transitive. Ecclesiastical. To introduce formally into possession of a benefice or living, to install. (See induction, n. 4.)

To establish in an office, charge, or position; to appoint; now, only, to place in a spiritual charge; ‘to invest with the spiritual part of a…

transitive. To provide with a pulpit, or place in the pulpit. Now rare.

transitive. Scottish. To provide (a vacant church or parish) with a minister. Obsolete (historical in later use).

(Chiefly Scottish and U.S.) To appoint (a minister) to the charge of a parish; also, to appoint a minister to (a parish). In U.S. also intransitive…

In Presbyterian and other Churches of U.S. To invest an already ordained minister with a particular pastoral charge.

U.S. In the Methodist Church. transitive. To appoint (a minister) to a particular congregation or church. Frequently in passive. Cf. circuit-rider n.…