I Pronounce You “Pastor and Congregation” ***** The Purpose and Intent of Pastor Installation Service

The beginning of a new pastor’s ministry at any church involves joy, high hopes, great anticipation, and not a little fear and trepidation, for both pastor and congregation. The Pastoral Installation Service is meant to capitalize on the enthusiasm of new beginnings as well as to redress anxieties.

In many ways, the Installation Service is akin to the Wedding Ceremony. Certainly, there is joy in both kinds of services, and some measure of anxiety, no doubt. What is at the root of both ceremonies, however, is that two parties make vows to each other in the sight of God and many witnesses. These are the most serious promises we can make to each other, “so help us God.” Indeed, the exchange of vows between pastor and congregation culminates the service.

Like a wedding, the Installation Service features invited guests who witness the exchange of vows. In accord with the auspiciousness of the occasion, we have invited both civic dignitaries from our community and area ministerial leaders with whom we partner in mission. They are invited not only to witness the exchange of vows, but also to celebrate our mutual interests and calling by bringing greetings and well wishes from our community and from their respective organizations.

In addition to the exchange of vows, ministers will admonish both pastor and congregation about their obligations to one another. Both the charge to the pastor and to the congregation are meant to be delivered with a Spirit-filled zeal and urgency, so that the words press mightily on the hearers’ hearts and minds for many years to come.

There will also be an Installation Sermon. While the sermon and the charges emphasize the magnitude of the stewardship that is bestowed upon the pastor and congregation in their new ministry together, they also serve to allay fear and trepidation, for the Lord promises his enabling presence: “Fear not! For I am with you always!”

The Installation Service may well be further solemnized by special music. Extended pre-service music (perhaps by a guest musician) is appropriate, as well as special processional and recessional music. A choral anthem and perhaps a vocal solo or trio, etc. may also be in order. The congregation will sing majestic hymns appropriate for the occasion.

While processionals and recessionals are not typical for most Baptist churches, they may well add to the auspiciousness of the occasion, especially if clerical regalia (robes) are requested. If the church does not have enough robes available, often a neighboring church with high church tendencies may be willing to loan some.

An important goal of the Installation Service is to bring the whole congregation together, with an eye especially for our members who have not been attending regularly. We want them to meet the new pastor and see for themselves the joy of our new beginning. The Installation Service also is a fine reason to invite extended family members and neighbors to come see what is happening in their community. While the church office should send out invitation letters to many people, all church members—each and every one of them—should do their part to reach out and invite their friends and loved ones. In the end, we hope that the Installation Service not only energizes pastor-congregation relations, but also serves as an Evangelism-Church Growth opportunity.

Pastor Installation Services for Baptist Churches

The Pastor Installation Service is a worship service that formalizes a pastor's call in the sight of God and many witnesses. It is in some respects like a wedding service; a minister gives an exhortational charge to the the congregation and to the pastor, and then the two parties exchange mutual vows. Elements are added to the ceremony to solemnify the occasion; celebrative elements are included, too. The service may range from less to more formal, from simple to complex.

Practically speaking, the installation service serves as a launching point for the pastor's new ministry. It conveys to the congregation and to those in the shadow of its ministry that an era is closing, and a new era is beginning. This can be important for churches dealing with conflict from a previous pastorate. The celebrative atmosphere and the required cooperation necessary to put on an installation service should energize the church membership so that they feel good about gathering together for worship in the coming services.

Here are some ideas.

• Much advance promotional work is needed. The whole church membership should receive special invitations. This especially includes wayward or absentee members. An invitation list should be developed and expanded as widely as possible. The church may well take out advertizing in the local newspaper and radio stations. In some communities, flyers might be handed out door-to-door.
• Baptists participate in processions as an act of worship, but not often. An installation service may invite a processional, since there are usually visiting ministers in attendance. I like to include children and youth into these acts of worship, and so I usually invite a child to lead the processional, carrying an appropriate size cross to represent Christ at the head of the processional. I might even add a child to carry in the altar Bible. 
• Because of their tendency to erode distinctions between clergy and laity, Baptists are not typically fond of vestments. The installation service, however, might be a time when clerical robes might serve to solemnify the occasion; women don't normally wear bridal gowns and veils, but do so for the one special occasion.
• Installation services call for all kinds of special music, and the church may well invite special musicians. Music tending toward the classical is especially appropriate for the processional, if there is a processional.
• The installation service is a good time to emphasize the community relationships of the church with its affiliated and neighboring civic organizations. Leaders of these organizations may well be invited to bring short (2 minute) greetings and well-wishes to the congregation on behalf of their organizations. These would include representatives from the local church association, the state convention, other denominational representatives, local colleges and universities, and city and state such as the mayor or congressperson. Invited guests who cannot come may send written greetings and well-wishes which might be read to the congregation.
  
• The new pastor should include people who have a deep connection with him or her into various parts of the service. In particular, the guest speaker to preach the installation sermon should be a significant mentor. Likewise, someone near and dear to the new pastor should render the installation prayer, and a vocalist who is a long friend to the new pastor might sing a meaningful song.
• Participation in the installation, then, is determined by practicality and intimacy. That is, there is a dignitary class of participants (representatives from affiliated organizations and from the civic arena) and a class of participants who participate simply because they are dearly loved by the new pastor.
  
• The installation service normally culminates in the installation prayer, which is usually done in the context of laying on of hands. Laying on of hands is an ancient biblical custom in which church leaders surround the individual and pray over him or her, with hand on the individual's head or shoulder. The person delegated to render the installation prayer should be someone who can pray with fervor and knows what it means to cry mightily to God.
• The installation service usually involves food and fellowship afterward. New pastors may also help people get to know them by setting up a display of personal memorabilia which showcase the pastor's life, ministry, and various projects and achievements. In some cases, the pastor may wish to give a short presentation on a much loved project.