Then the Minister shall say,

HEREBY declare you to be invested with the Office of Ruling Elder in this congregation.

Then the Minister shall say,

MAY the great Head of the Church so enrich us with His heavenly grace, that at the last we shall hear Him saying unto us: Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

THE ORDER FOR

THE ORDINATION OF DEACONS.

¶ Deacons are distinct officers in the Church, whose business it is to take care of the poor, and to distribute among them the collections raised for their use. To them also may be properly committed the management of the temporal affairs of the church (Form of Government, Chap. vi). When any person shall have been elected to the office of Deacon, and shall have declared his willingness to accept thereof, he shall be set apart to his office in the manner prescribed by the Form of Government (Chap. xiii).

¶ Divine Service having been celebrated according to the usual Order, the Persons to be ordained shall, after the Sermon, present themselves before the pulpit at the call of the Minister, who shall thus address the congregation:

DEARLY Beloved: Concerning the institution of the

office of Deacon we read in the sixth chapter of the Book of the Acts, that in the beginning the Apostles themselves ministered to the poor; but afterwards, being overburdened with these ministrations, they advised that certain men be chosen by the Church, to whom the service of the poor was committed as their peculiar care; therefore this Church has recognized the work and office of these men, to whom in the New Testament is given the title of Deacons, as of Apostolic institution, and needful for the welfare of the whole Body of Christ, to the end that the Ministers might continually give themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.

Of this office St. Paul requires that the Deacons must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience; ruling their children and their own houses well. And of them that have used this office well he declares that they purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

These brethren here present (here the Minister shall mention the names of the Persons chosen) having been chosen,

in the mode most approved and in use in this congregation, to the office of Deacon, and having signified their willing. ness to serve, we do therefore, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, now proceed to their ordination.

Then the Minister addressing the Deacons-elect shall say,

FORASMUCH as you have declared your willingness to take this office upon you, I now require you to answer the following Questions, appointed by the Church to be put to those who are to be ordained as Deacons.

Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures?

Do you approve of the government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in these United States ?

Do you accept the office of Deacon in this congregation, and promise faithfully to perform all the duties thereof?

Do you promise to study the peace, unity, and purity of the Church?

The Deacons-elect having answered these Questions in the affirmative, the Minister shall address to the Members of the church the following QUESTION:

Do you, the Members of this church, acknowledge and receive these brethren as Deacons, and do you promise to yield them all that honour, encouragement, and obedience in the Lord, to which their office, according to the Word of God, and the constitution of this Church, entitles them?

The Members of the church having answered this Question in the affirmative, by holding up their right hands, the Minister shall proceed to set apart the Candidates to their office, by Prayer, (and if desired, the Laying on of Hands,) the Deacons-elect devoutly kneeling.

Let us pray.

LORD JESUS, who, being rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through Thy poverty might be rich; Set apart and consecrate these Thy servants to the office of Deacon. Give them Thine own spirit of sympathy with all human sorrow and distress, and of holy, self-denying service in behalf of those who are in want and suffering. Guide and sustain them in their ministry of love until their work on earth is done; and bestow upon them the great rewards of Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Then the Minister shall say,

IN the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority committed to me in His Church, I hereby declare you duly set apart and ordained to the office of Deacon.

I now charge you, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, to be faithful in this your office.

I also charge you, Christian people, to be faithful to these Deacons, baptizing their ministry to the poor with your daily prayers, supplying it constantly and cheerfully with your liberal gifts, and remembering that Christ has appointed the poor to represent Himself in our offices of sympathy and benevolent service on earth.

Then shall the King say unto them on the right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was a hungered, and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me in; naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.

Where there is an existing Board of Deacons it is proper that the Members of that body take the newly ordained Deacons by the hand, saying in words to this purpose:

WE give you the right hand of fellowship, to take part

of this Office with us.

Then the Minister shall say,

NOW unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us; unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

¶ Where Deacons who have already been ordained are to be installed in any congregation, The Order for their Installation may follow The Order for the Installation of Ruling Elders who have been previously Ordained.