A SERVICE CELEBRATING THE ASSIGNMENT OF A BISHOP TO AN AREA

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A representative of the Jurisdictional or Conference Committee on the Episcopacy leads the service.

GATHERING

PROCESSIONAL HYMN * See processional hymns suggested and in UMH.

GREETING AND OPENING PRAYER *

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

Eternal God, by your grace you have set us together in your Church,
whose foundation is your Son Jesus Christ.
Grant your continuing grace, we pray,
to all who exercise leadership in your Church,
that they may with diligence and faithfulness
fulfill their various ministries;
and grant that we your people may follow them where you lead
and minister faithfully in the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ANTHEM OR OTHER ACT OF PRAISE

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION*

SCRIPTURE LESSON Ezekiel 34:11–16 God the True Shepherd

PSALM 100 * (UMH 821)

SCRIPTURE LESSON Titus 1:7-9 The character of a bishop

HYMN * Suggested from UMH:

537–93 The Nature of the Church	944 Hymns listed under Installation Services
940 Hymns listed under Discipleship and Service	949 Hymns listed under Ordination

GOSPEL LESSON* John 21:15-17 Feed my sheep

INTRODUCTION OF THE BISHOP

Leader to bishop:

Bishop Name,
you have been consecrated to be a shepherd and servant,
and you have now been assigned
as bishop of the Name Area of The United Methodist Church.

Leader to the Chair of Committee(s) on the Episcopacy:
Who will present Bishop Name for welcome to this area?

Chair(s) of Committee(s) on the Episcopacy:

I (We), the Name Area representatives
of the Name Jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy,
do certify that Bishop Name
[was duly elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church
at the year Jurisdictional Conference, and] has been assigned
by the Name Jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy
to the Name Area.

I (We), therefore, present to this congregation Bishop Name to be
welcomed to the area to which he/she has been assigned.

THE COVENANT SERVICE

Leader:

The Church is the community of those called by God,
justified by grace, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
We who are baptized into Christ's death
and raised with Christ in the resurrection
are living members of the body of Christ
who return thanksgiving to God
in ministries of worship, nurture, witness, and service.

A bishop has been ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament;
and to represent Christ's servanthood
in a special ministry of oversight.

A bishop is called to guard the faith, to seek the unity,
and to exercise the discipline of the whole Church;
and to supervise and support the Church's life, work,
and mission throughout the world.

As a servant of the whole Church,
the bishop is called to preach and teach
the truth of the gospel to all God's people;
to lead the people in worship,
in the celebration of the Sacraments,
and in their mission of witness and service in the world,
and so participate in the gospel command
to make disciples of all nations.

The bishop is to lead and guide
all persons entrusted to his/her supervision;
join in the consecration of bishops,
commission provisional members,
ordain deacons and elders,
commission deaconesses, home missioners, and missionaries
for service to the Church and to the world,
and provide for the ministry of Word and Sacrament
in the congregations committed to his/her care.

Let the shepherd who has been called
now affirm these ministries in our midst.

Bishop:

With God's help,
I promise faithfully to hear and to proclaim God's Word,
and rightly administer the Sacraments, as your pastor and servant.

People:

With God's help,
we promise to join with you in the life of praise and thanksgiving,
and in the faithful use of the means of grace that God has given us.

Bishop:

By the grace of Christ,
I promise to be among you as a teacher of the faith,
a pastor of souls, and a means to the unity of the body of Christ.

People:

By the grace of Christ,
we promise to join with you in the life of learning,
in the nurturing of God's people,
and in the seeking of that oneness in Christ
which is Christ's gift to us.

Bishop:

In the power of the Holy Spirit,
I promise to be for you a means of reconciliation and healing,
that all those who are burdened or oppressed may be made whole
and able to rejoice in the new life in Jesus Christ.

People:

In the power of the Holy Spirit,
we promise to be, with you, faithful witnesses,
serving justice, showing mercy,
and in all things proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord.

Leader:

Let the people say, "Amen."

People:

Amen and amen!

PRESENTATION OF SIGNS OF EPISCOPAL MINISTRY

Representatives of the people of God present signs of the episcoal office to the bishop. As each is received, the bishop responds, Amen, and places it on a table.

Bishop Name, take this pastoral staff,
and be upheld and sustained by Christ the Good Shepherd
as you exercise the ministry of a shepherd among us in Christ's Name. Amen.

Bishop Name, take this Bible,
and proclaim fearlessly the prophetic Word
in the cause of justice and peace for all people. Amen.

Bishop Name, take this water,
be renewed in your baptism and renew us in ours. Amen.

Bishop Name, take this bread and cup,
and keep us in communion with Christ and his Church. Amen.

Bishop Name, take this towel and basin,
and be among us as one who serves. Amen.

Bishop Name, take this stole,
and be our pastor, preacher, and teacher;
encourage and support all baptized people in their gifts and ministries,
and pray for them without ceasing. Amen.

Bishop Name, take this Book of Discipline,
guard the faith, seek the unity,
exercise the discipline of the whole Church,
and supervise the Church's life, work,
and mission throughout the world. Amen.

Bishop Name, take this gavel,
and preside in our Annual Conference(s);
appoint pastors and assign diaconal ministers to their ministries,
and guide us in our common mission of love and justice,
witness and service. Amen.

Leader:

Bishop Name, these are the signs of your ministry
among the people of the Name Area of The United Methodist Church.
Faithfully administer discipline, but do not forget mercy,
that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear,
you may receive the never–fading crown of glory.

Bishop:

In the Name of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church,
I gladly assume, with you and among you,
this ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order,
of pastoral supervision, government, and service.
Strengthened by the love of God
and the remembrance of my consecration to the episcopacy,
I am resolved to serve faithfully and well
the congregations and people of the Name Area
as bishop, pastor, and friend.

People:

On behalf of the congregations and people,
we receive you, Bishop Name,
with joy and thanksgiving, as our bishop and pastor.
We pledge to you our prayers, our loyalty, and our support
as you lead us in the ministry of reconciliation entrusted to us all.

WELCOME AND ACCLAMATION

Leader: Welcome your bishop!

The people acclaim their bishop with applause or other signs.

SERMON OR OTHER RESPONSE BY THE BISHOP

PRAYER

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of the faithful,
look with favor on your servant Name,
whom your Church has appointed bishop
and chief pastor of the Name, Area.
Grant that, by word and example,
he/she may assist those among whom he/she is placed,
so that he/she and the people entrusted to his/her care
may fulfill the promises that they have made this day;
grow together in unity, love, and service;
and at last attain everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[OFFERING]

An offering of money for some stated purpose may be received if desired.

[HOLY COMMUNION]

If Holy Communion is celebrated, the bishop presides using Word and Table I or the Great Thanksiving found in the Ordinal (see Services for the Ordering of Ministry). After communion the following prayer is offered by someone other than the bishop or by all:

We thank you, gracious Lord, for giving yourself to us,
and for uniting us in the communion of your Holy Spirit.
We bless you for raising up among us
your faithful servant bishop's first Name
for the ministry of a bishop in your Church.
We pray that he/she may be to us an effective example
in word and action, in love and patience, and in holiness of life.
Grant that we, with him/her,
may glorify you by giving ourselves to others;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING *

HYMN *

GOING FORTH *

Copyright: A Service Celebrating the Assignment of a Bishop to an Area . Copyright © 1992 UMPH.

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