The installation ritual is more complicated than your typical Sunday mass (though not nearly as complicated as Easter vigil). That we install infrequently (not to mention the variant practices among synods) adds to our general sense of not knowing exactly what to do. The rubrics, of course, are a great aid, but even they need to be deciphered when it comes to various adiaphora. This page will, hopefully, help you navigate the complexities.

Logistics

Venue

Installations should normally be held in the setting of the ministry into which the presbyter is being installed.

If the call is to a single congregation, then the church building of that congregation makes sense. Calls to multiple-point parishes usually force a choice between the sites.

Non-congregational ministries might involve a chapel or common room in a college, hospital, or nursing home. A ministry based in a church camp warrants a service on that camp's grounds.

Some ministries have no particular place associated with them, opening the door to any venue that is on the general territory of that ministry.

This is all, of course, flexible and various practical and political necessities may come into play.

Preparing the Space

What follows assumes the installation will take place in a church building. If not, appropriate and reasonable adjustments should be made.

• Ushers: Yes, ushers are part of the preparation of the space. Ushers should be stationed at points of entry to direct arriving clergy, worship leaders, and guests to vesting rooms, rest rooms, and worship space.
  
• Vestry: One or more rooms of sufficient size should be designated as vestry for the clergy in attendance.
• Reserved Seating:
  
• For Family: Adequate seating should be reserved in the first pews on one side of the nave for the family of the one being installed.
• For Clergy:  Adequate seating should be reserved in the first pews of the opposite side of the nave for the vested clergy. It is better to reserve more space for clergy than expected. Clergy are notorious for not RSVPing. Shortly before the service, a solid headcount can be secured, and unneeded reserved pews can be opened up.
• For the Presbyter Being Installed & Presenter of the Presbyter Bring Installed: In the very first pew on the aisle, two seats should be reserved for the one being installed and the presenter of the one being installed. If the presenter prefers to sit somewhere else (e.g., in the choir because they are a choir member or out among the rest of the congregation in the nave because they prefer to sit with their own family), that is fine. The presenter should be advised to sit on an aisle and to be ready to come forward during the hymn of the day.
• For Lectors, Presenters of the Instruments Ministry, etc.: Seats on the aisles of the nave should be reserved for any persons with parts in the service that require them to come forward during the course of the liturgy.
  
• In the Chancel: There should be sufficient space in the chancel for bishop (or installing officer), preacher, presider, assisting ministers, and acolytes.
  
• Cathedra: If the bishop is serving as the installing officer, a chair should be available for use by the bishop during the installation rite. As this should be on the center line of the chancel as it meets the crossing, it may remain to one side and then brought out during the hymn of the day (unless the bishop is preaching and chooses to preach from the cathedra). At the peace, it may be removed.

Time

An installation for a congregational ministry should not be held during the regular Sunday morning service. An installation, while primarily a service of the congregation, is also a service of the synod. Timing should be such that neighboring congregations and clergy may reasonably attend. It has been the practice in WV-WMD to invite the conference associated with the ministry to the installation. Think about drive time and other travel issues related to time of year, weather, etc. Preferred times are

• Saturdays,
• Sunday evenings or afternoons (no earlier than 3:00 p.m.), and
  
• Friday evenings (though any weeknight can work).

Certain times of year should be avoided. Holy Week, for example, is an awful time for an installation. Holy Saturday is prohibited.

Consult with the bishop before fixing a date and time. In some cased, the bishop will not be able to install because the date demanded conflicts with the bishop's schedule. In such cases, the bishop normally directs the dean of the conference to install. The service may have to be planned around the bishop's or dean's schedule.

Feeding the 5,000

While not required, it is customary that some sort of refreshment be provided. This has ranged from light refreshments (punch and cake) to a full-blown dinner at the local Knights of Columbus. Famously, pizza and ice cream were once served at the Lutheran Campus Chapel in a bid to be thoroughly contextual. Many congregations will ask for an RSVP to get a rough estimate for planning purposes.

Dramatis personae

In addition to the presbyter being installed, there is a cast of characters, some required in the rite, some optional.

• Installing officer: This is usually the bishop, but, when the bishop is not available, the dean serves as the installing officer at the direction of the bishop.
• Preacher: The bishop has first right of refusal of the pulpit. Typically (though not necessarily), the bishop offers the one being installed the privilege of selecting a preacher, but the bishop does have veto over the selection. Other ELCA ministers of Word (bishops, presbyters, deacons) and those within the parameters of our full-communion agreements are fair game. Beyond that, dispensation from the bishop is to be sought. Consult the bishop before issuing an invitation.
• Eucharistic presider: The presbyter being installed is the Eucharistic presider, the presbyter being installed taking over the liturgy at the pax. If the installation is set within the context of an ordination, the one being installed does not preside at the table. N.B., mass at the installation of a presbyter is normal, but there may be rare circumstances that suggest a non-Eucharistic liturgy (e.g., a ministry with a significant interfaith component).
• Synactic liturgist: The presbyter being installed does not preside over the liturgy of the Word. The bishop has first right of refusal of the chancel. Typically (though not necessarily), the bishop offers the one being installed the privilege of selecting a liturgist, but the bishop does have veto over the selection. Other ELCA ministers of the Word (bishops, presbyters, and deacons) and their full-communion equivalents are fair game. Consult the bishop before issuing an invitation.
• Presenter of the presbyter being installed: A representative of the ministry, usually an officer of the council/board.
  
• Presenters of the instruments of ministry: Representatives of the congregation or ministry who present to the symbols of the instruments of ministry to the presbyter being installed: pulpit (Bible),† font (shell), and altar (paten & chalice);
• Lectors: Lectors may be chosen at the discretion of the one being installed.
  
• Assisting ministers: Assisting ministers may be chosen from among the baptized at the discretion of the presbyter being installed.
• Acolytes: A variety of acolytes (e.g., a crucifer, lucifers, a thurifer, etc.) may be chosen at the discretion of the presbyter being installed.

An individual may fulfill more than one role.

Words

Rite

The appropriate installation rite may be downloaded for your study from the links at the bottom of the table of contents on this page.

Slight modification of the order of service is required for use in this synod:

• Creed
• The creed follows immediately after the sermon.
• The Nicene creed is used regardless of the season, but, with dispensation from the bishop, the Quicunque vult (Athanasian Creed) may be used.
• Hymn of the Day follows the creed and immediately precedes the installation rite (to provide cover for the movement of the installation party into position).
• The Blessing precedes the Prayer
• The Prayer follows The Blessing, and is incorporated as a petition in the Prayer of the Church (prayers of intercession) which is offered at this time.
• The Presentation/Reception of the Instruments of Ministry follows the Prayer of the Church.
• The Peace follows the rite of installation.

A sample order for an installation set in the mass is at right.

If the installation is to be set in Service of the Word, Matins, or Vespers, consult with the bishop for details on the form.

The Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness is used.

The Kyrie is used.

The Gloria is used when the bishop is present.

Propers

Pericopes

The rite for installation includes an appendix with suggested pericopes. Any of the suggested pericopes work, but the presbyter being installed my select pericopes outside the list.

Synactic and Eucharistic

The liturgical propers for the mass (i.e., prayer of the day, verse [Gospel acclamation], preface, etc.) for installation are included in the appendix just mentioned. If a proper offertory is desired, any of the following offertories may be used:

• St. Andrew, Apostle,
• St. Stephen, Deacon & Martyr,
• St. John, Apostle & Evangelist,
• "What shall I render to the Lord."
  

Movement & Actions

Color

The liturgical color for an installation is the color of the day. Red, for example, is not used unless it is a red day (e.g., Pentecost or a martyr's feast). If the one being installed has a desire for a color other than the usual color for the day, find a martyr (if red is desired) or a non-martyred saint (for white) or some other feast to justify the color sought, and include it in the observance of that day in some way.

Sample Bulletin Content When the installation is set in the mass, the order of service may be rendered as follows in the bulletin. {Everything from Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness through the Gospel} Sermon Nicene Creed Hymn of the Day Rite of Installation Invitation & Presentation Address & Interrogation Commission & Blessing Prayers of Intercession Conferral of the Instruments of Ministry Introduction & Acclamation Peace Offering & Offertory {The remainder of the Eucharistic rite} OR ―――――― {Everything from Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness through the Gospel} Sermon Nicene Creed Hymn of the Day Rite of Installation Peace Offering & Offertory {The remainder of the Eucharistic rite}

Bulletins

It is not necessary to print out the installation rite in full in the worship bulletin. Instead, a very simple listing suffices (see examples at right).

The few things that are to be said by the congregation are thoroughly cued by the installing officer—in other words: there is nothing the congregation needs to have in print for their participation in the service, and it would serve them better to pay attention to the words in the action as it happens rather than to have their faces buried in their bulletins. In fact, printing out the installation rite is strongly discouraged as it increases cost in terms of labor and material resources while providing occasion for formating and textual errors.

Those with special roles in the service (e.g., the presenter and the presenters of the instruments of ministry) should have, at least, index cards with their lines written out for them.

Consult the bishop.

Invitations

The synod will advertise the installation on The Bishop's Roadshow, Facebook, and WV-WMD.org, assuming the necessary details are provided Synod HQ. Along with this, all conference presbyters and deacons will receive a notice.

The congregation (and one being installed) will want to think about inviting the following:

• Nearby ELCA congregations
• Nearby ecumenical partners
• Neighbors — this is an opportunity for outreach!
• Civic institutions — the mayor and city council, local police, fire, and EMS officers and departments, social service agencies, and others with whom the newly installed presbyter or deacon may have to work with in the future.
  

Notes