B 8 Schedule C

Two versions of the Questions asked of a minister at Ordination/Induction are given below (A & B).  Either may be used. The Presiding Minister (after appropriate consultation) may modify the wording of Question 7 (in version A) or the answer to Question 3 (in version B) to fit the kind of ministry to which the candidate has been called.

Version A

1          (Name)  do you confess anew your faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

                        I do. 

2          Do you believe that the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments,

            discerned under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the supreme authority for the faith and conduct of all God’s people?

                        I do. 

3          Do you believe that Jesus Christ, who was born of Mary, lived our common life on earth, died upon the cross, and who was raised from the dead and reigns for evermore, is the gift of God’s very self to the world? 

                        I do. 

            Do you believe that through him God’s love, justice and mercy are revealed and forgiveness, reconciliation and eternal life are offered to all people?  And will you faithfully proclaim this gospel?

                        By the grace of God, this I believe and this I will proclaim.       

4          Do you believe that the Church is the people gathered by God’s love to proclaim the reconciliation of the world to God through Jesus Christ?

                        I do. 

5          Are zeal for the glory of God, love for the Lord Jesus Christ, obedience to the Holy Spirit and a desire for the salvation of the world, so far as you know your own heart, the chief motives which lead you to enter this ministry?

                        They are. 

6          Do you promise to live a holy life, and to maintain the truth of the gospel, whatever trouble or persecution may arise?

                        Relying on the strength of Christ, I do. 

7          Do you promise to fulfil the duties of your charge faithfully:

            to lead the Church in worship;

            to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments;

            to exercise pastoral care and oversight;

            to take your part in the councils of the Church;

            and to give leadership to the Church in mission to the world?

                        By the grace of God, I do. 

8          Do you promise, as a minister of the United Reformed Church:

            to seek its well-being, purity and peace;

            to cherish love towards all other churches;

            and to endeavour always to build up the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church?

                        By the grace of God, I do. 

9          Will you undertake to exercise your ministry in accordance with the statement concerning the nature, faith and order of the United Reformed Church

I will, and all these things I profess and promise in the power of the   Holy Spirit. 

Version B

1          (Name) will you confess anew your faith? 

I confess anew my faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  I believe that the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments, discerned under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the supreme authority for the faith and conduct of all God’s people. 

I believe that Jesus Christ, who was born of Mary, lived our common life on earth, died upon the cross, and who was raised from the dead and reigns for evermore, is the gift of God’s very self to the world.

I believe that through him God’s love, justice and mercy are revealed and forgiveness, reconciliation and eternal life are offered to all people.  And by the grace of God I promise to proclaim this gospel faithfully. 

I believe that the Church is the people gathered by God’s love to proclaim the reconciliation of the world to God through Jesus Christ. 

2          What leads you to this ministry? 

So far as I know my own heart, I believe that zeal for the glory of God, love for the Lord Jesus Christ, obedience to the Holy Spirit and a desire for the salvation of the world, are the chief motives which lead me to enter this ministry. 

Relying on the strength of Christ, I promise to live a holy life, and to maintain the truth of the gospel, whatever trouble or persecution may arise. 

3          Will you faithfully fulfil the duties of your charge? 

By the grace of God I promise to lead the Church in worship, to preach the word and administer the Sacraments, to exercise pastoral care and oversight, to take my part in the councils of the Church, and to give leadership to the Church in mission to the world. 

As a minister of the United Reformed Church I promise to seek its well-being, purity and peace, to cherish love towards all other churches, and to endeavour always to build up the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. 

 I undertake to exercise my ministry in accordance with the statement concerning the nature, faith and order of the United Reformed Church.   All these things I profess and promise in the power of the Holy Spirit.