Commissioning Prayer

3-Minute Local Ordination & Commissioning Ceremony

Ordained Addictions Recovery Chaplain — Laying on of Hands

Leader note: Read straight through. Where you see brackets, fill in the details. Choose ONE optional insert—A, B, C, or D—and delete the others.

1) Opening & Introduction

Leader:

Today, we gather as a local expression of the Church of Jesus Christ at [Name of place—church / home / recovery ministry / community setting / Soul Center] in [City, State].

We gather because ordination is not merely a private achievement. It is a public recognition of calling, preparation, and faithful service. It is confirmed in real places, among real people, with prayer, witnesses, and the laying on of hands.

The Church is not confined to a building. The Church is the people of God, gathered in the name of Jesus Christ and sent into the world to bring truth, mercy, presence, restoration, and hope.

Optional insert — choose one:

A — Local Church Partnership
In partnership with [Name of Church], we commission [Name] as an Ordained Addictions Recovery Chaplain—to bring Christ-centered care, prayer, Scripture encouragement, compassionate presence, and wise support to individuals and families impacted by addiction and recovery.

B — Recovery Ministry Context
In connection with [Name of recovery ministry / outreach / community organization / service setting], we recognize [Name] as a chaplain who will walk alongside people in seasons of recovery, relapse concern, grief, shame, restoration, accountability, and renewed hope—bringing the steady care of Christ into real-life relationships and conversations.

C — Soul Center / Recovery Chaplaincy
As a Soul Center in [City/Region], we commission [Name] as an Ordained Addictions Recovery Chaplain—to offer prayer, encouragement, spiritual care, calm presence, and gospel hope through approved local ministry settings, recovery relationships, and practical chaplaincy service.

D — Family and Community Recovery Focus
In this community of [City/Region], we recognize [Name] as an Ordained Addictions Recovery Chaplain with a heart to serve people and families affected by addiction, broken trust, grief, loneliness, shame, recovery challenges, and spiritual searching with the compassion and hope of Jesus Christ.

Leader continues:

Today, we publicly commission [Name] for ministry as an Ordained Addictions Recovery Chaplain, affirming training, character, and calling to serve with humility, steadiness, prayer, accountability, and Christ-centered care—under wise boundaries and in cooperation with pastors, church leaders, recovery leaders, caregivers, treatment providers, and appropriate authorities.

2) Scripture

Leader:

Hear the Word of God:

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
and saves those who have a crushed spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18, WEB

3) Recognition of Preparation

Leader:

[Name] has completed a study-based preparation pathway for this chaplaincy calling. Now, as a local Christian community, we complete this process by publicly commissioning [him/her] with prayer and the laying on of hands.

4) Charge

Leader to Candidate:

[Name], you are being set apart to serve as an Ordained Addictions Recovery Chaplain.

You are called to bring the presence of Christ into places where people and families are seeking recovery, healing, restoration, courage, accountability, forgiveness, and hope.

Serve with courage, but not arrogance. Serve with compassion, but not enabling. Serve with patience, but not passivity. Serve with steadiness, humility, wisdom, and self-control.

Listen carefully. Pray faithfully. Speak truth gently. Encourage faithful next steps. Honor dignity. Respect boundaries. Refer wisely when needs move beyond your role.

Be a calm and trustworthy presence, a comfort to the burdened, an encourager to those seeking freedom and restoration, and a faithful witness to the hope found in Jesus Christ.

5) Questions

Leader:

Do you confess that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior and affirm the Holy Bible as the Word of God?
Candidate: I do, God helping me.

Do you believe that God has called you to serve as an Ordained Addictions Recovery Chaplain?
Candidate: I do, God helping me.

Do you commit to serve individuals, families, churches, Soul Centers, recovery ministries, outreach efforts, and community settings with compassion, dignity, integrity, appropriate confidentiality, wise boundaries, and referral awareness?
Candidate: I do, God helping me.

Do you commit to encourage recovery and restoration without replacing licensed counseling, addiction treatment, medical care, recovery sponsorship, legal guidance, emergency services, or pastoral oversight?
Candidate: I do, God helping me.

Do you commit to walk in accountability, and if you depart from the Christian life and calling, will you notify the proper leaders and vacate this ordination?
Candidate: I do, God helping me.

6) Laying on of Hands & Prayer

Leader and/or elders place hands gently on the candidate.

Leader:

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father,
we thank You for [Name] and for the calling You have placed upon [his/her] life.

As we lay hands upon [him/her] today, we do not create this calling, but we recognize it, bless it, and publicly affirm it before You and these witnesses.

Fill [Name] with Your Holy Spirit.
Root [him/her] deeply in Your Word.
Guard [his/her] life, doctrine, witness, and character.

Grant wisdom in recovery conversations,
peace in emotionally charged situations,
discernment in spiritual care,
and compassion for those carrying addiction, shame, grief, fear, loneliness, broken trust, family wounds, relapse concerns, and hidden pain.

Make [him/her] a calm presence in recovery settings,
a faithful servant among people and families seeking restoration,
and a bearer of Christ’s comfort, truth, mercy, and hope.

Strengthen those seeking freedom.
Encourage families longing for healing.
Bless churches, Soul Centers, recovery ministries, support groups, mentors, sponsors, caregivers, treatment providers, and community servants laboring for restoration.

Let this ministry bring light, dignity, accountability, mercy, and gospel hope wherever You send [Name].

We commission and send [Name] now,
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

7) Final Declaration & Blessing

Leader:

By prayer and the laying on of hands, we publicly commission you, [Name], as an Ordained Addictions Recovery Chaplain—locally affirmed and prayerfully sent to serve Jesus Christ among individuals, families, churches, Soul Centers, recovery ministries, outreach efforts, and community settings.

Go in the strength, peace, wisdom, and protection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.