Ordination & Installation Service

Processional: (All Standing)Doxology

Celebrant: Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
All: And blessed be His kingdom, now and forever. Amen!

Celebrant: The Lord be with you!
All: And with your Spirit!

Celebrant: Let us pray: O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Hymn: Come Holy Ghost Our Souls Inspire

Charge: Toby Sumpter, you have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Do not shun to declare unto your charge the whole counsel of God. Take heed to yourself, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has made you an overseer, to feed the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood. We charge you before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the Word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Vows

Celebrant: Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?
Answer: I do.
Celebrant: Do you sincerely receive and adopt the doctrinal standards of this church, being set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith as amended and explained in our Constitution, as your own confession of faith, and as a faithful statement of the doctrine taught in the Scriptures?
Answer: I do.
Celebrant: If at any time you find yourself out of accord with any point in our Constitution or Confession, will you, on your own initiative, make known to your Session the change which has taken place in your views since the assumption of these vows?
Answer: I will
Celebrant: Will you be diligent, with God’s help, to frame and fashion yourself and your household, according to the Doctrine of Christ; and to make both yourself and your household wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of Christ?
Answer: I will.
Celebrant: Do you approve of the form of government and discipline of this church, in conformity with the general principles of biblical polity?
Answer: I do.
Celebrant: Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the Lord, unto whom is committed the charge and government over you; following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions, and submitting yourselves to their godly judgments?
Answer: I do.
Celebrant: Do you now in the presence of the Church commit yourself to this trust and responsibility?
Answer: I do.

The Celebrant addresses the congregation

Celebrant: Do you, the people of the Lord, receive Toby Sumpter as a ruling elder in this church, commissioned to be a Minister of the Gospel among you?
Answer: We do, God helping us.
Celebrant: Will you uphold him in his ministry and submit to his leadership in the Lord?
Answer: We will, God helping us.

Ordination
Celebrant: Let us pray: God and Father of all, we praise you for your infinite love in calling us to be a holy people in the kingdom of your Son Jesus our Lord, who is the image of your eternal and invisible glory, the firstborn among many brethren, and the Head of the Church. We thank you that by his death he has overcome death and, having ascended into heaven, has poured his gifts abundantly upon your people, making some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry and the building up of his body.

(The elders lay hands upon the ordinand.)
Celebrant: Therefore, Father, through Jesus Christ your Son, give your Holy Spirit to Toby; fill him with grace and power and make him a ruling elder in your church.

Celebrant: May he exalt you, O Lord, in the midst of your people; offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to you; boldly proclaim the gospel of salvation; and rightly administer the sacraments of the New Covenant. Make him a faithful pastor, a patient teacher, and a wise councilor. Grant that in all things he may serve without reproach, so that your people may be strengthened and your name glorified in all the world. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(The elders extend the right hand of fellowship to the new elder.)

(All stand to sing)
Psalm 15
All: Amen!