When using this order of service, care should be taken to substitute the correct gender.
Where the bishop is Patron, the service is entitled Collation and Induction.
INSTITUTION AND INDUCTION OF AN INCUMBENT
ORDER OF SERVICE
The congregation is asked to stand for the opening hymn, during which the Bishop’s procession enters.
The Bishop greets the people:
Bishop: Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
The Bishop introduces the service.
THE PRESENTATION
Patron or Rural Dean:
Reverend Father in God, I present to you NN to be admitted to the cure of souls in this parish.
Bishop:
We thank you for your presentation; and we intend that s/he shall be Instituted and Inducted as Incumbent of this parish. We welcome him/her as a fellow servant in the ministry Christ entrusts to his Church. Let us pray for N that Almighty God will bless him/her and those committed to his/her charge.
Silence is kept.
God our Father, Lord of all the world, we thank you that through your Son you have called us into the fellowship of your universal Church: hear our prayer for your faithful people that each in their vocation and ministry may be an instrument of your love, and give to your servant N now to be instituted/collated the needful gifts of grace; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever.
All: Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
Sit: Two readings follow, the last of which is always the Gospel. Readings other than those given may be used at the discretion of the Bishop.
FIRST READING: (Book, chapter and verse)
At the end of the reader may say:
This is the Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
A psalm, canticle or hymn may be sung, after which all stand.
THE GOSPEL:
Reader: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St N (chapter and verse)
All: Glory to you, O Lord
At the end the reader says:
This is the Gospel of Christ
All: Praise to you, O Christ
Sit: The Sermon
The Bishop introduces THE PROMISES OF PRIEST AND PEOPLE
The people of the parish face the Font, to which the procession moves.
COMMITMENT TO RENEWAL AND GROWTH
Bishop: Hear the words of St. Paul:
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:3-4
The Archdeacon speaks to the Incumbent-designate
Archdeacon: Call the people to offer themselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; remind them that by one Spirit they were all baptized into the one body of Christ and made fellow workers for God. It is your duty to instruct in their duties the parents and sponsors of those baptized in infancy, that, having been confirmed by the Bishop, they may, as ambassadors for Christ, take an active part in his continuing work of reconciliation.
N, will you do this?
Incumbent Designate: I will, the Lord being my helper.
A Church Warden:
We, the people of this parish, for our part must, by word and example, encourage those who are baptized to be active in the life of the Church, to grow in godliness and in the understanding of Christian belief and duty.
Rural Dean: People of this parish, will you do this?
The people of the Parish: We will, with the help of God.
The procession then moves to the pulpit or lectern, the people facing it.
COMMITMENT TO THE WORD OF GOD
Bishop: St. Paul says:
We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
2 Corinthians 4:5
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke and exhort, be unfailing in patience and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:1-2
Archdeacon: Set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, and teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have through the laying on of hands.
N, will you practise these duties, devoting yourself to them, taking heed to yourself and your teaching; for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers?
Cf. 1 Timothy 4: 11 ff
Incumbent Designate: I will, the Lord being my helper
A Church Warden:
We, for our part, must be faithful in reading, hearing and proclaiming God’s word. Our lives should be framed according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that we may make his life know to all.
Rural Dean: My brothers and sisters, will you do this?
The people f the parish: We will, with the help of God.
The procession then moves to the body of the church.
COMMITMENT TO PRAYER
Bishop: Hear the words of St. Paul:
Rejoice always, pray constantly, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
Archdeacon: N, will you be faithful in daily prayer and will you help the people to persevere and to grow in the life of prayer?
Incumbent Designate: I will, the Lord being my helper.
A Church Warden:
People of this parish, we must be faithful in public and private prayer. We must come together frequently and especially on Sundays to worship Almighty God.
Rural Dean: My brothers and sisters, will you do this?
The People of the Parish: We will, with the help of God.
The procession then moves to the Altar, the people facing it.
COMMITMENT TO UNITY
Bishop: St. Paul says:
The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’
1 Corinthians 11: 23 - 25
Archdeacon: It is the duty of the parish priest to lead the people in worship, celebrating the Holy Eucharist with them in love and devotion, that all may discern the Lord’s body.
N, will you, with the help of God and by your patience, love and understanding, maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?
Incumbent Designate: I will, the Lord being my helper
A Church Warden:
It is the duty and privilege of Christ’s people to eat and drink at His Table, to know Him in the Breaking of Bread, and, having been made one with Him and with each other, to go out in the power of the Spirit to live and work to His praise and glory.
Rural Dean: People of this parish, will you do this?
The People of the Parish: We will, with the help of God.
CHARGE TO MISSION
Bishop: Jesus said, go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.
Matthew 28: 19 and 20
A Hymn may be sung
THE INSTITUTION OR COLLATION
Bishop: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I shall now institute/collate NN, Clerk in Holy Orders, to the cure of souls in this parish, but first let the Oaths be taken and the Declaration of Assent be made and subscribed, according to law.
The customary Oaths and Declaration are administered.
The Incumbent-designate kneels, and the Bishop reads the Deed of Institution or Collation and then hands it to the Incumbent-designate saying:
Bishop: Receive this cure of souls which is both mine and thine in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Then the Bishop, laying his hand upon him, blesses him, saying:
Bishop: The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen.
THE INDUCTION
The Bishop asks the Archdeacon to induct the Incumbent-designate.
Churchwardens lead the Incumbent-designate and the Archdeacon to the main door of the church.
The Archdeacon places the Incumbent designate’s hand on the handle of the door and says:
Archdeacon: N, I induct you into the real, actual and corporeal possession of the parish church of ………………………………………….. with all the rights, members and appurtenances thereunto belonging.
The Incumbent tolls the bell to signify his taking possession.
THE WELCOME
The Archdeacon then welcomes the new Incumbent.
Archdeacon: N, We welcome you to this parish
All: We welcome you
The Rural Dean then welcomes him.
In the name of the clergy and people of this deanery, I welcome you.
A representative of other local Christian churches welcomes him.
In the name of your fellow Christians in this area, I welcome you.
A representative of the local community welcomes him.
In the name of all who live and work here, I welcome you.
The Incumbent may respond to the welcome.
A hymn is sung, during which a collection is taken for the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund.
After the hymn, all remain standing for the prayers.
THE PRAYERS
Incumbent: As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
All:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
Now and for ever. Amen.
OR
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil,
For thine is the Kingdom
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever. Amen
Bishop: Heavenly Father, look with love upon your servant N, Bless him/her as your chosen minister, and renew in him/her the steadfastness of zeal; enable him/her with increase of wisdom; and bring him/her to the perfect vision of your glory that, following the way of our Lord Jesus Christ, s/he may lead your people to serve your Kingdom and share its joy. Lord hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
This prayer may be said:
Bishop: God our heavenly Father whose Son Christ shared the life of an earthly home; bless the home of N and M; enfold the family in your love and in the love of your people. Lord hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Bishop: Almighty God, whose Holy Spirit equips the Church with a rich variety of gifts; grant that we may use them to bear witness to Christ by lives built on faith and love. Make us ready to live his gospel and eager to do his will, that we may share with all your Church in the joys of eternal life. Lord hears us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Bishop: The Lord be with you
All: and also with you.
Bishop: The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, establish, strengthen and settle you in the faith; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.
Or a Seasonal Blessing may be used.
All: Amen.
Incumbent: Go in the peace of Christ.
All: Thanks be to God.
The Bishop’s procession leaves, followed by the choir and visiting clergy.
