06-Order For The Ordination Elders
ORDER FOR THE ORDINATION OF ELDERS.
| The Elders elect standing before the congregation, the minister shall say:], IN the first planting of the Christian Church the apostles went about ordaining several Elders in every city. A distinction is affirmed by Paul between those Elders who as ministers of the gospel labor in word and doctrine, and those Elders who only rule. These Ruling Elders are in a special sense the representatives of the people, chosen by them for the purpose of exercising government and discipline in con junction with pastors or ministers of the word. It is proper that the government of the Church should be in the hands of several men of wisdom and piety, rather than “m the hands of one, and especially that the 61 52 MANUAL OF FORMS. pastor should be counseled and assisted bj persons of reputation living permanently in the midst of the people, in perfect sympathy with them and enjoying their confidence.
Thus in the Presbyterian Church have the people secured control of their own church affairs, and prevented the growth of professional clerical bigotry and tyranny.
It is the duty of the Elders, in connection with the pastor, in the exercise of their joint power as a Session, to administer the power of the keys in admitting or excluding members from sealing ordinances, and to administer the government, regulate the worship, guard the doctrine and superintend the evangelistic and benevolent work of the Church.
It is the duty of the Elders severally, together with their households, to set the ex ample of a godly walk and conversation, and to assist the pastor in the visitation of the people and in the personal oversight and pastoral guidance and comfort of all the members of the Church. The members of this church, being met together with invocation of the Holy Ghost, have chosen these persons to the office of Ruling Elder.
ORDINATION OF ELDERS. 53
Before they are set apart to this sacred office let them and the people over whom they are to rule make answer to the following questions, Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice? Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures? Do you approve of the government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in these United States? Do you accept the office of Ruling Elder in this congregation, and promise faithfully to perform all the duties thereof? Do you promise to study the peace, unity and purity of the Church? The Elders elect shall each say, I do. Do you, the members of this church, acknowledge and receive these brethren as Ruling Elders, and do you promise to yield them all that honor, encouragement and obedience in the Lord to which their office, ac cording to the word of God and the constitution of this church, entitles them?
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[ The members shall assent by holding up their right hand*.
[Then the minister shall (the Elders elect devoutly kneeling) ordain the Elders by prayer (and if desired by the im position of hands.)], PRAYER, Set apart, we beseech thee, O Lord, th<^, thy servants to the work whereunto thou hast called them. Endue them plenteousi^ with all the gifts and graces which shall qualify them for their office. Give them favor and influence with the people. Work in and with them daily in the care and government of thy flock. Make them faithful unto death, and when the Chief Shepherd shall appear may they receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. AMEN.
DECLARATION, [The minister shall say:], By the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and the constitution and laws of the Presbyterian Church you have now been ordained to the office of a Ruling Elder, and installed in the actual exercise of the duties and rights of that office in this Church and congregation. May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, replenish you with his grace, that you may faithful 1 y keep these vows ORDINATION OF ELDERS. 55 and discharge the duties of your sacred office. AMEN.
CHARGE, I now charge you, in the. uaine of the Lord Jesus, and in the name of the Church of which he is the Head, that you give all diligence in the discharge of the duties of this office; that you make his word your guide, and search it daily for instruction as to your personal and official duties; that you Keep your minds and hearts open to all the indications of his providence and the leading of his Spirit. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called. And keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I also charge you, Christian people, to be faithful to these Elders whom you have yourselves chosen to rule over you in the Lord; that you count the Elders that rule well worthy of double honor; and that you render them all due obedience, co-operation and support, and follow them so far as ye see them follow Christ.
PRAYER, O Lord, our God and heavenly Father, 56 MANUAL OF FORM. we thank thee that it has pleased thee, foi the better edification of thy Church, to or dain in it, besides the ministers of thy word, rulers and assistants, by whom thy Church may be preserved in peace and prosperity, and that thou hast at present granted us in this place men who are of good testimony and endowed with thy Spirit. We beseech thee, replenish them more and more with such gifts as may be necessary for them in their ministrations, with the gifts of wisdom, courage, discretion and benevolence, to the end that they may take diligent heed unto their doctrine and conversation, in keeping out wolves from the sheepfold of thy beloved Son, and in admonishing and reproving disorderly persons, and in instructing and com forting thy people, especially those who are poor and in affliction. Give them grace that they may persevere in their faithful labor, and never become weary by reason of oppositions and persecutions of the world.
Grant also thy divine grace to this people over whom they are placed, that they may willingly submit themselves to the good exhortations of the Elders, counting them wor thy of honor for their work’s sake, to the ORDINATION OF ELDERS. 57 end that thy holy name may thereby be magnified, and the kingdom of thy Son Jesus Christ be enlarged, who has taught us to pray:* Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. AMEN.
[ Where there is an existing Session, it is proper that the members of that body, at the close of the service and in the face of the congregation, take the newly-ordained Elders by (he hand, saying, in words to this purpose, “ We give you the right hand of fellowship, to take part of this office with us.”], * This prayer is in part taken from the Book of the R formed (Dutch) Church