Public Worship and Aids to Devotion Committee Website

An Order for the Commissioning of a Home Missionary

The Moderator of Presbytery shall conduct the Service, and may be assisted by other members of Presbytery.

The Home Missionary shall take his place before the Presbytery.

A hymn such as "Christ is made the sure foundation." (Rejoice! 293) shall be sung.

Then the Moderator shall read some Scripture sentences such as:

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)

Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (I Chronicles 16:10)

Let us pray:

Almighty and most merciful God, without whom we can do no good thing; grant us your grace, that our prayers may be acceptable to you.

We humbly confess that we are not worthy to approach you, or to do anything in your Name. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. Forgive us, we pray, and cleanse us from all our sins through the merits of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Saviour and Lord.

Everlasting God, you created us for yourself, and we can find rest only in you. Grant us purity of heart and strength of purpose, so that no selfish motive may hinder us from knowing your will, and no weakness from doing it. In your light may we see light clearly, and in your service find perfect freedom.

Revive your work, O Lord, and by the power of your Holy Spirit in the lives of your faithful people, cause your Church to increase in righteousness, truth and peace, that your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Appropriate Bible readings, such as Isaiah 6:1-13; Matthew 5: 1-16; 2 Tim. 3:16-4:5.

Then the Apostles' Creed may be said:

Let us stand and make confession of our faith in the words of the Apostles' Creed.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He 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, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 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.

A psalm or hymn may be sung, such as "Lord, her watch Your Church is keeping" (Rejoice! 369)

Sermon.

A psalm or hymn may be sung, such as "I'm not asham'd to own my Lord" (Rejoice! 408).

The Moderator shall say:

We meet as a Presbytery by authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King and Head of the Church, to commission N....... as a Home Missionary. When the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, he equipped his people for the task of building up the body of Christ.

As we now commission N......., we reaffirm our belief in the Gospel of the sovereign grace and love of God. In this Gospel, God offers all people, upon repentance and faith, forgiveness of sins, renewal by the Holy Spirit, and eternal life through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. God commands all who share this faith to work together in Christ for the advancement of his kingdom throughout the world.

The Presbyterian Church of Australia acknowledges the Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, to be the supreme rule of faith and life.

The Presbyterian Church of Australia holds as its subordinate standard the Westminster Confession of Faith, read in the light of the Declaratory Statement contained in the Basis of Union adopted by this Church on 24th day of July, 1901, recognising liberty of opinion on such points of doctrine not essential to the doctrine therein taught, and claiming the right, in dependence on the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit, to formulate, interpret, or modify its subordinate standard, always in agreement with the Word of God and the essential doctrines contained in the subordinate standard.

The Home Missionary shall stand and answer the following questions:

1. Do you believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and reaffirm your faith in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord?

Response: I do.

1. Do you believe the Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, to be the only rule of faith and life?

Response: I do.

1. Do you own and accept the Westminster Confession of Faith, read in the light of the Declaratory Statement contained in the Basis of Union adopted by this Church on the 24th day of July, 1901, as an exhibition of the sense in which you understand the Holy Scriptures, and as a confession of your faith; and do you engage firmly and constantly to adhere thereto and to the utmost of your power to assert, maintain, and defend the same?

Response: I do.

1. Do you own the Presbyterian form of government to be founded on the Word of God and agreeable thereto; and do you promise, under the authority of the appropriate Assembly Committee, to be subject to this Presbytery, and to give all due obedience and respect to the Moderator and Session of the parish in which you serve?

Response: I do.

1. Do you promise to seek the unity and peace of this Church; to uphold its doctrine, worship, government, and discipline; and to demonstrate a Christ-like spirit towards all the followers of the Lord?

Response: I do.

1. Do you promise, depending on God's grace, faithfully and prayerfully to fulfil the duties of a Home Missionary, seeking in all things the advancement of the kingdom of God?

Response: I do.

The person to be commissioned shall kneel, and the Moderator shall pray:

Direct us by your Holy Spirit, we pray, O Lord, and assist us with your grace as in the Name of your blessed Son we commission N....... to be a Home Missionary in your Church. Bless him as he dedicates himself to your service, and give him the grace of the Holy Spirit. Grant him the ability to understand and communicate your truth to others, teaching the young, guiding the perplexed, and leading the lost to Christ. Let your word on his lips bring good news to the weary and burdened, and comfort to those who mourn.

Help him in his work and witness; so that he may not waver from the faith but may complete his life's work with joy and finally receive the full reward in your heavenly kingdom.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer.

The Moderator shall say:

In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King and Head of the Church, we now commission you as a Home Missionary and give you the right hand of fellowship.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Then the Moderator and the other members of Presbytery will shake hands with the Home Missionary.

The Moderator, or another appointed to do so, may give some words of counsel to the newly commissioned Home Missionary, who shall stand to receive them.

A psalm or hymn may be sung such as "All praise to our redeeming Lord" (Rejoice! 307).

Benediction.