In my perpetual hunt for liturgical resources that are theologically judicious (which means, among other things, being grounded enough in the earth as it is so as not to be spouting liturgical bullshit) – something which is not as easy a task as one might hope – I happened across this ‘Ordination Liturgy’ from the Methodist Church of Singapore:
We are not ordaining you to ministry; that happened at your baptism.
We are not ordaining you to be a caring person; you are already called to that.
We are not ordaining you to serve the Church in committees, activities, organisation; that is already implied in your membership.
We are not ordaining you to become involved in social issues, ecology, race, politics, revolution, for that is laid upon every Christian.
We are ordaining you to something smaller and less spectacular: to read and interpret those sacred stories of our community, so that they speak a word to people today; to remember and practice those rituals and rites of meaning that in their poetry address human beings at the level where change operates; to foster in community through word and sacrament that encounter with truth which will set men and women free to minister as the body of Christ.
We are ordaining you to the ministry of the word and sacraments and pastoral care. God grant you grace not to betray but uphold it, not to deny but affirm it, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Well put, Methodists!
I know where you’re coming from, Jason – and where it’s coming from – but I dunno … Maybe “Could do better”?
We are not ordaining you to be a caring person; you are already called to that.
A “caring person” – isn’t that a bit twee? And “called to that” – “that!!: what terrible diction.
Is para. 3 really necessary? Or, indeed, wouldn’t Heaven forbid! be more apposite than that is already implied in your membership? ;)
to read and interpret those sacred stories of our community …
Well, yes, but the Bible, while of course narratively shaped, is more than stories. Why not just say “the Church’s scriptures”? Too archaic an expression, perhaps?
those rituals and rites of meaning that in their poetry address human beings at the level where change operates …
Only “in their poetry”, even assuming (as I’m sure is meant) imagery, gesture, etc. (the “visible Word”)? Are the sacraments reducible to poetry? And is it only poetry that “address[es] human beings where change operates”? And “change operates” – isn’t that a rather infelicitous expression?
I appreciate the laudable attempt at a grounded, vernacular – and “relevant”? – liturgy, but I think it may have tilted towards the fashionable and fuzzy.
On the other hand (as someone who has worked on several URC liturgies, and on a Commission of Covenanted Churches in Wales Communion Service), it might just be me being pernickety – or, indeed – a grumpy old git!
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Kim, I think you’re right and fair to call attention to some of its shortcomings – grammatical, theological, and the tilt towards ‘the fashionable and fuzzy’ – but even a grumpy old git can concede that it’s a good nod in the right direction. Yes, we could do better, I agree. Wanna give it a go?
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but even a grumpy old git can concede that it’s a good nod in the right direction.
He can. He does.
Wanna give it a go?
Far be it for a (Barthian) Calvinist to rewrite a (Wesleyan) Arminian liturgy. But you could send my comment to their Faith and Order Committee with my humble and fraternal greetings – and my apologies for Dort. ;)
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I wasn’t suggesting a rewrite or an edit of the current liturgy. I had in mind a Reformed (i.e., ecumenical) effort at one. Something like Uncle K’s The Word of God and the Word of Man (recently retranslated as The Word of God and Theology) but in under 150 words.
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For those who contacted me to ask about the Uniting Church in Australia’s services of ordination, induction, and commissioning, I understand that the UiW2 project is working to revise the current liturgy, but ‘The Charge’ as it reads currently (and I’d be happy to be corrected on this from those who may be in the know) is as follows:
Again, it’s not all entirely kosher (e.g., most obviously, I’m not sure how many still buy the ‘for the rest of your life’ clause, although I lament the time when more did) and it’s very wordy (even for the reformed!), but there’s some good stuff there, and picks up on and/or expands upon a number of important elements (notably, being a student and interpreter of the Word) mentioned in the Methodist liturgy above, and recalls some glaring omissions (like prayer).
In reflecting on both of these statements, one thing that strikes me as odd is the omission of the language of reconciliation (2 Cor 5 comes to mind here, as does its illustration in Paul and Timothy’s letter to Philemon), something which is, as I understand it, of the esse of pastoral ministry.
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Excellent, Jason! Will be sharing with my bishop today… Thank you!
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You’re welcome, Timothy.
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