Recently, the congregation at All Saints was able to participate (albeit remotely, we did get to participate!) in Pastor Chelsea Achterberg’s Rite of Ordination on January 27 and Rite of Installation on January 30.
Ordination is a simple rite where a person’s call into the pastoral ministry is publicly affirmed. The public confirmation of a person’s call to serve as a pastor makes it known that the person being ordained has been set apart by God, who works through His church, to serve in the role of pastor.
The ELCA Ordination to the Word of Ministry and Service states:
“Because all of its baptized members share in Christ’s ministry of love and service, the church equips and supports them for their ministries in the world. Within this context of ministry, the church calls some of its baptized members for specific ministries. Within the people of God and for the sake of the gospel ministry entrusted to all believers, God has instituted the office of the ministry of word and sacrament. In the service of Ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament, the church entrusts this office to those who have accepted the church’s call and sends them into this ministry.”
Installation is a rite where a pastor is publicly placed into their role of service in a specific congregation. While ordination happens only once in a pastor’s ministry, installation happens each time the pastor begins serving in a new congregation or new role. Both the pastor and the congregation agree to uphold one another in a binding relationship during the tenure of the pastor’s ministry within the church.
We are so pleased to congratulate Pastor Chelsea on her Ordination and welcome her as the new pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church.