No sermon this week ... but some comments offered, extemporaneously, on THE NINE QUESTIONS, which might make a good sermon title sometime ... or maybe even a crime-thriller movie.
Anyway, for your pleasure and your pondering, THE NINE QUESTIONS OF ORDINATION for the Presbyterian Church USA ... with the 9th question (here, for a Ruling Elder) differing for a Deacon or a Teaching Elder, a Minister of Word and Sacrament (that's me, folks) ... followed by the laying on hands for the one to be ordained - and, once ordained, always ordained, unless stripped of the office, having been found guilty of terrible things, as tried by a church court (yes, we have those, too).
What's important here is the dignity of ordination - for those called by God to the office or Teacher Elder, and those called be Ruling Elders or Deacons. With the exception of The NINTH question, the ordination questions are precisely the same ... and unique to our Reformed Tradition, the laying on of hands for the lay offices of Deacon and Elder. We take ordination very, very, seriously.
It's a great moment in the life of a Presbyterian Congregation to ordain and install new officers ... in the case of Westminster, no deacons, only elders ... who then fulfill the duties of the diaconate.
And, of course, congratulations to Lee Powers upon the occasion of his ordination.
~ The Ordination & Installation of Elders ~
Reflections on Ordination: Rev. Eggebeen
"The Three Offices”
The Elders Elect - before the congregation
Questions to the Elders Elect
Moderator, The Rev. Dr Tom Eggebeen, Interim Minister
a. Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? I do!
b. Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God's Word to you? I do!
c. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God? I do and I will!
d. Will you fulfill your ministry in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions? I will!
e. Will you be governed by our church's polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God's Word and Spirit? I will!
f. Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world? I will!
g. Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church? I do!
h. Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love? I will!
i. Will you be a faithful ruling elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in councils of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ? I will!
Ordination of Lee Powers as Ruling Elder
~ The Laying on of hands & Prayer of Ordination
~ All Elders and Ministers of the Word and Sacrament are invited to gather around Lee for his Ordination
Moderator: God of grace, pour out your Holy Spirit on Lee Powers,
that he may be your faithful elder in the church.
Give him prudence and sound judgment,
wisdom and courage to order the life of the church
in obedience to your Word.
Nourish him in the life of the Holy Spirit,
that he may exercise the ministry of discipline with humility and compassion.
Guide him in governance, on this session and in every court of the church, that he may be a servant-leader following Christ who came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life to set others free.
Give him joy in his walk of faith and a sure sense of your abiding presence
for their work of ministry. Through Christ our LORD we pray. Amen!
Questions to the Congregation
Clerk of Session, Norman Haynes
a. Do we, the members of the church, accept those who stand before this morning as ruling elders, chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to lead us in the way of Jesus Christ? We do!
b. Do we agree to pray for them, to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church? We do!
Declaration of Installation
The Moderator
You are now elders in the church of Jesus Christ and for this congregation, in this time, and in this place, for these people and for all who shall come our way. Be faithful and true in your ministry so that your whole life will bear witness to the crucified and risen Christ. Be kind and generous, be sympathetic and prayerful; seek the truth, listen with care, speak with purpose, learn constantly of Christ, pay attention to your world, and give all the love you can. Amen and Amen!
Concluding Hymn - see Bulletin
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