Baptismal Vow 1 Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?

Baptismal Vow 2 Do you accept the freedom and power Christ gives you to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?

Baptismal Vow 3 Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations and races?

Baptismal Vow 4 According to the grace given you, will you remain faithful member s of Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?

Baptismal Vow 5 [Do you] receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, in God, the Father Almighty, in Jesus Christ, his only Son, and in the Holy Spirit?

Baptismal/Professing Vow 6 As members of Christ’s universal Church, will you be loyal to Christ through the United Methodist Church and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?

Baptismal/Professing Vow 7 As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness?

Summary of 7 Vows Renounce Resist Confess as Savior, Serve as Lord, with the Church Represent (for life) Profess (the faith) Be Loyal (through UMC) Participate (in local congregation ministries)

Baptism and Ordination The ordination rite begins, intentionally, with the reaffirmation of baptism and our common ministry as the baptized. The vows of ordination or consecration are specifications of the vows of baptism and professing membership. The purpose of Orders in most denominations is to support upholding ordination vows.

General Examination (p. 22 ff) “You are to be coworkers with the laity, bishops, deacons, diaconal ministers, deaconesses, home missioners, commissioned ministers, local pastors and elders.” 3 (with the church) 4 (represent for life) 6 (loyal through UMC)

General Examination “To serve rather than to be served” 3, 4 Serve Christ as Lord, serve as Christ’s representatives “To proclaim the faith of the church and no other… loyal to UMC, accepting its order, liturgy, doctrine and discipline…” 5 (7) Professing the Christian faith 6(5) Loyalty through UMC

General Examination “To look after the concerns of God above all” 1 (Renounce all other concerns) 2 (Embrace freedom and power) “Will you be faithful in prayer, in the study of Holy Scriptures, and … rekindle the gift of God that is in you?” 3 Serve Christ as Lord 5 profess faith of the Church 7 participate through spiritual practices

General Examination Will you… pattern your life according to the teachings of Christ? 3 Serve Christ as Lord “Will you… lead the people of God to faith in Jesus Christ, … participate in the life and work of the community, and … seek peace, justice and freedom for all?” 3, 4 (representatives), 2

General Examination committing yourself to be accountable with those serving with you, and to the bishop and those who are appointed to supervise your ministry? 3 (in union with the church), 6 (loyal to the UMC)

Vows of the Deacon “to share in Christ’s ministry of servanthood” 3 (serve Christ), 4 (serve as Christ’s representatives) “relate the life of the community to its service in the world” 3, 4 lead others into Christian discipleship 4 Nurture disciples for witness and service 2 (resist evil), 4 (represent Christ), 7 (service, witness)

Vows of the Deacon Assist elders [local pastors or bishops] at Holy Baptism and Holy Communion 3 (with the church) Teach and proclaim God’s Word 3, 5 Serve all, particularly the poor, the sick and the oppressed 4 (representatives in the world) Lead the people of Christ in ministries of compassion and justice, liberation and reconciliation 1, 2, 3, 4

Vows of the Deacon Participate in the order of deacons 3, 6

Vows of the Elder Proclaim and teach the word of God and faithfully administer the sacraments 3, 5, 6 Lead the people of God in worship and prayer and declare the pardon of sins 1, 3, 6, 7 Lead persons to faith in Jesus Christ and in obedience to Christ’s mission in the world, seeking justice, freedom and peace for all people 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 To exercise pastoral supervision and order the life of the congregation 3, 6, 7

Vows of the Elder Counsel the troubled 1, 2, 3 Take a responsible place in the government of the Church and in service in and to the community 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 Participate in the order of elders 3, 6

Vows of the Bishop (p. 81 ff) All vows in common, plus vows of the elder, plus, in particular the following: Represent Christ’s servanthood in a ministry of oversight 3, 4, 6 Protect the faith, seek the unity and administer the discipline of the whole church, and guard order, liturgy, doctrine and discipline against all contrary to God’s Word 5, 6

Vows of the Bishop Supervise and support the church’s life, work and mission throughout the world 3, 4, 6 Proclaim and teach the truth of the gospel 3, 5 Lead the people in worship, in the celebration of the sacraments 3, 5, 6, 7 Lead the people in their mission of witness and service in the world 2, 4, 7 Lead and guide all persons entrusted to your oversight 3, 6

Vows of the Bishop Join in the consecration of bishops, ordain deacons and elders, and commission other ministers 3, 6 Provide for the ministry of word and sacrament in the congregations entrusted to your care 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 Pray for, encourage and support all the baptized in their ministries without ceasing 3, 6, 7

Vows of the Bishop Share with other bishops in the supervision of the whole church (Council of Bishops as parallel to Orders of deacon and elder) 3, 6

Observations The baptismal vow appearing most frequently in connection with ordination/consecration vows is #3: Confess Jesus Christ as Savior, serve him as Lord, in union with the church The baptismal vow appearing least frequently is #1: Renounce, reject, resist; appears most for elder (4x including general)

Observations Vows most associated with deacons: 4 and 3, in that order Vows most associated with elders: 3 and 6 Vows most associated with bishops: 3/6 (tie) and 5

Questions How appropriate is the current distribution of baptismal vows to life and work of each order? In which orders might some vows need more emphasis or less emphasis? What unhelpful biases from the past do the current distributions of baptismal vows, and the current forms of ordination vows, reflect?

Observations Vow 2 appears most (by 1) for elders Vow 7 only appears 2x (including general) for deacons, versus 4x (bishop) and 5x (elder)

Observations: Redundancy or Emphasis? Orders: General examination includes commitment to be accountable to persons serving with them and supervisors Deacons and elders also separately agree to participate in the respective order. Perhaps since we consecrate rather than ordain bishops, work with the Council of Bishops (parallel to orders) is not specified in the ordinal. Service: Deacons 4, Elders 2, Bishops 2