Prayer and fasting are commonly practiced when there is a selection of office-bearers and the church wants to give time for godly reflection (see Acts 13:1–2). These office-bearers are then also committed to certain tasks; publicly the church acknowledges them as those who have been called to serve.1
23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.