Church Dedication? Institution of a Rector? What Is This All About? - Part 3 Of Rectors, Letters, Litanies

We continue in looking at the significance of the Dedication and Institution service. Today we switch to focus more on the Institution of a Rector. What is a “Rector?” It comes from the Latin regere meaning "to rule or guide.” It is the same root from which the English “Director” is derived. The Rector is the spiritual “ruler or guide” of his Parish. In Anglican governance ruling authority is split by canon (church law) between the Rector and the Vestry. In the last article you read how the Wardens hold temporal authority with the Vestry, today we look more deeply at the role of the Rector  

 The Rector holds authority in all spiritual matters in the Parish Church. This includes the selection of clergy, staff, programs, teaching, preaching, music and liturgy. He also sits as chairman of the Vestry and appoints most committees and ministry leaders. 

 Together the Rector and Vestry hold authority over the local congregation but they are both subject to the spiritual authority of the Bishop and Synod (essentially the congress of the diocese made up of lay and clergy delegates). It sounds complicated, but that is because there are many checks and balances in recognition that even in the Church the sinfulness of humans must be factored in.

 In the service this Sunday you will hear the bishop read the “Letter of Institution” and then give it to the Rector. As the Rector receives it he says, “I promise to be a faithful shepherd to your flock, the Lord being my helper.”

 The bishop will also ask God’s grace on the Rector to, “empower him with the truth of sound doctrine, and endue him with holiness of life.” In the epistle reading for the day St. Paul writes,

  11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

In addition to the checks and balances in the church and the mantles of authority, this also reminds us that though we have different roles we are all equal in the body of Christ. It is God who give us our roles to play and it is also God who gives us the grace to accomplish what He asks of us. While this is His promise, we still beseech Him to ever do so in singing the Litany for Ordinations. 

Advent Meditation: Certainty of (and in) the End

By: Fr. Sean Templeton

How do I really set priorities in my life? What do I see as the necessary things? What are the important things? Who are the important people? How do I spend my time? How does my certainty in Jesus' return change my view of life? Is it close enough in my mind?

Scripture

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, eat the very gates. 30 fTruly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 gHeaven and earth will pass away, but hmy words will not pass away.
No One Knows That Day or Hour
32 “But concerning that day or that hour, ino one knows, not even the angels in heaven, jnor the Son, kbut only the Father. 33 lBe on guard, mkeep awake.1 For you do not know when the time will come. (Mark 13:28-33)

 

Scripture Union Meditation

We should be convinced of the certainty of Jesus’ return, as certain as the budding of the fig tree announces summer. The signs of verses 5–23 will happen in the lifetime of those listening (30) and continue throughout history. They are not, however, to be taken as asserting that the coming is immediate. The phrase “is near, right at the door” (29) “must be taken to mean that the end is sure, not that the end can be plotted in time” (Larry Hurtado). The certainty is underlined further by the enduring nature of Jesus’ words (31).
Assurance must never breed complacency... (Scripture Union)

 

Reflections

If you are like me, you have what I like to call "fleeting moments of mortality." I suspect that I am not the only one. These are moments when you realize that you are a bit older today than yesterday. You think, "that ache is new" or "what did I do yesterday to bring this on"? I had one of those moments last week sitting at the doctor's office. There I sat. As the automated blood pressure cuff squeezed my arm periodically, I had around 5 minutes of silence to myself. 

At first I busied myself with the things on the wall: the diplomas of the doctor, the certifications from the state board. I looked at the years and could not help but to think about my first visit to the doctor regarding blood pressure. Then I got to thinking about my mortality. None of us live forever on this earth. I hope that I am not yet to the mid-point of my life, but what if I am closer to the end than the beginning? Am ignoring the certainty of the end? As Christians we trust in Jesus for the next life and - of course - this is warranted. After all, he promises "I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). But then I got to thinking, "Am I really convinced of Jesus' return or is it some nice comfortably distant future event?" As I was thinking on this the doctor came and stopped that train of thought. This meditation brought me back to it.

Sometimes, the things of the Bible can seem so remote. It can seem like a distant reality at best, but in reality it is the imminent and present reality. Jesus asks us to "be alert" in the Mark passage above. What does that mean? How does that interrupt my daily routine? I think part of it is living more with the certainty of his presence and return than the "certainty" of daily life. How do we keep the right perspective?  This Advent I continue to strive to be alert to Jesus' reality of my mortality and Jesus' return in daily life. In short, I want to be certain of and in the end.  Will you join me?