Marrow Man
Drunk with Powder
The ARP Directory of Public Worship makes a distinction between installation of an officer (by which it means elders and deacons) and commissioning of a non-ordained person.
Here is the relevant paragraph for installation to church office:
Here is the section on commissioning:
I have never done such a service (commissioning, that is). I know that there are services (sometimes special evening services) held for the commissioning of a missionary before he prepares to go out on the mission field (in some ways, similar to a service for the installation/ordination of a minister). I don't think I've ever seen any of the non-ordained "commissionings" mentioned in the DoPW, however.
My first questions are addressed primarily to ARPs: Have you ever done such a commissioning service? If so, how did you conduct it? Was it a part of a regular worship service? Who exactly was commissioned? Did it involved women (as in "women's, youth, or children's ministries"). If so, did you do anything to make sure that the congregation understood that this was different from an installation for church office? Did the congregation find it confusing?
For those of you from other presbyterian backgrounds: Do you have similar provisions in your governance standards? If so, how do you (or would you) handle such a service?
I am very reluctant to include such a thing as a part of an ordinary worship service. Also, I do not want this to turn into a Tim Keller bashing thread; those things might be referenced, but please do not go down that road.
Here is the relevant paragraph for installation to church office:
Installation is the solemn act of placing in office those who
have been elected and lawfully ordained to the office. Those
who are installed in an office to which they have previously
been ordained are not ordained again. Ordination to an
office is for life, unless the officer is released from the office
or is deposed by a process of discipline.
Here is the section on commissioning:
A commissioning, which is distinct from ordination to church
office, is the solemn recognition of a person as set apart for a
particular work of ministry. The ministry in view may be of
a continuing nature, as in the appointment of a missionary, a
church counselor, or a director of music, Christian education,
women’s, youth, or children’s ministry. The ministry may
also be of a temporary nature, as in short-term missionary
service.
A service of commissioning may be held in a worship service.
Appropriate prayers and a charge to the one(s) being commissioned
should be included.
I have never done such a service (commissioning, that is). I know that there are services (sometimes special evening services) held for the commissioning of a missionary before he prepares to go out on the mission field (in some ways, similar to a service for the installation/ordination of a minister). I don't think I've ever seen any of the non-ordained "commissionings" mentioned in the DoPW, however.
My first questions are addressed primarily to ARPs: Have you ever done such a commissioning service? If so, how did you conduct it? Was it a part of a regular worship service? Who exactly was commissioned? Did it involved women (as in "women's, youth, or children's ministries"). If so, did you do anything to make sure that the congregation understood that this was different from an installation for church office? Did the congregation find it confusing?
For those of you from other presbyterian backgrounds: Do you have similar provisions in your governance standards? If so, how do you (or would you) handle such a service?
I am very reluctant to include such a thing as a part of an ordinary worship service. Also, I do not want this to turn into a Tim Keller bashing thread; those things might be referenced, but please do not go down that road.