Guidelines For Planning An Ordination

The following guidelines are intended especially for those whose churches do not have a required ordination service. They may also be of assistance to those who must use a particular liturgy.

(1) The ordination should be carefully planned in consultation with the candidate and, if possible, with the presiding minister. (2) Care should be taken to insure that the ordination will manifest the full variety of the ministries and orders of the church. The liturgical roles normally exercised by lay persons should not be taken over by clergy. (3) Since music is a basic part of the liturgical celebration, the music for the ordination liturgy should be carefully integrated into the whole celebration. (4) The celebration of an ordination is a celebration of the whole church and not merely of an individual and his or her family. The service should be planned so that the congregation can actively participate throughout the celebration. (5) The liturgy for an ordination normally includes the following elements, although not necessary in this order: presentation of the candidate, proclamation of the Word of God, sermon/homily, examination of the candidate, prayer for the candidate by the congregation, ordination prayer with the laying on of hands, presentation of symbols of office, exchange of the peace, and celebration of the Eucharist. (6) In churches where vestments are used, the candidate usually wears the basic ministerial vestment, without a stole, from the beginning of the service. The white alb is rapidly becoming the basic vestment common to all ministers. Other vestments, e.g., a stole, may be given to the new minister after the ordination prayer and the imposition of hands. A minister (elder, presbyter, priest) wears the stole so that it passes around the neck and the ends hang pendant in front. A deacon wears the stole over the left shoulder so that it passes across the chest and back and is fastened on the right side. (7) The presentation of the candidate generally takes place at the beginning of the service or after the sermon. It may include a request to ordain the candidate, the assent of the people, and prayer for the candidate (litany or some other prayer). This portion of the service should be kept relatively simple and not appear to be a canonization of the candidate. (8) The proclamation of the Word of God should follow the usual pattern of the church. It is appropriate that readings be proclaimed from the Old Testament, the New Testament (other than the Gospels), and from one of the Gospels. Many churches have specific readings that are assigned for ordinations. The readings other than the Gospel are read by lay persons in many churches. (9) The readings are followed by a sermon on the readings; it ought to relate also to the ordination which is about to take place. In some churches it will incorporate a charge to the candidate, or this will follow as a separate element. (10) An examination of the candidate takes place. Various questions are asked of the candidate on his or her willingness to live a life in keeping with the order of ministry being conferred, and whether he or she will faithfully carry out the responsibilities of his or her new office. (11) Prayer for the candidate may take the form of a hymn to the Holy Spirit or a litany (if this has not preceded this point in the service). (12) The ordination prayer and the laying on of hands form a single unit. The first portion of the prayer recalls the ministry of Christ and his gift of the ministry to the church. The laying on of hands may take place in silence before the prayer or during the prayer itself. It is preferable that when the laying on of hands takes place during the ordination prayer, it be accompanied by an invocation of the Holy Spirit to confer the particular order of ministry. If there is more than one candidate, the laying on of hands and invocation should be repeated for each candidate. If a bishop is being ordained, other bishops participate in the laying on of hands on the candidate. If a minister (elder, presbyter, priest) is being ordained, other members of that order of ministry participate in the laying on of hands. The presiding minister alone lays hands on a candidate for the diaconate. The other ministers who participate in the laying on of hands should stand in such a way as to not block the view of the people. The portion of the prayer after the imposition of hands should include intercessions that the new minister be given by God the gifts necessary for carrying out his or her new ministry. (13) The new minister may be vested as indicated above. Other symbols of office, such as a Bible and/or chalice and paten, may be given to the new minister. Care should be taken that these presentations not seem more important than the laying on of hands and the ordination prayer. (14) The ordination portion of the service concludes with the presiding minister giving the new minister the peace (right hand of fellowship). The other ministers present may also greet the new minister. (15) It is appropriate that the service continue with the celebration of the Eucharist (Lord's Supper, Holy Communion). The newly ordained minister may assist the presiding minister, or, when appropriate, preside at the celebration of the Eucharist.