Services for the Ordering of Ministry in The United Methodist Church, 2025

Introduction

The ordinal, or liturgy for the Services for the Ordering of Ministry in The United Methodist Church, is a sacred rite that reflects the theology and practice of ordination in The United Methodist Church. The 2020/2024 General Conference made significant changes to The Book of Discipline regarding the role and authority of deacons, which spurred the need to assess the current ordinal. This document offers small yet meaningful revisions to the ordinal to align the liturgy with the changes made to The Book of Discipline (highlighted below). We encourage annual conference worship planners and leaders to read through the rationale and practical considerations, incorporate the suggested changes in your annual conference’s ordination service, and engage the ordination liturgy as a formative expression of the role all Christians—ordained, commissioned, licensed, and lay—play in ministry with the church and the world.

Rationale

The change within the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline, ¶328, removes the requirement for deacons to seek episcopal approval for sacramental privileges, granting them the authority to preside over baptism and Communion when contextually appropriate. However, these changes do not fully redefine the fourfold calling of the deacon and the upcoming Study of Ministry Commission will further explore the theological basis for a deacon’s role in the sacraments. Therefore, these suggested changes are made in good faith with the approved Book of Discipline and are considered interim until the next General Conference votes on the new ordinal. This temporary adjustment applies not only to deacons commissioned and ordained this year but also to those ordained in previous years.

Practical Considerations

As already mentioned, the changes we offer are minor, yet significant. We encourage reflection by conference worship planning teams on where the changes to the Ordinal fit the wider service of ordination and consecration in diverse contexts. Central to the liturgy of the Ordinal is the naming of identity. The role of elders and deacons is declared and shared within the covenant context of ministry and the church. Indeed, while ordination is by definition a “setting apart,” that setting apart takes place within a community. Who we are as elders and deacons is understood in the context of being part of the baptized community of faith, and ordination is a continuation of the vows given at baptism. Clarity about roles, attention to the disciplinary descriptions, helps maintain both separate identity and corporate belonging. We encourage attention to this identity by both liturgy and preaching throughout the service of worship within which the Ordinal has a place.

Prepared by:

• Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, Iowa and IGRC/Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conferences
• Rev. Jeffrey Campbell, Discipleship Ministries
• Rev. Scott Hughes, Discipleship Ministries
• Rev. Dr. Trip Lowery, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
• Rev. Amie Stewart, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
• Rev. Katie Dawson, Iowa Annual Conference
• Dr. Diana Sanchez-Bushong, Discipleship Ministries
• Rev. Dr. Derek Weber, Discipleship Ministries
• Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries

DOWNLOAD Interim Services for the Ordering of Ministry in The United Methodist Church, March 2025 (PDF)

Additional Resources:

• DOWNLOAD Services for the Ordering of Ministry in the United Methodist Church 2017-2020 [PDF]
• DOWNLOAD Services for the Ordering of Ministry in the United Methodist Church 2017-2020 [.docx]