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Commissioning
Service for Church Leaders
Pastor: In the Church of the Brethren, people are ordained
for ministry at baptism. The church also calls out people with
gifts for specific ministry tasks. This congregation, under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, has called various people for
leadership among us. Today we join in a service of consecration,
commissioning these people for ministry.
Let us pray.
O God, we give
thanks for all people here who have responded to your call in
Christ Jesus to be workers together with you. We are especially
grateful for our brothers and sisters who express their faith and
witness through specific ministries in this congregation.
Grant us grace
that we may all present our gifts and talents to be used for your
glory and our neighbor’s good. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Worship Leader: The church board and commission members
give direction to our congregation’s mission and ministry.
People who have been called to this ministry are (names).
We have
called other persons to specific ministries: (name) is our
church clerk, (name) will serve as Treasurer until the end of
December, when (name) will take on this task, (name) is our
Financial Secretary. Our Moderator is (name). We thank the
Nominating Committee for their work in discerning gifts and
abilities which helped us call out these persons to leadership. (Names),
please stand as members of this committee for the coming year.
Our delegates to
District Conference and to Annual Conference represent this
congregation and share in decision-making within the larger
church. We have called (names) as District Conference
delegates and (names) as Annual Conference delegates.
Pastor: Brothers and sisters in Christ, God has called you
to these ministries in our congregation. We thank God for each of
you and for your willing response to this call. We believe that
God will empower you for this ministry among us. We invite you to
make your commitment by responding to the questions of
commissioning as the congregation asks them.
(in bulletin:)
Commissioning our Church Leaders
Congregation: Do you willing accept the responsibility to
which you have been called, and do you promise to be faithful in
fulfilling that responsibility?
Church Leaders: We do.
Congregation: Will you seek to live a life worthy of this
trust, exemplifying Christian faith and spirit in all that you do?
Church Leaders: We will.
Congregation: Will you be creative, redemptive, and
cooperative as you work together in common tasks?
Church Leaders: We will.
Congregation: Will you prepare yourself by becoming
familiar with congregational, district, and denominational
policies and ministries? And will you prepare through regular
Bible study, prayer, worship, and sharing in the life of this
faith community?
Church Leaders: We will.
*Congregation: We, as brothers and sisters in Christ,
affirm you as leaders called to serve in this congregation. We
offer to you our cooperation and confidence, our prayers and
support, so that both the knowledge and love of God revealed in
Jesus Christ may increase among us and in all of God’s creation.
*Pastor: As a co-worker in Christ, I declare you installed as
leaders, workers, and delegates of the Long Green Valley Church,
in the name of God our Creator, Jesus Christ our Redeemer, and the
Holy Spirit our Sustainer. Amen.
*Congregation stands
by Robert
E. Alley, adapted
from For
All Who Minister, ©1993, Brethren Press, pp. 326-329.
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