Celebration of a New Ministry
Concerning the Service
This order is for use when a priest is being instituted and inducted as the
rector of a parish. It may also be used for the installation of deans and
canons of cathedrals, or the inauguration of other ministries, diocesan
or parochial, including vicars of missions and assistant ministers.
Alterations in the service are then made according to circumstances.
The chief minister is normally the bishop; but, if necessary, a deputy
may be appointed. The bishop, when present, is the chief celebrant of
the Eucharist. In the bishop’s absence, a priest being inducted is the
chief celebrant.
Other priests, if any, who serve in the same congregation also stand with
the chief celebrant at the Altar, and deacons assist according to their
order.
Lay persons from the congregation read the Old Testament Lesson and
the Epistle, and perform other actions as indicated in the rubrics. A
deacon or priest reads the Gospel. Other clergy of the diocese participate
in this celebration as an expression of the collegiality of the ministry in
which they share.
Ministers of other Churches may appropriately be invited to participate.
The new minister, if a deacon, should read the Gospel, prepare the
elements at the Offertory, assist the celebration at the Altar, and
dismiss the congregation.
A lay person being instituted should read one of the Lessons and
assist where appropriate.
Additional Directions are on page 564.
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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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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
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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 post-
communion 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.
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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 authorized eucharistic prayers
may be used.
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