THE ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF ELDERS AND DEACONS
The minister, addressing those reaffirming the baptismal covenant, then says:
The grace bestowed on you in baptism
is sufficient because it is God's grace.
By God's grace we are saved,
and enabled to grow in the faith
and to commit our lives in ways which please God.
I invite you now to claim that grace given you in baptism
by reaffirming your baptismal vows:
to renounce all that opposes God and God's kingdom
and to affirm the faith of the holy catholic church.
Renunciations
The minister continues, using one of the following:
Do you renounce all evil,
and powers in the world
which defy God's righteousness and love?

I renounce them.

Do you renounce the ways of sin
that separate you from the love of God?

I renounce them.

Do you turn to Jesus Christ
and accept him as your Lord and Savior?

I do.

Will you be Christ's faithful disciple,
obeying his Word and showing his love,
to your life's end?

I will, with God's help.
Profession of Fatih
The congregation may stand and join those reaffirming the baptismal covenant, by affirming the faith in the words of the Apostles' Creed.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.   Amen.
The Constitutional Questions

a. Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

b. Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to you?

c. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?  

d. Will you fulfill your office in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions?

e. Will you be governed by our church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit?

f. Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?

g. Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?

h. Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?

i. (For elder) Will you be a faithful elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in governing bodies of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?

j. (For deacon) Will you be a faithful deacon, teaching charity, urging concern, and directing the people’s help to the friendless and those in need? In your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?
To the Congregation
a. Do we, the members of the church, accept (names) as elders or deacons,
chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to lead us in the way of Jesus Christ?

b. Do we agree to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church? 

The Prayer of Ordination and Installation
For the Deacons
God of love and compassion,
you poured out your life in service
in your Son, Jesus Christ.
By word and example he taught us
to find fulfillment in giving ourselves,
and greatness in serving others.
Bless those called to be deacons,
who lead us in service and caring.
Empower them by the grace of your Spirit,
that your whole church may give its life for the sake of the world,
in the name of Jesus Christ
who came not to be served, but to serve
For the elders
God of righteousness and truth,
you brought us into your church
to show in our life together
something of the orderliness of your creation,
and the love of Jesus Christ.
Bless those called to be elders,
that they may govern wisely and fairly.

Give them full measure of your Spirit,
that they may refresh your people
along the journey of faith,
discerning, teaching, and sharing the Word of life,
Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen. 
The Charge
To the Elders – I Timothy 3:1-4
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:  2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;  3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
To the Deacons – I Timothy 3:8-13
8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 
 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 
 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 
11 In the same way, their spouses must be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 
12 A deacon, [ if married, must be a faithful partner in marriage] and must manage his[or her] children and … household well.  13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
To the Congregation: - Philippians 2:1-16
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 
6 Who, being in very nature God, 
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 
7 but made himself nothing, 
taking the very nature of a servant, 
being made in human likeness. 
8 And being found in appearance as a man, 
he humbled himself 
and became obedient to death— 
even death on a cross! 
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place 
and gave him the name that is above every name, 
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 
to the glory of God the Father.
The Welcome