1 SENTENCES

(See People's Book, p. 109)

There are diverse gifts;
but it is the same Spirit who gives them.

There are different ways of serving God:
but it is the same Lord who is served.

God works through people in different ways:
but it is the same God
whose purpose is achieved through them all.

Each one of us is given a gift by the Spirit:
and there is no gift without its corresponding service.

There is one ministry of Christ:
and in this ministry we all share.

Together we are the body of Christ:
and individually members of it

The minister addresses the people:

The Uniting Church provides for the exercise
by men and women
of the gifts God bestows upon them
for the building up of the church.

Having sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
we are now to commission as elders and/or church councillors
those whom we have elected to this ministry.

A representative of the congregation presents the candidates and says:

On behalf of the people of this congregation,
I present the following persons to be commissioned or recommissioned
as elders and/or church councillors:

The representative reads the names of the candidates.
The candidates stand together facing the congregation
and the Minister addresses them:

Brothers and sisters,

N and N,
the congregation has elected you
to serve as elders/church councillors.

The church council shall give priority in its life
to building up the Congregation in faith and love,
sustaining members in hope,
and leading the Congregation
to a fuller participation in Christ's mission in the world.

If there are elders to be commissioned/recommissioned,
the following statement shall be included:

The ministry of Elder is one of spiritual oversight,
and may also be exercised in pastoral visitation, teaching,
encouraging members of the Congregation to share in mission,
and assisting the Minister in leadership of worship
and administration of the sacraments.

Where the elders are to be members of the Church Council,
the following should be included:

Elders who serve on the Church Council
have a particular responsibility
to ensure that such matters have priority
in the work of the Church Council.

The minister asks the candidates:

Do you confess anew Jesus Christ as Lord?

Do you believe that you are called by God
through the church to this ministry?

Being guided by The Basis of Union
of the Uniting Church in Australia,
will you live and work within the faith and unity
of the one holy catholic and apostolic church?

Relying on God's grace,
do you promise to carry out the duties of your office?

The people stand.
The minister says:

Will you, the members of this congregation,
accept these brothers and sisters (or, N and N) as elders/church councillors?

Will you encourage them in love
and support them in their ministry,
serving with them the one Lord Jesus Christ?

May God give you strength to fulfil these vows,
and to him be the glory
in the church and in Christ Jesus
from generation to generation for ever.

The people sit.

4 ACT OF COMMISSIONING

Those appointed by the church council to join with the minister
in the laying on of hands come forward.

The minister says:

Beloved in Christ,
let us pray in silence for these people
before we commission them for the work
to which we believe the Holy Spirit has called them.

The candidates kneel.

After a time of silence the minister says:

Almighty God,
we thank you that in every age you have chosen leaders
to serve and care for your people.
We thank you that you have called N and N
to serve you.
May those you have chosen
have the same mind which was in Christ Jesus
and be faithful disciples,
giving example to Christ's flock
and witnessing to the truth of the gospel;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The minister and those appointed lay hands on the head
of each candidate in turn, and the minister says:

God of grace,
through the Holy Spirit
empower your servant N
for the ministry of elder/church councillor.

The people respond:

The Lord bless you and keep you
he Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.

Alternatively, the minister says this blessing:

The God of all grace,
who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
establish and strengthen you in all things,
to the glory of his name
and the good of his church on earth.

The candidates stand.
The minister says:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I declare you to be elders/church councillors
of the Uniting Church in Australia
in the……. Congregation.

The minister and other elders/church councillors give the right hand of fellowship to the new elders/church councillors.

 

5 PRAYERS

Intercessions for the following may be included in Prayers of the People:

The newly-commissioned elders/church councillors and their families

The life and mission of the congregation

The witness of elders/church councillors within the Uniting Church in Australia.

 

Let us pray.

We pray for these person we have commissioned today

As Elders / Church Councillors in this Congregation.

Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

use them to inspire and guide your people here

in the work of the gospel.

Enable them individually to contribute to the unity of the faith.

May they with all elders and parish counsellors

serve you faithfully within the one holy catholic

and apostolic church through the work of the

Uniting Church in Australia. Amen.

In using this service, please acknowledge:

“Used with permission -

National Working Group on Worship

Theology and Discipleship

The Uniting Church in Australia. 2000”.

 

 

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