My Ordination - 6/13/03

EXAMINATION OF ELDERS

All were seated, except the Elder candidates and the Bishop, who stood facing
each other. The Bishop examined the candidates:

Ordination is a gift from God to the church and is exercised in covenant with the whole church and within the covenant of the order.

My brothers and sisters, you have been called to be ordained to the ministry of Elders. The church now confirms your calling through ordination. As Elders, you are to be coworkers with the Bishops, Deacons, diaconal ministers, commissioned ministers, and other Elders.

Remember that you are called to serve rather than to be served,
to proclaim the faith of the church and no other, to look after the concerns of God above all.

An Elder is called to share in the ministry of Christ and of the whole church:
to preach and teach the Word of God and faithfully administer the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion;
to lead the people of God in worship and prayer;
to lead people to faith in Jesus Christ;
to exercise pastoral supervision, order the life of the congregation, counsel the troubled, and declare the forgiveness of sin;
to lead the people of God in obedience to Christ’s mission in the world;
to seek justice, peace, and freedom for all people;
and to take a responsible place in the government of the Church and in service in and to the community.
These are the duties of an Elder.

Do you believe that God has called you to the life and work of an Elder?
I do so believe.
Do you believe in the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
I do so believe and confess.
Are you persuaded that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain all things necessary for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and are the unique and authoritative standard for the church’s faith and life?
I am so persuaded, by God’s grace.
Will you be faithful in prayer, in the study of the Holy Scriptures, and with the help of the Holy Spirit continually rekindle the gift of God that is in you?
I will, with the help of God.
Will you do your best to pattern your life in accordance with the teachings of Christ?
I will, with the help of God.
Will you, in the exercise of your ministry, lead the people of God to faith in Jesus Christ, to participate in the life and work of the community, and to seek peace, justice, and freedom for all people?
I will, with the help of God.
Will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church, accepting its order, liturgy, doctrine, and discipline, defending it against all doctrines contrary to God’s Holy Word, and committing yourself to be accountable with those serving with you, and to the bishop and those who are appointed to supervise your ministry?
I will, with the help of God.
Will you, for the sake of the church’s life and mission, covenant to participate in the Order of Elders? Will you give yourself to God through the Order of Elders in order to sustain and build each other upin prayer, study, worship, and service?
I will, with the help of God, and the help of my sisters and brothers in the order of Elders.
May God, who has given you the will to do these things, give you grace to perform them, that the work begun in you may be brought to perfection.
Amen.

LAYING ON OF HANDS AND PRAYER FOR ELDERS

The Bishop faced all the ordinands and called the people to prayer, using these words:

As these persons are ordained by God and the church for the ministry of Elders
to which we believe they have been called by the Holy Spirit, let us pray for them.

The people prayed in silence. The Bishop, with hands extended over the ordinands, prayed:
We praise you, eternal God, because you have called us to be a priestly people, offering to you acceptable worship through Jesus Christ, Apostle and High Priest, Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. We thank you that, by dying, Christ has overcome death and, having ascended into heaven, has poured forth gifts abundantly on your people, making some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up Christ’s body, and to fulfill your gracious purpose in the world.
Give to these your servants the grace and power they need to serve you in this ministry.
Make them faithful pastors, patient teachers, and wise counselors.
Enable them to serve without reproach, to proclaim the gospel of salvation,
to administer the sacraments of the new covenant, to order the life of the church
and to offer with all your people spiritual sacrifices acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Joining in the laying on of hands with Bishop Hae-Jong Kim were Rev. Dr. Deryl Larsen, Rev. Dennis Lawton, Rev. Robert Zilhaver, Rev. Frank Sherman, and Rev. Gerald Schmidt. The Bishop lay both hands on my head, praying:
Father Almighty, pour upon Keith the Holy Spirit, for the office and work of an Elder in Christ’s holy church. Keith, take authority as an Elder to preach the Word of God, and to administer the Holy Sacraments, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.