"Road to Ordination"
THE ROAD TO ORDINATION
GENERAL OUTLINE
The Call to Discernment
Please refer to TEC Canons
http://www.churchpublishing.org/general_convention/pdf_const_2003/Title_III_Ministry.pdf
The forms required in the following process should be requested from the Bishop’s Office.
I. Evaluation of the Potential Aspirant and his/her call
(Title III.6.1 or Title III.8.1)
A. Preliminary Steps – Please refer to TEC Canons
i. Talk with Rector or Sponsoring Priest
The Rector or Sponsoring Priest is the first church official to meet with the potential aspirant to discern the sense of call by God and the Church community to Holy Orders. At this time, the priest will review the road to ordination with the applicant.
ii. Interview with Parish Discernment Committee
The potential aspirant engages in a formal discernment process with the sponsoring church’s Parish Discernment Committee. This is a group from the parish who are prepared to further help him/her discern the sense of call to Holy Orders. Suggestions for how to organize a Parish Discernment Committee may be found at the following sites www.diocesewnc.org/uploads/File/GuidelinesfortheParishDiscernmentCommittee.pdf. If the sponsoring church is without this committee, such a committee should be formed by the rector or vicar.
iii. Interview with the Aspirant Interview Team
If the sponsoring priest and Parish Discernment Committee believe that there is a likelihood the person is called by God to Holy Orders, the appropriate paperwork (Personal Resume, Personal History and Rector/Vicar Endorsement) is submitted to the Bishop’s Office. At that point, the Bishop may extend an invitation to meet with the Bishop’s Aspirant Interview Team. The members of the team include the Bishop, the Chairperson of the Commission on Ministry, the Diocesan Clinical Consultant, and one or two other representatives of the Diocese. This team will further determine if the Potential Aspirant should proceed with the process. Should the Aspirant Interview Team give encouragement to proceed, the formal canonical process of nomination may begin.
B. Steps to Postulancy
Please note that the Chair of the Commission on Ministry and the Diocesan Staff are always available to answer questions and assist wherever possible. However, the individual should never assume that others are keeping track of him/her. The responsibility rests with the applicant to complete all paperwork and submit it to the appropriate people in a timely fashion.
i. Prepare Canonical Letters of Application with the help of your rector and discernment advisors and submit to the Bishop (Title III.6.2.b or Title III.8.2.b)
ii. Submit background check form (at your expense, with payment in advance) to the Bishop’s office
(Title III.6.5.j.1 or Title III.8.5.j.1)
iii. Undergo medical examination (at your expense); physician returns form to the Bishop’s office (Title III.6.5.j.2 or Title III.8.5.j.2)
iv. Undergo psychological examination (at your expense); Diocesan Clinical Consultant returns form to the Bishop’s office (Title III.6.5.j.2 or Title III.8.6.5.j.2)
v. Obtain Rector/Vicar and Vestry/Bishop’s Committee endorsement; Rector/Vicar returns form to the Bishop’s office
(Title III.6.2.a or Title III.8.2.a)
vi. Submit all records to the Bishop’s office as completed
vii. Postulancy interview with Commission on Ministry
(Title III.6.3.b or Title III.8.3.b)
The aspirant participates in Postulancy interview with the Commission on Ministry. The aspirant, spouse (if married) and sponsoring clergy person will be requested to meet with the COM, which will assist in the communal discernment. This is done through questions asked by members of the COM and discussion which may follow. The meeting normally takes one hour. The aspirant’s application materials will have been assessed by all members beforehand. All information from the paperwork and the interview is kept strictly confidential. After the interview, a closed session for evaluation is conducted. The COM will promptly send its recommendation to the Bishop.
C. The Bishop’s Decision (Title III.6.3.d or Title III.8.3.d)
After all of the above steps have been completed, the Bishop then decides if the aspirant should be admitted to Postulancy. The Bishop’s decision is forwarded to the aspirant, the Rector and the Commission on Ministry.
D. The Aspirant is made a Postulant
II. Continuing evaluation of the Postulant and his/her call
Postulancy is the time between nomination and candidacy and includes a
process of exploration and decision on the Postulant’s call to the
Diaconate/Priesthood in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of the
Episcopal Church, as well as intellectual and spiritual formation for ministry.
A. Appointment of Liaison
When a person has been admitted as a Postulant, a member of the COM
will be appointed as a liaison for the duration of the Postulancy and
Candidacy process.
B. Ember Day Letters (Title III.6.3.e or Title III.8.3.e)
From the time of acceptance, thePostulant is required to write the Bishop, or his designated representative, four times a year during Ember Weeks. A copy should also be sent to the Postulant’s appointed liaison. These letters should reflect the individual’s academic experience and personal spiritual development. Ember Weeks may be found on the Episcopal Church Calendar.
C. Steps to Candidacy
i. The Formation Process Begins with Enrollment in Seminary or Diocesan School for Ministry
(Title III.6.5.f & g or Title III.8.5.f & g)
Choice of program should be developed in consultation with the
Bishop.
ii. Personal Application for Candidacy (Title III.6.4.a.1 or Title III.8.4.a.1) and Vestry and Rector’s Endorsement of Candidacy (Title III.6.4.a.2 or Title III.8.4.a.2)
When the Postulant has completed no less than 50% of the course of study, the Postulant will send the letter of application for Candidacy along with the Vestry/Bishop’s Committee and Rector/Vicar’s letter of support to the Bishop’s office.
iii. Commission on Ministry Interview and Report
(Title III.6.4.b or Title III.8.4.b)
The Postulant, spouse, if applicable, and Rector/Vicar will meet
with the COM for a final progress assessment. After this, the Commission on Ministry submits its final recommendation to the Standing Committee.
iv. Standing Committee Interview and Report to Bishop
(Title III.6.4.b or Title III.8.4.b)
The Postulant will be interviewed by the Standing Committee
which will make a recommendation to the Bishop.
D. The Bishop’s Decision (Title III.6.4.b or Title III.8.4.b)
Upon receipt of the final Standing Committee report, the Bishop will
decide if the Postulant is to be admitted to Candidacy and will notify the Postulant of the decision .
E. The Postulant is made a Candidate
III. Evaluation of the Candidate and his/her call
Candidacy is a time of formation in preparation for ordination to the
Diaconate/Priesthood, established by a formal commitment by the Candidate, the Bishop, the Commission on Ministry (COM) and the congregation or other faith community. (Title III.6.4 or Title III.8.4)
A. Formation Program Continues
B. Ember Days Letters Continue (Title III.6.5.h or Title III.8.5.j)
C. Steps to Ordination to the Diaconate
i. Submit personal application for Ordination to Bishop
(Title III.6.6.b.1 or Title III.8.6.c.1)
ii. Diaconal Endorsement by Rector/Vicar and Vestry/Bishop’s Committee (Title III.6.6.b.2 or Title III.8.6.c.2)
iii. Take and pass Canonical Examinations showing proficiency in all areas of study.
iv. Submit final seminary transcripts, certification of sexual ethics and anti-racism training (Title III.6.6.b.4 or Title III.8.6.c.4)
v. If the background check, and the medical and psychological evaluations are older than thirty six months prior to ordination as a Deacon, submit updated medical and psychological evaluations
(Title III.6.5.j or Title III.8.5.j)
vi. Interview with the Standing Committee
(Title III.6.6.c or Title III.8.6.c)
D. Certification and recommendation of Standing Committee
(Title III.6.6.c or Title III.8.6.d)
E. The Bishop’s Decision (Title III.6.6.d or Title III.8.6.e)
At his/her discretion, the Bishop orders Ordination and notifies the Candidate of the decision. (Please note that a Candidate who has met the examination and other requirements for ordination may sill be refused ordination by the Bishop.) The time and place of Ordination will be
determined by the Diocese where the Candidate will be Ordained to the Diaconate. This is ordinarily the ordinand’s sponsoring diocese.
F. The Candidate is ordained to the Diaconate
Please note that a candidate who has met the examination and other requirements for ordination may still be refused ordination by the Bishop for cause. Consent to ordination may be withheld by the Standing Committee. In the case of termination for cause, the Bishop will indicate to the Candidate the grounds for removal in accordance with the Canons.
For those being ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in this diocese, it should be understood that no consideration will be given to that person should he or she wish to be ordained as Priest until after ten (10) years of serving in the capacity of Permanent Deacon.
IV. Evaluation of the Transitional Deacon
A. Steps to Ordination to the Priesthood
i. For those called to the Priesthood, a one-year period of service to the Diaconate is required. During that time, the deacon is to conduct service ministry under the direct authority of the Bishop and supervision of a rector, vicar or other appointed priest.
ii. Submit personal application for Ordination to Priesthood to Bishop.
(Title III.8.7.b.1)
iii. Appropriate recommendations for ordination will be submitted by the Rector/Vicar and Vestry/Bishop’s Committee of the Deacon’s congregation to the Standing Committee using the stated forms. (Title III.8.7.b.2)
B. Consent for ordination will be submitted by the Standing Committee to the Bishop. (Title III.8.7.c)
C. Final Decision by Bishop (Title III.8.7.d)
At his/her discretion, the Bishop orders Ordination and informs the Deacon of the decision. The time and place of Ordination will be determined by the Diocese
D. The Deacon is ordained to the Priesthood
THE ROAD TO ORDINATION
Diocese of the Rio Grande
January 2009
I. The Call to Discernment
II. Evaluation of the Aspirant and his/her call to discernment
A. Preliminary Steps
B. Steps to Postulancy
C. The Bishop’s Decision
D. The Aspirant is made a Postulant
III. Evaluation of the Postulant and his/her call
A. Appointment of Liaison
B. Ember Day Letters
C. Steps to Candidacy
D. The Bishop’s Decision
E. The Postulant is made a Candidate
IV. Evaluation of the Candidate and his/her call
A. Studies continue
B. Ember Day Letters continue
C. Steps to Ordination to the Diaconate
D. The Bishop’s Decision
E. The Candidate is Ordained to the Diaconate
V. Evaluation of the Transitional Deacon
A. Steps to Ordination to the Priesthood
B. The Bishop’s Decision
C. The Deacon is Ordained to the Priesthood
Feeds