December - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

Church Information 379Ordination and Induction in AucklandOn Friday, 23 September 2011, the ordination and induction of Mr JettSmith took place in Auckland. For more than 30 years the congregation hadbeen pastorless since the death of Rev Donald M MacLeod, its only previousminister. During the long vacancy, the congregation was faithfully cared forby the interim-moderator, Rev J A T van Dorp of Gisborne. It was thus withmuch thankfulness that the Presbytery met for the solemn and significantoccasion of the ordination of Mr Smith and his induction to the pastoralcharge of the congregation.Following the constitution of the Presbytery, Mr Ken van Kralingen wasappointed Officer of Court and was instructed to read the final call for objectionsthree times at the church door. During this proclamation, the Presbyterywas seated in a private room. There being no objections, the Presbytery wasclear to proceed immediately to the duties in hand and returned to the mainbody of the church. The Moderator went to the pulpit and conducted publicworship, preaching from the words addressed by Cornelius to Peter in Acts10:33: “Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done thatthou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear allthings that are commanded thee of God.”After public worship was concluded, the Clerk read a narrative of theproceedings in connection with the Call to Mr Smith. Following this theModerator called him to stand and addressed to him the questions appointedto be put to a Probationer prior to ordination and induction. When Mr Smithhad answered these questions satisfactorily, the Formula was read by theModerator and signed by Mr Smith before the congregation. He was thenasked to kneel and the congregation to stand; thereafter the Moderator camedown from the pulpit and engaged in solemn ordination prayer, and was joinedin the laying on of hands by his two ministerial brethren on the Presbytery.Prayer being ended, he then formally admitted the Rev Jett Smith to thepastoral charge of the Auckland congregation and in token of this gave tohim the right hand of fellowship, as did the other members of Presbyterythen present.Following this, the Rev E A Rayner addressed the newly ordained andinducted minister, and Rev J A T van Dorp the congregation. Several messagesof goodwill were also read; thereafter the Moderator concluded the meetingwith praise, which was heartily sung from Psalm 133, and the Benediction.The new minster greeted the congregation at the church door, and afterwardsa lovely supper was provided at Tyndale Christian School, to whichthanks are due for the use of their school hall. Thanks are also to be extendedto all who helped to arrange this welcome provision.