the Bishop's and yours) in this place.

*People* Amen.

*The new Minister, if a priest, may then kneel in the midst of the church, and may say*

O Lord my God, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; yet you have called your servant to stand in your house, and to serve at your altar. To you and to your service I devote myself, body, soul, and spirit. Fill my memory with the record of your mighty works; enlighten my understanding with the light of your Holy Spirit; and may all the desires of my heart and will center in what you would have me do. Make <page 563> me an instrument of your salvation for the people entrusted to my care, and grant that I may faithfully administer your holy Sacraments, and by my life and teaching set forth your true and living Word. Be always with me in carrying out the duties of my ministry. In prayer, quicken my devotion; in praises, heighten my love and gratitude; in preaching, give me readiness of thought and expression; and grant that, by the clearness and brightness of your holy Word, all the world may be drawn into your blessed kingdom. All this I ask for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. =Amen.=

*The Bishop then presents the new minister to the congregation, saying*

Greet your new =Rector=.

*When appropriate, the family of the new minister may also be presented at this time.*

*The Congregation expresses its approval. Applause is appropriate. The Bishop greets the new minister.*

*The new Minister then says to the people*

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

*People* And also with you.

*The new Minister then greets other members of the clergy, family members, and the congregation. The People greet one another.*

<At the Eucharist>

*The service continues with the Offertory.*

*The Bishop, or in the Bishop's absence a Priest beginning a new ministry, standing at the Lord's Table as chief celebrant, and joined by the other clergy, proceeds with the Great Thanksgiving of the Eucharist.*

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*Except on Major Feasts, the Preface may be that for Apostles and Ordinations.*

<After Communion>

*At the Induction of a priest or deacon, in place of the usual postcommunion prayer, the Bishop leads the people in the following prayer; but if the new minister is a lay person, the usual postcommunion prayer is used.*

Almighty Father, we thank you for feeding us with the holy food of the Body and Blood of your Son, and for uniting us through him in the fellowship of your Holy Spirit. We thank you for raising up among us faithful servants for the ministry of your Word and Sacraments. We pray that &N. may be to us an effective example in word and action, in love and patience, and in holiness of life. Grant that we, with =him=, may serve you now, and always rejoice in your glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

*A newly inducted Priest may, at the bishop's request, pronounce a blessing.*

*A Deacon, or a Priest if no deacon is present, dismisses the assembly.*

=Additional Directions=

*The Institution, the Ministry of the Word, and the Induction should occur at the entrance of the chancel, or in some other place where the bishop and other ministers may be clearly seen and heard by the people.*

*The Letter of Institution is appropriate for the induction of a rector of a parish, the dean of a cathedral, and others having similar tenure of office. <page 565> Its wording may be altered by the bishop when circumstances require. In other cases, the bishop may state briefly the nature of the person's office and the authority being conferred.*

*The new minister is normally presented to the bishop by the wardens of the parish, but additional, or other, persons may do this when desired.*

*The Litany may be sung or said standing or kneeling, but the bishop always stands for the salutation and Collect at the end of it. The Collect of the Day, or a Collect of the season, or another prayer suitable to the occasion, may be used instead.*

*Before the Gospel, there may be one or two Readings from Scripture. Any of the Readings, including the Gospel, may be selected from the Proper of the Day, or from the passages cited in the service. Other passages suitable to the circumstances may be substituted. Appropriate selections may be found in the service for the Ordination of a Deacon or in the Lectionary for Various Occasions.*

*The sermon may be preached by the bishop, the new minister, or some other person; or an address about the work of the congregation and of the new minister may be made. Representatives of the congregation or of the community, the bishop, or other persons present, may speak in response to the address or sermon.*

*The symbols presented should be large enough to be visible to all and should remain in the sight of the congregation during the Induction. The vestments and bread and wine may be used in the Eucharist which follows.*

*The priest's prayer on page 562 is appropriate only for rectors of parishes, vicars of missions, hospital chaplains, and other priests having similar canonical charge.*

*For the Great Thanksgiving, any of the authorize eucharistic prayers may be used.*

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=Concerning the Service=

*This service provides for the dedication and consecration of a church and its furnishings. Portions of the service may be used, or adapted when necessary, for dedicating parts of a building, or furnishings, that have been added, altered, or renovated. Likewise, suitable parts of this rite may be used for dedicating a chapel or an oratory within another building. Provisions for adapting the rite to special circumstances are given on page 576.*

*This service may be used to dedicate and consecrate a church at any time after the building is ready for use as a place of worship.*

*The service does not preclude the use of the building for educational or social purposes, or for other suitable activities.*

*The bishop presides. The rector or minister in charge takes part as indicated. Neighboring ministers should be invited to participate, and may be assigned appropriate parts in the service.*

*It is desirable that all members of the congregation, young and old, have some individual or collective part in the celebration, as well as the architect, builders, musicians, artists, benefactors, and friends.*

*For a church or chapel long in use, a special order is provided on page 577.*

*Additional Directions are on page 575.*

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