| Notes | ||
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1
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The Threefold Ministry | |
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The Church of England maintains the historic threefold ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons. Its ministers are ordained by bishops according to authorized forms of service, with prayer and the laying on of hands (see Canons C 1-4). | |
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2
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Ordination of Bishops | |
| Bishops must be ordained by at least three other bishops, joining together in the act of ordination, of whom one shall be the archbishop of the province or his deputy. | ||
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3
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Ordination of Priests and Deacons | |
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Priests share with the bishop in laying hands on the heads of those ordained to the order of priesthood. The bishop alone lays his hands on the heads of those ordained to the order of deacon. | |
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4
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Forms of Service | |
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Questions concerning the form of service to be used, and other matters concerning the conduct of the service, are to be determined by the bishop who presides at it, in accordance with the rubrics of the service and having regard to tradition and local custom. It is appropriate that the newly ordained should be invited by the bishop to exercise their new ministry in the course of the service. | |
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5
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Holy Communion | |
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Any form of service of Holy Communion which is authorized by Canon B 1 may be used at these Ordination Services (see Canon C 3.4A). Whichever form of service is used, the pattern of the Order for the Celebration of Holy Communion, Order One, may be followed for the Gathering, the Greeting and the Readings. The Post Communion may be that for Ember Days. | |
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6
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Readings | |
| The presiding bishop may choose alternative Old Testament or New Testament readings suitable to the occasion. | ||
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7
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Vesture | |
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Where it is agreed that those to be ordained are to be clothed in their customary vesture, it is appropriate that this should take place at any time after the Declaration or at the Peace. | |
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8
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Symbols | |
| Where it is so agreed, symbols of the priest's office (chalice and paten) or the bishop's office (pastoral staff) may be presented after the Giving of the Bible. | ||
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9
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Variation in Order | |
| The presentation to the bishop or archbishop may occur after the Greeting, the presentation to the people after the Declaration, and the Giving of the Bible and other symbols as part of the concluding rite. | ||