The Admission of a Communicant Member

The Admission of a Communicant Member

The Admission of a Communicant Member is an occasional service of the Reformed Episcopal Church used for the episcopal admission of a confirmed Christian into communicant membership in the Reformed Episcopal Church.

Overview

This rite is used by a bishop to receive a person already confirmed in another part of the holy Catholic Church that is not in communion with the Reformed Episcopal Church. It may be joined to Confirmation or used separately.

Full Text of the Service

¶ For use by the Bishop in admitting into communicant membership in this Church persons already confirmed in another part of the holy Catholic Church, not in communion with this Church.

¶ If such persons are to be received at the time of Confirmation, they shall be presented, examined, and admitted after all have been confirmed, immediately before the Lord’s Prayer.

¶ The Candidates shall stand before the Bishop, sitting in his chair, and the Minister presenting them shall say,

REVEREND Father in God, I present unto you these persons, already Confirmed, to be admitted into the Communion of this Church.

¶ The Bishop, addressing the Candidate(s) shall say,

DO you believe that this Church is a true part of Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church?

Answer. I do.

Bishop. Do you promise to conform to the teaching, discipline, and worship of this Church?

Answer. I do.

¶ Then the Candidate(s) shall kneel severally before the Bishop, who shall take them by the right hand, saying,

N..

I admit you into the Communion of this Church, and welcome you into our fellowship. May the Peace of the Lord be always with you; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

¶ When this order is used separately from the Confirmation service, the Bishop shall conclude with the Lord’s Prayer, the prayers following, and other suitable prayers with the Blessing.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, grant, we beseech thee, that by the indwelling of thy Holy Spirit, we may be enlightened and strengthened for thy service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified:

Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Notes on Use

• Use only under episcopal direction for candidates already confirmed elsewhere.
• When joined to Confirmation, follow the placement directed in the rubrics.
• When used separately, the rite concludes with the Lord's Prayer, prayers, and blessing.

Liturgical Structure

• Presentation and examination
• Admission by the bishop
• Lord's Prayer and concluding prayers
• Blessing

Theological Themes

• Visible communion with the church.
• Continuity with prior Christian profession.
• The bishop's pastoral and ecclesial oversight.

Source

This text is transcribed from the official Reformed Episcopal Church PDF.

See Also

• Book of Common Prayer
• Reformed Episcopal Church
• Anglican liturgy
• Book of Occasional Services (Reformed Episcopal Church)