Ordination or Consecration of a Bishop

		The Ordination or Consecration of a Bishop

¶		The Gathering

		At the entry of the ministers, a hymn, a canticle, or a psalm may be sung.

		The Greeting
		The Archbishop greets the people

		The Lord be with you
All		and also with you.

		The Collect

Archbishop		God our Father, Lord of all the world,
		through your Son you have called us into the fellowship of
		your universal Church:
		hear our prayer for your faithful people
		that in their vocation and ministry
		each may be an instrument of your love,
		and give to your servant now to be ordained bishop
		the needful gifts of grace;
		through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
		who is alive and reigns with you
		in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
		one God, now and for ever.
All		Amen.

¶		The Liturgy of the Word

		Readings


		Old Testament Reading: Numbers 27.15-20, 22, 23

		At the end the reader may say

		This is the word of the Lord.
All		Thanks be to God.

		Psalm

		Great peace have they who love your law; •
		nothing shall make them stumble.

		Lord, I have looked for your salvation •
		and I have fulfilled your commandments.

		My soul has kept your testimonies •
		and greatly have I loved them.

		I have kept your commandments and testimonies, •
		for all my ways are before you.

		Let my cry come before you, O Lord; •
		give me understanding, according to your word.

		Let my supplication come before you; •
		deliver me, according to your promise.

		My lips shall pour forth your praise, •
		when you have taught me your statutes.

		My tongue shall sing of your word, •
		for all your commandments are righteous.

		Let your hand reach out to help me, •
		for I have chosen your commandments.

		I have longed for your salvation, O Lord •
		and your law is my delight.
		Psalm 119.165-174
		Glory to the Father and to the Son
		and to the Holy Spirit;
		as it was in the beginning is now
		and shall be for ever. Amen.

		New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 4.1-10

		At the end the reader may say

		This is the word of the Lord.
All		Thanks be to God.

		A canticle or a hymn may be sung.

		Gospel Reading

		When the Gospel is announced the reader says

		Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
All		Glory to you, O Lord.


		The Gospel: John 21.15-17

		At the end

		This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All		Praise to you, O Christ.

		Sermon

		The Creed

		Stand

		The Nicene Creed may be said

All		We believe in one God,
		the Father, the Almighty,
		maker of heaven and earth,
		of all that is,
		seen and unseen.

		We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
		the only Son of God,
		eternally begotten of the Father,
		God from God, Light from Light,
		true God from true God,
		begotten, not made,
		of one Being with the Father;
		through him all things were made.
		For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
		was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
		and was made man.
		For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
		he suffered death and was buried.
		On the third day he rose again
		in accordance with the Scriptures;
		he ascended into heaven
		and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
		He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
		and his kingdom will have no end.

		We believe in the Holy Spirit,
		the Lord, the giver of life,
		who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
		who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
		who has spoken through the prophets.
		We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
		We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
		We look for the resurrection of the dead,
		and the life of the world to come.
		Amen.

		The Presentation

		Two bishops present the Bishop-elect, saying

		Reverend Father, we present N to be ordained and consecrated to the office of bishop in the Church of God.

Archbishop		Let the authority for the ordination be read.

		The Provincial Registrar reads the Royal Mandate.

		When the Mandate has been read, the Archbishop presents the Bishop-elect to the people, saying

		Those who have authority to do so have chosen N, as a man of godly life and sound learning, to be a bishop in the Church of God. Is it therefore your will that he should be ordained?
All		It is.

Archbishop		Will you uphold him in his ministry?
All		We will.

		The Archbishop then reads the Preface to the Declaration of Assent

		The Church of England is part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, worshipping the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It professes the faith uniquely revealed in the holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds, which faith the Church is called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation. Led by the Holy Spirit, it has borne witness to Christian truth in its historic formularies, the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, The Book of Common Prayer, and the Ordering of Bishops, Priests and Deacons. In the declaration you are about to make, will you affirm your loyalty to this inheritance of faith as your inspiration and guidance under God in bringing the grace and truth of Christ to this generation and making Him known to those in your care?

		The Bishop-elect

		I, N, do so affirm, and accordingly declare my belief in the faith which is revealed in the holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds and to which the historic formularies of the Church of England bear witness; and in public prayer and administration of the sacraments, I will use only the forms of service which are authorized or allowed by Canon.

		The Declaration

		The Bishop-elect stands before the Archbishop, and the people sit.

Archbishop		A bishop is called to lead in serving and caring for the people of God and to work with them in the oversight of the Church. As a chief pastor he shares with his fellow bishops a special responsibility to maintain and further the unity of the Church, to uphold its discipline, and to guard its faith. He is to promote its mission throughout the world. It is his duty to watch over and pray for all those committed to his charge, and to teach and govern them after the example of the Apostles, speaking in the name of God and interpreting the gospel of Christ. He is to know his people and be known by them. He is to ordain and to send new ministers, guiding those who serve with him and enabling them to fulfil their ministry.

		He is to baptize and confirm, to preside at the Holy Communion, and to lead the offering of prayer and praise. He is to be merciful, but with firmness, and to minister discipline, but with mercy. He is to have a special care for the outcast and needy; and to those who turn to God he is to declare the forgiveness of sins.

		The Archbishop says to the Bishop-elect

		In order that we may know your mind and purpose, and that you may be strengthened in your resolve to fulfil your ministry, you must make the declarations we now put to you.

		Do you believe, so far as you know your own heart, that God has called you to the office and work of a bishop in his Church?
		I believe that God has called me.

Archbishop		Do you accept the holy Scriptures as revealing all things necessary for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ?
		I do so accept them.

Archbishop		Do you believe the doctrine of the Christian faith as the Church of England has received it, and in your ministry will you expound and teach it?
		I believe it, and will so do.

Archbishop		Will you accept the discipline of this Church, and faithfully exercise authority within it?
		By the help of God, I will.

Archbishop		Will you be diligent in prayer, in reading holy Scripture, and in all studies that will deepen your faith and fit you to uphold the truth of the Gospel against error?
		By the help of God, I will.

Archbishop		Will you strive to fashion your own life and that of your household according to the way of Christ?
		By the help of God, I will.

Archbishop		Will you promote unity, peace, and love among all Christian people, and especially among those whom you serve?
		By the help of God, I will.

Archbishop		Will you then be a faithful witness to Christ to those among whom you live, and lead your people to obey the Saviour's command to make disciples of all nations?
		By the help of God, I will.

Archbishop		Almighty God, who has given you the will to undertake all these things, give you also the strength to perform them; that he may complete that work which he has begun in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		The Prayers

		Kneel

		The Archbishop commends the Bishop-elect to the prayers of the people and silence is kept.

		Veni Creator is sung.

		Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
		And lighten with celestial fire;
		Thou the anointing Spirit art,
		Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

		Thy blessed unction from above
		Is comfort, life and fire of love;
		Enable with perpetual light
		The dullness of our blinded sight.

		Anoint and cheer our soiled face
		With the abundance of thy grace;
		Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
		Where thou art guide no ill can come.

		Teach us to know the Father, Son,
		And thee, of both, to be but One;
		That through the ages all along
		This may be our endless song:

		Praise to thy eternal merit,
		Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
		Amen.

Archbishop		Let us pray.

		The Archbishop or some other minister leads the prayers for the candidates and for the ministry of the whole Church.

		God the Father,
All		have mercy upon us.

		God the Son,
All		have mercy upon us.

		God the Holy Spirit,
All		have mercy upon us.

		Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity,
All		have mercy upon us.

		From all evil and mischief;
		from pride, vanity and hypocrisy;
		from envy, hatred and malice;
		and from all evil intent,
All		good Lord, deliver us.

		From sloth, worldliness, and love of money;
		from hardness of heart
		and contempt for your word and your laws,
All		good Lord, deliver us.

		From sins of body and mind;
		from the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,
		from error and false doctrine,
All		good Lord, deliver us.

		In all times of sorrow,
		in all times of joy;
		in the hour of death,
		and at the day of judgement,
All		good Lord, deliver us.

		Govern and direct your holy Church;
		fill it with love and truth;
		and grant it that unity which is your will.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Give us boldness to preach the gospel in all the world,
		and to make disciples of all the nations.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Enlighten all who minister with knowledge and understanding,
		that by their teaching and their lives
		they may proclaim your word.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Bless your servant now to be made bishop,
		that he may serve your Church
		and reveal your glory in the world.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Give your people grace to hear and receive your word,
		and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Bring into the way of truth all who have erred
		and are deceived.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Strengthen those who stand;
		comfort and help the faint-hearted;
		raise up the fallen;
		and finally beat down Satan under our feet.
All		Hear us, good Lord.

		Give us true repentance;
		forgive us our sins of negligence and ignorance,
		and our deliberate sins;
		and grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit
		to amend our lives according to your holy word.
All		Holy God,
		holy and strong,
		holy and immortal,
		have mercy upon us.

Archbishop		Lord, you are merciful and forgive our sins. You hear those who pray in the name of your Son. Grant that what we have asked in faith we may obtain according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		The Ordination

		The Archbishop stands with the bishops who assist him; the Bishop-elect kneels before him; he stretches out his hands towards him, and says

		We praise and glorify you, almighty Father, because you have formed throughout the world a holy people for your own possession, a royal priesthood, a universal Church.

		We praise and glorify you because you have given us your only Son Jesus Christ to be the Apostle and High Priest of our faith, and the Shepherd of our souls.

		We praise and glorify you that by his death he has overcome death; and that, having ascended into heaven, he has given his gifts abundantly, making some, apostles; some, prophets; some, evangelists; some, pastors and teachers; to equip your people for the work of ministry and to build up his body.

		And now we give you thanks that you have called this your servant, whom we consecrate in your name, to share this ministry entrusted to your Church.

		Here the Archbishop and other bishops lay their hands on the head of the Bishop-elect, and the Archbishop says

		Send down the Holy Spirit upon your servant N for the office and work of a bishop in your Church.

		The Archbishop then continues

		Almighty Father, fill this your servant with the grace and power which you gave to your apostles, that he may lead those committed to his charge in proclaiming the gospel of salvation. Through him increase your Church, renew its ministry, and unite its members in a holy fellowship of truth and love. Enable him as a true shepherd to feed and govern your flock; make him wise as a teacher, and steadfast as a guardian of its faith and sacraments. Guide and direct him in presiding at the worship of your people. Give him humility, that he may use his authority to heal, not to hurt; to build up, not to destroy. Defend him from all evil, that as a ruler over your household and an ambassador for Christ he may stand before you blameless, and finally, with all your servants, enter your eternal joy.

		Accept our prayers, most merciful Father, through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and your Holy Spirit, belong glory and honour, worship and praise, now and for ever.
All		Amen.

		The Giving of the Bible

		Sit

		The newly-ordained Bishop stands, and the Archbishop gives the Bible to him, saying

		Receive this Book; here are words of eternal life. Take them for your guide, and declare them to the world. Keep watch over the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has appointed you shepherd. Encourage the faithful, restore the lost, build up the body of Christ; that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you may receive the unfading crown of glory.

¶		The Liturgy of the Sacrament

		Stand

		The Archbishop resumes the celebration of Holy Communion at the Peace. These special forms are used

		Proper Preface
		And now we give you thanks because within the royal priesthood of your Church you ordain ministers to proclaim the word of God, to care for your people and to celebrate the sacraments of the new covenant.

		Post Communion Sentence
		The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
		Mark 10.45

		Post Communion
		God our Father,
		shepherd and guide of all your faithful people:
		look with favour on N your servant
		whom you have chosen to be a pastor over your Church;
		and grant that by word and example
		he may lead the people committed to his charge,
		and with them come to your eternal kingdom;
		through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		Amen.

		Blessing
		Almighty God, who for the salvation of the world gives to his people many gifts and ministries to the advancement of his glory, stir up in you the gifts of his grace, sustain each one of you in your own ministry; and the blessing …

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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