Chapter 21: The Ordination and Installation of Ministers

21-1. No minister, licentiate or candidate shall receive a call from a church
but by the permission of his Presbytery. When a call has been presented to the
Presbytery, if found in order and the Presbytery deems it for the good of the
Church, they shall place it in the hands of the person to whom it is addressed.
Ordinarily a candidate or licentiate may not be granted permission by
the Presbytery to move on to the field to which he has been called, prior to his
examination for licensure or ordination. Likewise an ordained minister from
another Presbyterian Church in America Presbytery or another denomination,
ordinarily shall not move on to the field to which he has been called until
examined and received by Presbytery.

21-2. When an intern has completed his internship to the satisfaction of the
Presbytery, and has accepted a call, the Presbytery shall take immediate steps
for his ordination.

21-3. No Presbytery shall ordain any intern to the office of minister of the
Word with reference to his laboring within the bounds of another Presbytery,
but shall furnish him with the necessary testimonials, and require him to repair
to the Presbytery within whose bounds he expects to labor, that he may submit
himself to its authority, according to the Constitution of the Church.

21-4. Ordination Requirements and Procedures
a. An intern applying for ordination shall be required to present a
diploma of Bachelor or Master from some approved college or
university, and also a diploma of Bachelor or Master from some
approved theological seminary or authentic testimonials of having
completed a regular course of theological studies, or a certificate of
completion of and endorsement from a theological study program as
approved by the General Assembly and one of the Presbyteries of the
Presbyterian Church in America. No Presbytery shall omit any of
these educational requirements except in extraordinary cases, and then
only with a three-fourths (3/4) approval of the Presbytery. Whenever
a Presbytery shall omit any of these educational requirements, it shall
always make a record of the reasons for such omission and the parts
omitted. The intern shall also present satisfactory testimonials as to
the completion and approval of his internship in the practice of the
ministry.

b. Every candidate for ordination shall ordinarily have met the requirements
of the Assembly's approved curriculum. Ordinarily, the intern shall have
been examined in most of the following trials when he was licensed.
If the Presbytery previously approved all parts of the licensure
examination, it need not re-examine the intern in those areas at this time.
If there were areas of weakness, which the Presbytery noted, or if any
member of the Presbytery desires to do so, the intern may be examined
on particular points again. Additionally, the intern shall be examined on
any parts required for ordination which were not covered in his
examination for licensure. In all cases, he should be asked to indicate
whether he has changed his previous views concerning any points in the
Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and Book of Church Order of the
Presbyterian Church in America.
c. Trials for ordination shall consist of:
(1) A careful examination as to:
(a) his acquaintance with experiential religion, especially his
personal character and family management (based on the
qualifications set out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and Titus 1:6-9),
(b) his knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages,
(c) Bible content,
(d) theology,
(e) the Sacraments,
(f) Church history,
(g) the history of the Presbyterian Church in America, and
(h) the principles and rules of the government and discipline of
the church.
A Presbytery may accept a seminary degree which includes study
in the original languages in lieu of an oral examination in the
original languages.
(2) He shall prepare a thesis on some theological topic assigned by
Presbytery.
(3) The candidate shall prepare an exegesis on an assigned portion of
Scripture, requiring the use of the original language or languages.
(4) He shall further be required to preach a sermon before the
Presbytery or committee thereof, upon three-fourths (3/4) vote.
No Presbytery shall omit any of these parts of trial for ordination
except in extraordinary cases, and then only with three-fourths (3/4)
approval of Presbytery.
d. Whenever a Presbytery shall omit any of these parts, it shall always make
a record of the reasons for such omissions and of the trial parts omitted.
e. In the examination of the candidate’s personal character, the
presbytery shall give specific attention to potential notorious concerns.

Careful attention must be given to his practical struggle against sinful
actions, as well as to persistent sinful desires. The candidate must give
clear testimony of reliance upon his union with Christ and the benefits
thereof by the Holy Spirit, depending on this work of grace to make
progress over sin (Psalm 103:2-5, Romans 8:29) and to bear fruit
(Psalm 1:3, Gal. 5:22-23). While imperfection will remain, when
confessing sins and sinful temptations publicly, the candidate must
exercise great care not to diminish the seriousness of those sins in the
eyes of the congregation, as though they were matters of little
consequence, but rather should testify to the work of the Holy Spirit
in his progress in holiness (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
f. While our Constitution does not require the candidate’s affirmation of
every statement and/or proposition of doctrine in our Confession of
Faith and Catechisms, it is the right and responsibility of the Presbytery to
determine if the candidate is out of accord with any of the fundamentals of
these doctrinal standards and, as a consequence, may not be able in
good faith sincerely to receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and
Catechisms of this Church as containing the system of doctrine taught
in the Holy Scriptures (cf. BCO 21-5, Q.2; 24-6, Q.2).
g. Therefore, in examining a candidate for ordination, the Presbytery
shall inquire not only into the candidate’s knowledge and views in the
areas specified above, but also shall require the candidate to state the
specific instances in which he may differ with the Confession of Faith
and Catechisms in any of their statements and/or propositions. The
court may grant an exception to any difference of doctrine only if in
the court’s judgment the candidate’s declared difference is not out of
accord with any fundamental of our system of doctrine because the
difference is neither hostile to the system nor strikes at the vitals of
religion.
h. The Presbytery, being fully satisfied of his qualifications for the sacred
office, shall appoint a day for his ordination, which ought, if
practicable, to be in that church of which he is to be the pastor.
i. The extraordinary clauses should be limited to extraordinary
circumstances of the church or proven extraordinary gifts of the man.
Presbyteries should exercise diligence and care in the use of these
provisions in order that they not prevent the ordination of a candidate for
whom there are truly exceptional circumstances, nor ordain (nor receive
from other denominations (BCO 13-6) a person who is inadequately
prepared for the ministry.

21-5. The day appointed for the ordination having come, and the Presbytery
being convened, a sermon suitable for the occasion shall be preached by a

person appointed or invited by the Presbytery. The Presbytery member
appointed to preside shall afterwards briefly recite from the pulpit the
proceedings of the Presbytery preparatory to the ordination; he shall point out
the nature and importance of the ordinance, and endeavor to impress the
audience with a proper sense of the solemnity of the transaction.
Questions for Ordination1
Then, addressing himself to the candidate, he shall propose to him the
following questions:
1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,
as originally given, to be the inerrant Word of God, the only
infallible rule of faith and practice?
2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and
the Catechisms of this Church, as containing the system of
doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures; and do you further
promise that if at any time you find yourself out of accord with
any of the fundamentals of this system of doctrine, you will on
your own initiative, make known to your Presbytery the change
which has taken place in your views since the assumption of this
ordination vow?
3. Do you approve of the form of government and discipline of
the Presbyterian Church in America, in conformity with the
general principles of Biblical polity?
4. Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the Lord?
5. Have you been induced, as far as you know your own heart, to
seek the office of the holy ministry from love to God and a
sincere desire to promote His glory in the Gospel of His Son?
6. Do you promise to be zealous and faithful in maintaining the
truths of the Gospel and the purity and peace and unity of the
Church, whatever persecution or opposition may arise unto
you on that account?
7. Do you engage to be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all
your duties as a Christian and a minister of the Gospel, whether
personal or relational, private or public; and to endeavor by the
grace of God to adorn the profession of the Gospel in your
manner of life, and to walk with exemplary piety before the flock
of which God shall make you overseer?
8. Are you now willing to take the charge of this church,
agreeable to your declaration when accepting their call? And
do you, relying upon God for strength, promise to discharge
to it the duties of a pastor?
1For an assistant minister, only questions 1-7 shall be used.

Questions to Congregation2

21-6. The candidate having answered these questions in the affirmative, the
presiding minister shall propose to the church the following questions:
1. Do you, the people of this congregation, continue to profess
your readiness to receive _________________, whom you have
called to be your pastor?
2. Do you promise to receive the word of truth from his mouth
with meekness and love, and to submit to him in the due
exercise of discipline?
3. Do you promise to encourage him in his labors, and to assist
his endeavors for your instruction and spiritual edification?
4. Do you engage to continue to him while he is your pastor that
competent worldly maintenance which you have promised, and
to furnish him with whatever you may see needful for the honor
of religion and for his comfort among you?

21-7. The people having answered these questions in the affirmative, by
holding up their right hands, the candidate shall kneel, and the presiding
minister shall, with prayer and the laying on of hands of the Presbytery,
according to the apostolic example, solemnly set him apart to the holy office
of the Gospel ministry. Prayer being ended, he shall rise from his knees; and
the minister who presides shall first, followed by all members of the
Presbytery, take him by the right hand, saying, in words to this effect:
We give you the right hand of fellowship, to take part in this
ministry with us.
The presiding minister shall then say:
I now pronounce and declare that __________________ has been
regularly elected, ordained, and installed pastor of this
congregation, agreeable to the Word of God, and according to the
Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America; and that as
such he is entitled to all support, encouragement, honor, and
obedience in the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
2For assistant minister, address the Session omitting the last phrase of questions 1 and 2.

After which the minister presiding, or some other teaching or ruling
elder appointed for the purpose, shall give a solemn charge to the pastor and
to the congregation, to persevere in the discharge of their reciprocal duties, and
then after prayer and the singing of a psalm, or hymn, the congregation shall
be dismissed with the benediction. The Presbytery shall duly record its
proceedings.3

21-8. After the installation, the heads of families of the congregation then
present, or at least the ruling elders and deacons, should come forward to their
pastor, and give him their right hand, in token of cordial reception and
affectionate regard.
Questions for Installation4

21-9. In the installation of an ordained minister, the following questions are
to be substituted for those addressed to a candidate for ordination, namely:
1. Are you now willing to take charge of this congregation as
their pastor, agreeable to your declaration in accepting its
call?
2. Do you conscientiously believe and declare, as far as you know
your own heart, that, in taking upon you this charge, you are
influenced by a sincere desire to promote the glory of God and
the good of the Church?
3. Do you solemnly promise that, by the assistance of the grace
of God, you will endeavor faithfully to discharge all the duties
of a pastor to this congregation, and will be careful to maintain
a deportment in all respects becoming a minister of the Gospel
of Christ, agreeable to your ordination engagements?
Questions to Congregation5

21-10. The candidate having answered these question in the affirmative, the
presiding minister shall propose to the church the following questions:
1. Do you, the people of this congregation, continue to profess
your readiness to receive ________________, whom you have
called to be your pastor?
3For assistant minister, add the word 'assistant' before 'pastor', and charge the Session rather than
the congregation.
4For assistant minister, substitute the word 'serve' for 'take charge of', and add the word
'assistant' before 'pastor'.
5For assistant minister, address the Session omitting the last phrase of questions 1 and 2.

2. Do you promise to receive the word of truth from his mouth
with meekness and love, and to submit to him in the due
exercise of discipline?
3. Do you promise to encourage him in his labors, and to assist
his endeavors for your instruction and spiritual edification?
4. Do you engage to continue to him while he is your pastor that
competent worldly maintenance which you have promised,
and to furnish him with whatever you may see needful for the
honor of religion and for his comfort among you?