This form was prepared between 1924 and 1932. Prior to this, churches
used a generally agreed upon series of questions that allowed great flexibility
of style and custom. This form was adopted by the Synod of 1932.
Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ:
We thank our God for the grace that he gave you
through Christ Jesus that made you desire to profess your faith publicly, here
in the presence of God and his holy church, and to obtain the privileges of full
communion with the people of God.
You are now requested to answer sincerely the following
questions:
First, do you declare that you love the Lord, and
that you desire to serve him according to his Word--to forsake the world, to
put to death your old nature, and to lead a godly life?
Second, do you openly accept God's covenant promise,
which has been signified and sealed to you in your baptism, and do you humbly
confess that you are sinful and that you seek life not in yourselves but only
in Jesus Christ your Savior?
Third, do you sincerely believe the doctrine contained
in the Old and the New Testaments, and in the articles of the Christian faith,
and taught in this Christian church, to be the true and complete doctrine of
salvation, and do you promise by the grace of God steadfastly to continue in
this profession?
Fourth, do you promise to submit to the government
of the church and also, if you should become delinquent either in doctrine or
in life, to submit to its admonition and discipline?
(name), what is your answer?
Answer: I do [to be given by each individually] .
I charge you, then, beloved, that you, by the diligent
use of the means of grace and with the assistance of your God, continue in the
profession you have just made. In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord, I now welcome
you to full communion with the people of God. Rest assured that all the privileges
of such communion are now yours. "And the God of all grace, who called you to
his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself
restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for
ever and ever. Amen" (1 Pet. 5:10-11).
Prayer [optional]
Heavenly Father, we thank you that you have from
the beginning embraced in your covenant the children together with their parents.
We thank you that you from the first cast the lot of these your servants in the
Christian church and granted them all the many blessings of Christian culture.
We bless you that in their case you added the special grace of your Holy Spirit,
so that of their own will they come here today to profess your truth and to consecrate
their lives to your service. We earnestly pray that you will continue to carry
on the good work you have begun in them until the day of complete redemption.
Increase in them daily the many gifts of your grace, the spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. Grant them
the happiness of promoting the glory of their Lord and the edification of his
people. Deliver them in the temptations of this life and in the final trial of
death. And in that day when you make up your jewels, set also these servants
in your crown, that they may shine as stars, to your praise, forever and ever.
Amen.
