| Presbyteral Ordination Rite West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod |
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The ordination ritual is more complicated than your
typical Sunday mass (though not nearly as complicated as
Easter vigil). That we ordain so 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. What follows applies to the ordination of a presbyter.* Guidelines
for the ordination of a deacon will be developed when need
arises. LogisticsVenueOrdinations can occur almost anywhere, the basic
distinction being between an ordination that is held in a
place other than where the ordinand will serve vs. an
ordination that is held in the place where the ordinand
will serve. Unlike some synods in which the Synod Assembly is the
normal setting for ordinations, WV-WMD typically leaves
the place of the ordination up to the ordinand (in
consultation with the bishop). Some ordinands prefer to
hold the ordination in the place that has issued the call.
Others like to hold it in their home congregations. Still
others have held it at their internship sites or their
seminaries. Various practical and political necessities
may suggest still other locations. When an ordination is taking place where the ordinand
will serve, an abridged installation is appended. Preparing the SpaceWhat follows assumes the ordination will take place in a
church building. If not, appropriate and reasonable
adjustments should be made.
TimeAn ordination is a service of the synod, not the
congregation (or the ordinand). An ordination for
congregational ministry should not be held during the
regular Sunday morning service. Timing should be
such that clergy may reasonably attend. Think about drive
time and other travel issues related to time of year,
weather, etc. Preferred times are
Certain times of year should be avoided. Holy Week, for
example, is an awful time for an installation. Holy
Saturday is prohibited. Feeding the 5,000See the guidance for Feeding
the 5,000 under installations. Dramatis personae
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Order of Service
When the ordination rite is set in the mass, the
order of service is as follows.
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The presbyteral
ordination rite may be downloaded for your study.
Slight modification of the order of service is usual in
this synod (to improve the flow of the service). Note the
following:
A sample order for an ordination is printed at right.
The Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness is used.
The Kyrie is used.
The Gloria is used when the bishop is present.
The Prayer of the Church (Prayers of Intercession) are
appointed in the ordination rite. The Great Litany or the
Litany of the Holy Ghost may be used instead (but only if
the ordinand prostrates).
The rite for ordination includes an appendix with
suggested pericopes. Any of the suggested pericopes work,
but the one being installed my select canonical pericopes
outside the list. If a pericope from the deutero-canonical
Scriptures is desired, seek dispensation from the bishop.
The propers for the synaxis and Eucharist (i.e.,
prayer of the day, verse [Gospel acclamation], preface, etc.)
for ordination are included in the appendix just
mentioned. Note well, the propers listed in the
downloadable rite are incomplete in that they do not
provide all the options for the verse (Gospel acclamation)
and provide no recommendations for the offertory. Consult
the LBW: Occasional Services for additional
propers.
As suggested, the ordination rite is more complicated
than a regular Sunday service, and that complexity extends
to the movements and actions involved.
| Brief Order for Confession &
Forgiveness |
The Confessor should lead the
penitential rite from the customary place for the
given space. If that is the crossing, or chancel, or
some other place toward the front of the sanctuary,
the Confessor may, after completing the penitential
rite, either remain at the front of the sanctuary to
one side and await the procession, or the Confessor
my come to the narthex via the side aisle or an
outdoor route. |
| Processional Hymn |
The procession forms outside the nave
in the following order:
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| Gradual & Gospel |
A Gospel procession is optional. If incense is used, the bishop censes the Book of the Gospels prior to it being taken in procession or otherwise used for the reading. If there is a deacon among the assisting ministers, the deacon reads the Gospel. |
| Hymn of the Day |
During the Hymn of the Day, the
cathedra is placed and the ordination party
(ordinand, sponsor, bishop, an assisting minister,
and an acolyte) take their places at the center
interface of the crossing and chancel, the ordinand
and sponsor facing the bishop. The bishop hands the
acolyte the crozier, and the acolyte remains
standing near the bishop with the crozier held
backwards. |
| Presentation of the Ordinand |
The sponsor presents the ordinand.
After doing so, the sponsor may remain or return to
his/her seat. |
| Prayer of the Church (Prayers of
Intercession) |
The ordinand may prostrate, but this
is optional (and ill-advised if the ordinand will
have significant difficulty rising from prostration. |
| Hymn of Invocation |
During the hymn, the vested
presbyters leave their pews and surround the
ordinand. If the ordinand has made prostration, it would be most welcome if two of the clergy would help him/her up at this time. The ordinand kneels before the bishop in preparation for the chirothesia. |
| Chirothesia |
The ordinand still kneeling before
the bishop, the bishop lays hands on the ordinand's
head. The gathered presbyters lay their right hands
on top of the bishop's hands. Only presbyters
participate in the chirothesia in an ordination to
the presbyterate. Following the prayer of the
chirothesia, the presbyteral college steps back and
to the sides and/or behind the bishop such that
congregation can see the bishop and ordinand. In cases where it is impossible for the presbyters to gather in the crossing, the presbyters form a line. The bishop lays hands, each presbyter, in turn, comes to the ordinand and lays hands on top of the bishop's hands and then returns to his/her seat. After all have done so, the bishop, with hands still imposed, continues with the prayer of the chirothesia. |
| Reception of the Stole |
The ordinand still kneeling, the
person presenting the stole comes forward and
presents the back of the neck of the stole to the
ordinand to kiss. The presenter then vests the stole
as the bishop recites the vesting charge. The
presenter of the stole, after vesting, simply steps
to one side or returns to his/her place. |
| Charges |
The ordinand stands, still facing the
bishop. |
| Blessing |
The ordinand kneels. |
| Interrogation of the Assembly |
The ordinand stands and faces the
congregation. |
| Acclamation |
The ordinand continues to face the
assembly. |
| Pax |
All return to their places or
stations if they have eucharistic duties. |
| Recession |
Recession is in the same order as the
procession. |
| Postlude |
Clergy should not divest. It is
traditional to get a group photo, so clergy should
make their way to the crossing for a photo. |
The liturgical color for an ordination is red.
It is not necessary to print out the ordination rite in full in the worship bulletin. 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 and 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 incurs unnecessary labor and expense while providing greater occasion for 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.
Assuming the necessary details are provided to Synod HQ,
the synod will advertise the ordination on The
Bishop's Roadshow, Facebook, and WV-WMD.org.
Additionally, all synod presbyters and deacons will
receive a notices.
If an installation will be included, the congregation and
the one being ordained will want to think about inviting
the following:
This section will be developed once need arises.