The Consecration of a Bishop

By ancient principal and Synodical practice, three bishops (at a minimum) shall consecrate a new bishop. In an emergency, if a bishop who has been scheduled to attend but is prevented by illness or other serious hindrance, the new bishop may be consecrated with two bishops provided that the third bishop provides a letter of consent that shall be read aloud for the benefit of the people. Under no circumstances shall a bishop singly consecrate new bishops. When necessary and desirable, those ecclesial bodies with whom the Synod is united in bonds of Altar and Pulpit Fellowship or Christian charity, may be invited to participate in the consecration of new bishops.

The Consecration Rite for a Bishop is celebrated within the context of the Divine Liturgy in place of the Profession of Faith. The Consecration Liturgy properly takes place in one of two settings: the local church of the bishop-elect, or the Episcopal Council gathering of the Synod. The presiding bishop, together with the Episcopal Council and the congregation(s) affected by the consecration of a new bishop shall come to a mutually agreeable determination on when and where the Liturgy should take place.

Properly, the Consecration of a Bishop takes place at a solemn celebration of the Divine Liturgy on a Sunday of greater Festival day of the Church. When this is not possible, it is suggested that the Liturgy be celebrated on a Saturday, and that proper prayers and readings be selected by the Principal Consecrator to reflect the solemnity and dignity of the occasion.

The candidate for episcopal consecration shall be vested in a plain white alb and a presbyteral stole. Where it is customary, he may also wear other vestments associated with his presbyterial office. The pallium, pastoral staff and (where employed) mitre shall be made ready for the new bishop.

the statement of faith

Before the Divine Liturgy, in a side chapel or some other suitable location, the bishop-elect shall read and sign the following statement of faith in the presence of the consecrators, the master of ceremonies, and a member of the local congregation.

I, _____ _____ _____, called by the grace of God to serve as a bishop of the Church in the city of _____, _____, in union with the Christian Church – Synod of Saint Timothy, do declare that I firmly believe in God the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I believe in God the Father, who has no beginning or end. He created the universe by his Word and sustains it by his Might. I believe in God the Son, the second Person of the Holy Trinity, begotten of the Father from all eternity and not made; He took flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit from the Virgin Mary and became man, like us in all things but sin. He guided us by the light of His gospel and redeemed us by His cross on which He shed His blood for us to redeem us from our sins. He rose from the dead and poured forth for us the fountain of eternal life through the divine Mysteries of His Church. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Giver of life, who has spoken through the prophets and apostles.

I acknowledge the faithfulness of the Word of God as found in the Sacred Scriptures, and subscribe without reservation to the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, to the Definition of the Union of the Divine and Human Natures in the Person of Christ as ratified by the Council of Chalcedon, the Dictum of unity, diversity, and love, the Vincentian Canon, and the Articles of Religion of the Christian Church – Synod of Saint Timothy. I do declare that I accept these as being true and sure witnesses of the faith of the Scriptures and the ancient Church.

I profess that Christ has left a ministry to his Church, and that I intend by the grace of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the calling that God has placed on my ministry in the Church.

I commit myself, by the grace of God, to make every effort in shepherding the congregation and people entrusted to me, for the sanctification of souls, clergy and laity and especially the presbyters, my collaborators in my Episcopal mission.

This is my profession;

I proclaim it freely;

I signed it by my own hand.

May God who is my Witness, help me to be committed to it.

Presentation and Examination

After the homily, the master of ceremonies shall ensure that all is in order for the consecration of the new bishop, and shall then say:

M Let the man who is to be consecrated to the episcopate present himself.

The candidate rises, stands before the principal consecrator, and, announcing his name, affirms his presence.

R _____ _____ _____, present.

The principal consecrator then requests that the Mandate of Consecration for the bishop-elect be read.

P Let the Mandate of Consecration be read.

Whenever possible, a representative of the congregation that the bishop-elect is to serve shall read the Mandate of Consecration. When this is not possible, the master of ceremonies shall read the Mandate.

After the Mandate has been read, the master of ceremonies shall say:

M In the name of this Synod, I do hereby certify that our brother _____ _____ _____ is lawfully called and properly disposed to receive consecration to the episcopate and on behalf of my Christian brothers and sisters, I commend him to you for consecration as a bishop within our fellowship.

The principal consecrator continues the rite with the following exhortation.

P _____, my dearly beloved brother, you have come to this place today in the presence of your fellow Christians, in order to receive from God the consecration to serve his Church and his people as a bishop.

My brother, consider for a moment the words of the apostle Paul, found in his first letter to Timothy: “If anyone aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Therefore a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”

These standards of living are required of those whom God would consecrate to the episcopate of his Church, and so I ask you, in the presence of this congregation, do you affirm before them that you will conform your life to this example, forsaking sin, embracing the gospel, and striving to seek for the glory of God?

R I do.

P _____, you come to this place, aware of the common faith that we profess together, rooted in Christ, shared in the Scriptures, summarized in the Creeds, and lived by the Church. I now ask you to formally declare your faith before this congregation.

The bishop-elect shall then present a signed copy of this profession to the principal consecrator. After verifying its authenticity, the principal consecrator shall then say:

P My dear brother, prior to this solemn celebration you signed a declaration of your faith. I now ask you to publicly confess your faith by leading us in reciting the Nicene Creed, the core of our theological unity with all Christians throughout the world.

The clergy and congregation shall stand.

R I believe in one God,

C the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

and of all things, visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only-begotten Son of God,

begotten of his Father before all things,

God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God;

begotten, not made;

being of one substance with the Father.

By him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven.

He was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.

He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again, in fulfillment of the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father.

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The people and the clergy are seated, the bishop-elect only remains standing before the principal consecrator, who shall say:

P Beloved brother, we believe that you share with us a common faith and intend to lead those entrusted to your care in a common life to the glory of God. And yet, we acknowledge that the voice of the people must be heard in this matter.

And so I ask of this congregation here present, do you know of any reason that _____ should not be consecrated to the episcopate of Christ’s Church?

If no objection is raised, the principal consecrator shall ask the people:

P Do you testify that this man is fit to be consecrated as a bishop?

C We do, for he is worthy!

One of the co-consecrators shall ask the people:

B Do you promise to support and uphold him in his ministry?

C We do, for he is worthy!

Another co-consecrator shall ask the people:

B Do you promise to keep _____ in prayer that he may discharge his duties as bishop and pastor faithfully?

C We do, for he is worthy!

The principal consecrator shall then stand and say:

P May our almighty God, who has given you the grace to undertake this great office, fill you with his peace and sustain you, brining you at the last day to the fullness of his kingdom.

C Amen.

Prayer

The principal consecrator and co-consecrators shall stand. The principal consecrator shall remove the presbyterial stole from the candidate (if he is wearing only alb and stole), and shall then bid the congregation to prayer.

P My Christian brothers and sisters, let us now come before the Lord and invoke the Holy Spirit, that our brother _____ might be consecrated to serve as a bishop in Christ’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

The bishops, clergy, and congregation shall bow or kneel. The candidate shall lay prostrate. One of the following versions of the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus is sung.

O Holy Spirit, by whose breath, life rises vibrant out of death; come to create, renew, inspire; come, kindle in our hearts your fire. You are the seeker’s sure resource, of burning love the living source, protector in the midst of strife, the giver and the Lord of life. In you God’s energy is shown, to us your varied gifts make known. Teach us to speak, teach us to hear; your is the tongue and yours the ear. Flood our dull senses with your light; in mutual love our hearts unite. Your power the whole creation fills; confirm our weak, uncertain wills. From inner strife grant us release; turn nations to the ways of peace. To fuller life your people bring that as one body we may sing: Praise to the Father, Christ is Word, and to the Spirit: God the Lord, to whom all honor, glory be both now and for eternity. Amen.

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire. Thou the anointing Spirit art, who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart. Thy blessed unction from above is comfort, life, and fire of love. Enable with perpetual light the dullness of our blinded sight. Anoint and cheer our soiled face with the abundance of thy grace. Keep far from foes, give peace at home: where thou art guide, no ill can come. Teach us to know the Father, Son, and thee, of both, to be but One, that through the ages all along, this may be our endless song: Praise to thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The candidate kneels before the principal consecrator. After a pause for silent prayer, the principal consecrator and co-consecrators extend their hands over the candidate. The principal consecrator offers the following prayer.

P Almighty and eternal God,

you created of all things by the power of your word,

and you hold and rule all by the calm and sweet command of your will.

You do for us much more than we can ask for or imagine,

according to your power which is at work within us.

By the precious blood of your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

you have redeemed your holy Church

and established in it apostles and prophets,

teachers and priests,

by whose ministry the knowledge of your Son

is spread throughout the earth.

We now come before you with our prayer for _____:

Let your face shine upon your servant,

and elect him with a holy election by the anointing of the Holy Spirit,

so that he may be for you a true and faithful bishop,

who will imitate the true bishop and shepherd of our souls,

the great high priest,

who lays down his life for us.

Confirm _____ by the Holy Spirit in this ministry to which he freely offers himself.

Through the outpouring of the Spirit,

grant to him the strength to feed your flock with uprightness of heart,

with a tongue attuned to preach words of truth,

so that he may be a light to those who sit in darkness,

the teacher of those who lack understanding,

and the instructor of children and the immature.

Clothe him, Lord, with strength from on high,

that he may celebrate the Divine Mysteries with exultation,

bind and loose in heaven and on earth,

and, by the imposition of his hands,

confirm and seal the faithful,

bring healing to the sick,

and ordain clergy for the ministry of your holy Church.

May he gather and increase you people and the sheep of your pasture,

may he perfect the fear of God and purity in the souls entrusted to him

and may he stand confidently before your judgment seat

and be found worthy to receive from you

the reward which has been promised to all faithful souls

through the grace and mercy of your only-begotten Son.

To you and to him and to the Holy Spirit we offer

praise and honor,

praise and adoration,

praise and glory,

now and forever.

C Amen.

Laying on of Hands and Investiture

After a pause for silent prayer, the principal consecrator, together with every co-consecrator, shall lay hands upon the head of the bishop-elect and offer the following formula of consecration:

B _____, receive the Holy Spirit for the office and work of a bishop in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, now committed to you through the imposition of our hands.

The principal consecrator shall then anoint the crown of the new bishop’s head with the Oil of Chrism, saying:

P Stir up the grace of God and fan into flame his gift, which is in you through the laying on of our hands.

The co-consecrators shall then take a copy of the Scriptures, open them to the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John, and shall hold the Scriptures over the head of the new bishop as the principal consecrator says:

P Be a good and faithful shepherd to your flock and give heed to reading the Scriptures, exhorting the faithful, and preaching the truth.

The bishops shall then close the Bible and place it into the hands of the new bishop. Then the co-consecrators shall then place the episcopal pallium stole and other items of episcopal insignia upon the new bishop, saying:

P Bear in your ministry the yoke of Christ, and follow joyfully in the way of his Cross.

Finally, delivering the pastoral staff to the newly ordained bishop, the principal consecrator shall say:

P Lead the flock with compassion and faith, uplift the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring in the outcasts, seek the lost. Exercise the discipline of the keys, ordain servants for the Church, bless and hallow the people, and pray without ceasing, that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear at the last great day, you may receive the never fading crown of glory.

The newly consecrated bishop is presented to the people. The Divine Liturgy continues with the newly ordained bishop as the principal celebrant.