COMMISSION ON MINISTRY

A Guide to the Ordination Process
and its Requirements
In the Diocese of Newark

(Effective January 1, 2007)

Document available in PDF format, click here.

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Introduction

Welcome to the priestly ordination process in the Diocese of Newark.

Discerning a call to ordination is a process involving both the individual's sense of vocation and the church's affirmation of that call. The Bishop, Commission on Ministry (COM), and Standing Committee are grateful for your willingness to share your sense of vocation with us. We are committed to making the ordination process one of depth, dialogue, and faithful discernment. We have designed the process to create an environment for this discernment, and for the early stages of priestly formation.

You bear responsibility for providing the required paperwork to the appropriate persons and for meeting all deadlines throughout the process. These guidelines describe the required paperwork and the sequence of meetings and steps in the ordination process. Throughout the process you should contact the Commission on Ministry's Conference Chair with any questions. The name and phone number of the person currently serving in this position is available on the Commission’s website or from the Bishop’s office.


Timeline for the Ordination Process

Attached as an exhibit is a Timeline for the Ordination Process which outlines the general steps, in chronological order, that an individual will complete from the time one is an Aspirant until the time of priestly ordination.

This timeline is a guide only. Each individual is responsible for following the detailed procedures outlined in this document. If there is any conflict between this Timeline and the procedures outlined in this document, the details in the document are to be followed.

Questions should be addressed to the Documents Chair.

Administrative Fee

When you are nominated by your parish you are responsible for submitting a payment payable to the Diocese of Newark—Commission on Ministry (mailed to the Documents Chair) as an application and administrative fee to help cover a portion of the expenses related to the ordination process, which includes the cost of the psychological screening, background checks, and other expenses. The fee is currently $1,200; this fee may be changed at any time without notice. Sponsoring congregations are expected to share or assume responsibility for this fee. Financial assistance may be available in the case of extreme financial need by contacting the Chair of the COM.

This fee is payable in full within 30 days of attendance at a Nominee Conference if the COM determines that it will invite a Nominee to an upcoming Postulancy Conference, and prior to scheduling psychological interviews and tests and prior to the commencement of any background checks. No person may attend a Postulancy Conference until this fee has been paid in full.


Individuals Ordained in Other Denominations

Individuals who have been ordained in other denominations, and who are seeking to have their orders received in the Episcopal Church, should review these Guidelines, including those sections specifically addressing their situation.


Terms Used in These Guidelines

Throughout these Guidelines, the following terms are used:

  • Commission on Ministry, or COM: Refers to the committee comprised of clergy and lay people which is responsible for meeting with individuals who are interested in becoming ordained or having their orders received in the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Newark, for monitoring the process, for providing guidance to individuals in the process, and for making recommendations to the Bishop regarding those individuals.
  • COM Chair: Refers to the member of the COM who chairs all meetings of the COM and who oversees all activities of the COM.
  • Conference Chair: Refers to the member of the COM who is responsible for inviting individuals to attend Nominee, Postulancy, and Candidacy Conferences; for organizing such Conferences; and for providing feedback to individuals following their attendance at such Conferences.
  • Documents Chair: Refers to the member of the COM who is responsible for working with individuals in the priestly process in terms of all paperwork and documents that are required to be submitted throughout the process; setting the dates that all such documents must be submitted, and for advising people of the date, time and location of conference.
  • Education Chair: Refers to the member of the COM who is responsible for ensuring compliance with all matters relating to the education of the individuals in the process.
  • Education Committee: Refers to the committee, comprised of certain members of the COM, responsible for working with individuals in the process of ordination with regards to all education requirements applicable to individuals in the priestly ordination process.
  • Process: Refers to all activities under the control of the COM that an individual, seeking to be ordained or seeking to have his or her orders received, must follow throughout the period prior to ordination or
    receipt of orders.

The Ordination Process

Overview

The priestly ordination process customarily lasts between four and six years, beginning with the earliest contact between a parishioner and his or her rector, priest-in-charge or vicar about the parishioner's sense of vocation. The following pages describe the stages of the process. Each section includes a list of the paperwork, conferences and events that are required at each stage.

It is expected that an aspirant will be a member of the sponsoring parish for not less than two years, with a minimum of one year as a communicant in good standing, before applying to the Commission on Ministry.

The Canons require a minimum period of 18 months from the time of the aspirant’s congregational recommendation of ordination to the priesthood; however, the more usual model is that this period takes from three to six years.

For Those Who Have Completed Seminary Prior to Postulancy

Occasionally, aspirants begin the ordination process after they have completed
seminary. Such persons must go through all the steps in the ordination process
including the Anglican Studies requirement as described under the seminary coursework heading below.

Steps in the Ordination Process

General Guidelines for Submission of Documents

Unless noted otherwise:

  • Forms that are provided on this website are to be used. The available forms are noted in these guidelines by an asterisk.
  • Documents that are typed are to be presented in 12-point type with one-inch margins
    • Each page is to be numbered
    • Each page is to have the individual’s name and date
  • Originals are to be sent to the Bishop’s office; a copy is to be sent to the Documents Chair. However, originals of all transcripts are to be sent to both the Bishop’s office and to the Documents Chair.
  • At each stage of the process, when documents are to be submitted, you are to submit a complete set of documents, including the Ordination Process Information Form. In some cases (e.g., transcripts) this may require you to submit documents previously submitted to the COM. This is to ensure that the Bishop and the COM have the most current and complete set of information as you proceed through the process towards ordination.

Note that Form I-1, Ordination Process Information Form, is a form containing general information. It is to be updated and submitted at each stage in the process, and ensures that the most current information (including addresses and phone numbers) is available to the Bishop and the COM.

Should there be changes (e.g., phone numbers or email addresses) at other times, you must complete a new Form I-1 and submit it immediately to the Bishop, Conference Chair, and Documents Chair.

Also note that the documents that are required at each stage are listed on “Priestly Ordination Documents Checklist.” You should refer to that list to ensure that all documents are submitted as required.

At any time, should you have any questions as to those documents that are required, you should contact the Documents Chair.



Stage 1: Discernment (Consultation with Congregational Discernment Committee)

The traditional name of the ordination process' first stage is "Aspirancy," suggesting that a person is aspiring to know more deeply the vocation to which God calls him or her. Aspirancy begins with conversations between the aspirant and his or her priest about the aspirant's sense of calling. Such conversations happen over a minimum of four or five months and often take longer, as each person's process of discernment is different.

When these conversations reach the point that the aspirant and his or her priest feel the aspirant is ready for a next step, the aspirant should contact the COM Conference Chair, who will provide the name and phone number of another priest in the diocese with whom the aspirant will discuss his or her sense of calling. The COM does not ask for any report or summary of these conversations, but instead sees them as an opportunity for the aspirant to speak with another priest about his or her sense of calling in a confidential setting.

Concurrently the aspirant and his or her rector, priest-in-charge or vicar should organize a Congregational Discernment Committee to meet monthly for six months to discuss the aspirant's vocation. Guidelines, entitled Parish Discernment—Ordination to the Priesthood, which are intended to help the Discernment Committee shape these conversations are available on the COM website. At this time either the aspirant or his or her priest should ask the chair of the Discernment Committee to contact the Conference Chair who can answer questions and offer advice and support.

The Discernment Committee plays several roles. First, at this early stage of the process this committee serves as a sounding board for the aspirant, a place where the aspirant explores the different dimensions of a call to ordination. Second, this committee offers to the Bishop, COM and Standing Committee their observations regarding the strengths the aspirant would offer the church as a priest, the areas in which the aspirant would need to grow to become a well-rounded priest, and the way the committee experienced the aspirant in the course of their meetings. The role of the Discernment Committee is not to recommend for or against ordination for the aspirant, but rather to provide a descriptive written report, which should be 2-3 pages in length. This report should, at a minimum, clearly and fully address the aspects outlined in the Parish Discernment —Ordination to the Priesthood guidelines. This report then becomes one of several sources of information which the Bishop, COM and Standing Committee use at the different stages of the ordination process.

After the Discernment Committee's work the rector, priest-in-charge or vicar, acting on behalf of the congregation, may or may not nominate the aspirant for postulancy by sending a letter to the Bishop and to the Documents Chair. This letter shall also address the aspects outlined in the Parish Discernment —Ordination to the Priesthood guidelines.

Once an aspirant is nominated by the rector, priest-in-charge or vicar, the aspirant is known as a nominee.


Stage 2: The Nominee Conference

Once the nomination has been made, the rector, priest-in-charge or vicar should contact the Conference Chair to notify the COM that the nominee is ready to be invited to a Nominee Conference. Conferences typically involve brief interviews between the nominee and members of the Nominee Committee, consisting of several members of the COM. Such a conference is a way for the COM to initiate its relationship with the nominee, to assess the nominee’s readiness for a Postulancy Conference, and to give the nominee a sense of how the COM functions. Nominee Conferences are scheduled as needed, with no less than two taking place each year. Prior to this event, the nominee will send the Bishop and the Documents Chair the following documents, as specified by the Canons, Title III, Canon 4, Sec. 4.

    • I-1 * Ordination Process Information Form (including an assessment of any special educational needs)
    • N-1 * Application for Attendance at Nominee Conference
    • N-2 * Certificate of Minister and Vestry/Executive Committee form, which indicates the rector's/priest-in-charge's/vicar's and its vestry's/executive committee's support, financially and otherwise, of the aspirant.
    • N-3 A letter from the rector, priest-in-charge, or vicar recommending the aspirant to the Bishop as a candidate for ordination
    • N-4 The report of the Parish Discernment Committee (which must be based on the Parish Discernment —Ordination to the Priesthood guidelines)
    • N-5 A one-page, single-spaced autobiographical statement
    • N-6 A one-page, single space statement of the aspirant's sense of call

Note: Throughout these Guidelines, required forms that are included on the COM website are indicated by an asterisk.


Within a week following the Nominee Conference the Conference Chair will contact the nominee to respond to each aspirant's presentation of his or her sense of calling, advising him or her about the strengths and areas of concern that COM members discerned. The Conference Chair will also provide each aspirant with one of three recommendations from the Nominee Committee:

  • That the nominee attend the next Postulancy Conference, mindful of the feedback provided as a result of the Nominee Conference
  • That the nominee attend a future Postulancy Conference, taking time to address concerns raised at the Nominee Conference
  • That the nominee seriously consider not proceeding in the ordination process, as the Nominee Committee did not sense a call to priestly ordination from the perspective of the COM of this Diocese

The Conference Chair will also ask to meet with the nominee in person, to go over the Nominee Committee's feedback in depth and to invite the nominee's response to the feedback. The Conference Chair will ask the nominee to advise him or her as to when or whether he or she will request to attend a Postulancy Conference.

Stage 3: Bishop’s Invitation

The canonical authority for inviting a nominee to a Postulancy Conference lies with the Bishop. This diocese has created the Nominee Conference level of the process to provide nominees with candid feedback about the way they communicate their sense of calling at an early stage of the ordination process, and to offer nominees the chance to attend a Postulancy Conference when optimally prepared. Nominees must meet with the Bishop prior to attending a Postulancy Conference, a meeting which, according to current practice in this diocese, takes place after the Nominee Conference and prior to the Postulancy Conference. This appointment is scheduled through the Bishop's executive assistant. After this interview the Bishop will notify the nominee and the COM whether the Bishop wishes for the nominee to proceed to the Postulancy Conference.

Stage 4: Postulancy

The next stage of the process, called Postulancy, is a time for postulants to formulate or postulate working models or images of what priestly ordination means to them. Postulancy involves continued exploration of and decision about the Postulant’s call to the Priesthood.

Paperwork, Psychological Testing, and Training Requirements

Postulancy Conferences are held in the spring and fall of each year. Contact the Documents Chair for the paperwork deadlines, which are usually six to eight weeks before the Postulancy Conference.

Documents required for attendance at the Postulancy Conference are as follows:

    • I-1 * Ordination Process Information Form
    • P-1 * Application for Postulancy
    • P-2 * Certificate of Minister and Vestry/Executive Committee For Postulancy
    • P-3 Rector’s, Priest-in-Charge’s, or Vicar’s letter nominating the aspirant to the Bishop for ordination (a copy of Form N-3 is to be submitted)
    • P-4 Report of Parish Discernment Committee (a copy of Form N-4 is to be submitted)
    • P-5 Transcripts of all academic work (undergraduate and graduate)
    • P-6 A five-page, double-spaced autobiographical statement
    • P-7 A five-page, double-spaced statement describing the nominee’s sense of call, describing the process of discernment by which you have determined this call
    • P-8 A one-page letter from the nominee’s spouse/partner expressing his/her thoughts on the aspirant’s seeking ordination
    • P-9 The nominee’s psychological evaluation from Kenwood Psychological Services, as required by the Church Pension Fund (see below) (sent to the Bishop’s office only; no copy to the Documents Chair)
    • P-10* A completed Medical Examination form (sent to the Bishop’s office only; no copy to the Documents Chair)
    • P-11 Background checks (see below)
    • P-12 A current resume
    • P-13 Passport-sized photo, no older than six months (one photo to Bishop’s office, one photo to Documents Chair)
    • P-14 Names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers of three references, indicating your relationship to each reference (see below)
    • P-15 Check for the Administrative Fee


Psychological Evaluation

When the nominee knows that he or she will attend a Postulancy Conference, and after the Administrative Fee has been mailed to the Documents Chair, he or she should contact Kenwood Psychological Services (124 East 84th Street, New York, New York, 10028, 212-744-2121) to schedule psychological interviews and tests. The Bishop and a subcommittee of the COM use the Kenwood tests and interviews to gain a psychological profile of nominees and to report any significant findings to the COM and Standing Committee. The COM hopes nominees will find these reports enlightening regarding personal psychological issues bearing on ordination.

When the examining psychologist has completed the report, he or she will send a copy to the nominee for review and a copy of the report to the Bishop and the Chair of the COM. Nominees should allow up to three months for the completion of the Kenwood process, and should schedule appointments accordingly.

This psychological evaluation must be updated if the period from the date of the initial evaluation report until ordination is 36 months or more, or at the request of the COM.


Background Checks

Background checks on each nominee are conducted by Oxford Documents Company, prior to attendance at the Postulancy Conference, and include credit, motor vehicle, sexual misconduct, and criminal checks. Such background checks must be updated if the period of time from the date of the background check report until ordination is 36 months or more, or at the request of the COM.


References

People to be used as references should be those who have known the Nominee long enough to provide information about the Nominee that will be helpful to the COM. For example, employers, people with whom the Nominee has worked, former or present teachers, someone who is involved with the Nominee in lay ministry, and others may be good references.

Certain individuals should not be used as references: any clergy from the sponsoring parish; any member of the Nominee’s Discernment Committee; any member of the COM; anyone who is currently in the process of seeking ordination; any member of the Nominee’s family; a former or current spiritual director; and the like.


The Postulancy Conference

The Postulancy Conference consists of approximately five hours of interviews between nominees and the COM and Standing Committee members. Groups of COM and Standing Committee members ask individual nominees questions based on their written materials. The Postulancy Conference may involve group interviews and nominees may be asked to make a short presentation to a group.

The Conference Chair sends information regarding the date, time and place of the Conference to nominees several months in advance. The Documents Chair contacts nominees who will attend the Postulancy Conference to outline the timing of submission of documents, and to clarify any issues that nominees may have. Documents are generally due to be submitted to the Bishop and to the Documents Chair four to six weeks prior to the Postulancy Conference.


Following the Postulancy Conference, the COM delivers its recommendation to the Bishop regarding postulancy for each nominee. The COM will make one of the following recommendations:

  • Recommended
  • Not Recommended

Recommendation requires a two-thirds vote of all COM members present. This same two-thirds vote is required at all levels of the ordination process—i.e., when being recommended to become a postulant, candidate, deacon, or priest.

With the COM's recommendation in hand, the Bishop makes the decision about whether to admit the nominee as a postulant for Holy Orders. The Bishop will then contact each nominee, usually within a week of the Postulancy Conference, to communicate his decision regarding postulancy.

Each nominee should contact the Conference Chair to schedule an appointment following Postulancy Conferences to review feedback from the conference and to discuss the nominee's future in the ordination process.

Nominees not made postulants by the Bishop may return to further Postulancy Conferences for reconsideration. Nominees should decide when to attend a second conference after consultation with the Conference Chair. Normally, nominees not made postulants after a first conference wait at least one year before returning to a second conference. Nominees wishing to attend a third conference may do so only if the Bishop has encouraged them in this regard.


Postulancy Conference Follow-Up

The next stage of the process, called Postulancy, is a time for postulants to formulate or postulate working models or images of what priestly ordination means to them, and to test these images or models with the COM, with a seminary community, in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and in a church field placement intellectually, emotionally, vocationally, and spiritually. The COM expects postulants to find this a time of significant spiritual growth which normally encompasses the first two years of seminary but which lasts a minimum of six months.

Each Postulant should meet with the bishop to discuss issues related to theological education, finances, field work, mentor assignments, and other relevant issues.

To provide ongoing support and information, the COM will assign each postulant a COM member as a liaison. Postulants should contact their liaisons every three months to update them verbally on their progress, and more often if questions or concerns arise.

A postulant must write the bishop four times a year in Ember Weeks, reflecting upon his or her seminary experience and personal and spiritual development. One of these four letters each year is also to be sent to both the Bishop and to the Documents Chair, including in that letter specific information about how the postulant has followed up on recommendations the COM made following the Postulancy Conference. The Ember Day letter sent to both the Bishop and Documents Chair should be the one that falls closest to six and eighteen months after the Postulancy Conference at which the individual was made a Postulant.

Neither postulants nor candidates should wear clerical garb, including a seminarian’s collar, and in corporate worship should wear only those vestments appropriate for a lay person.


Requirements for Seminary Coursework and Spiritual Development

The COM recognizes that many persons in the ordination process attend an ecumenical seminary. To ensure a thorough background in theological studies, Anglican Studies and formation in the Anglican tradition, and because different seminaries have different M.Div. graduation requirements, the COM requires that all persons becoming postulants must complete the following seminary coursework to be ordained priest:

    • Four full semesters of Introductory Biblical Studies, evenly divided between the study of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament
    • Four full semesters of Christian theology and ethics, including a full semester survey course in traditional systematic theology
    • A full semester course in Anglican ethics taken at an Episcopal seminary which serves as one of the four required semesters in theology and ethics mentioned above
    • Three full semesters of church history, covering the history of the early church to the present day, with an additional semester in Anglican Church history for those attending an ecumenical seminary (the course in Anglican history must be taken at an Episcopal seminary)
    • Two full semester courses in preaching
    • Two full semester courses in the areas of basic liturgics and liturgical theology, sacramental theology, pastoral liturgy or liturgical practice, with at least one semester being taken at an Episcopal seminary.

Postulants who choose to attend a non-Episcopal seminary must, at a minimum, complete one semester at an Episcopal seminary.

These courses are to be coordinated with the requirements listed in Title III, Canon 6.Sec. 4 (a).

The COM considers the emotional and spiritual development of persons in the process to be as important as their intellectual development. To this end, by the time of ordination to the transitional diaconate, Candidates are expected to have completed the following:

    • Two years of regular meetings with a spiritual director
    • A full unit of Clinical Pastoral Education
    • A full year's field placement in a supervised ministry at an Episcopal parish or mission
    • Regular attendance at their seminary chapel
    • A daily praying either Morning or Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer or a supplemental liturgical text. This is most appropriately done in community, either with a small group or in an established congregation at seminary or in a parish. However, if no community is available the Daily Office still is to be prayed
    • Reading Lesser Feasts and Fasts, published by the Church Hymnal Company
    • Adult Sexual Misconduct Prevention training (see below)
    • Child Abuse Awareness training (see below)
    • Anti-Racism training (see below)

The COM expects that all persons in the process will complete their fieldwork at a congregation that is not their sponsoring congregation or home church.

The COM will ask postulants to report on these activities at the Candidacy Conference.


Training

Prior to undertaking fieldwork in a congregation, all seminarians must complete training in Adult Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Child Abuse Awareness which are offered each year in the Diocese. Dates for such training sessions are available from the Diocesan Administrator.

Seminarians must also complete the diocesan Anti-Racism Training or a similar training course of at least ten hours.

It is highly recommended that all training be completed as early in the process as possible, preferably before attending seminary or immediately after being granted Postulancy. It is the responsibility of the individual to complete such training and submit proof of completion to the Commission on Ministry as soon as completed.

Alternative training options, including completion of comparable courses at seminary, may not meet the specific requirements of the Diocese. It is your responsibility to ensure that training is completed, and that the training is accepted by the Diocese.

Postulants are to be thoroughly familiar with and trained in the Title IV procedures.


Stage 5: Candidacy

The term candidate reflects the church's expectation that by this stage of the ordination process persons are expected to integrate their academic studies, spiritual development, and field experience so that they are prepared to offer themselves as candidates for ordination to the transitional diaconate. Candidacy is a time of education and formation in preparation for ordination.


Prerequisites and Paperwork for Candidacy

The postulant must have been enrolled in a theological school or seminary or some other program of preparation for the ordained ministry, approved by the Bishop and the COM, before applying for candidacy.

Postulants must submit copies of the following candidacy-related paperwork:

    • I-1 * Ordination Process Information Form
    • C-1 * Application for Candidacy
    • C-2 * Reaffirmation of Minister and Vestry/Executive Committee For Candidacy Status
    • C-3 Seminary transcript to date
    • C-4 Seminary evaluations of the postulant's fitness for ministry; you are required to obtain a separate evaluation at the completion of each year at seminary
    • C-5 A written copy of a recent sermon
    • C-6 Clinical Pastoral Education evaluation
    • C-7 Field placement supervisor's evaluation
    • C-8 Anti-Racism training—proof of completion
    • C-9 Adult Sexual Misconduct Prevention training—proof of completion
    • C-10 Child Abuse Awareness training—proof of completion

A Candidacy Conference is held annually. Copies of the paperwork must be sent to the Bishop and the Documents Chair; such documents are generally required to be submitted four to six weeks prior to the Conference.

The postulant is responsible for obtaining from the Dean of Students at the postulant’s seminary an evaluation of the postulant’s fitness for ministry.

Field placement must take place outside the postulant’s home or sponsoring parish. The Field Placement Supervisor’s Evaluation should be a comprehensive report that includes information regarding the period of field placement, a full description of the tasks and assignments, the goals set for the field placement, the accomplishments achieved, and the detailed observations of the supervisor. If the COM had made any specific observations or recommendations that were to be addressed during the field placement, those matters should be specifically addressed. A candid report of the observations of the individual’s activities, strengths, and areas to be addressed in the future should also be included. Any concerns or reservations by the supervisor regarding the individual’s ongoing process towards ordination should also be addressed.


The Candidacy Conference

The Candidacy Conference resembles the Postulancy Conference. The COM and Standing Committee members ask each Postulant questions about his or her academic progress, spiritual development and vision for ministry. Within one week following the conference the COM will communicate its recommendation regarding candidacy to the Bishop. The Bishop may contact each Postulant to schedule a subsequent interview, and will contact each postulant to communicate his respective decisions, which will be:

  • Approved for Candidacy
  • Not Approved for Candidacy

To become a candidate, each postulant must be recommended by the Bishop following the same Candidacy conference.

All postulants should schedule a meeting with the Conference Chair following the conference to discuss the Commission's feedback from the conference.

Candidacy, which must last at least six months, is a time of formation in preparation for the priesthood. The candidate must maintain a canonical relationship with the Diocese and is to continue to write the Bishop during Ember weeks, again sending one letter to the Bishop and to the Documents Chair.


The General Ordination Exams

Candidates will take the General Ordination Exams during the January of their last year in seminary. Candidates should contact the Documents Chair by June 30 of the year prior to the January in which they wish to sit for the exams. One must be a Candidate on or before October 15 prior to the January exams in order to take the GOEs. Once approved for taking the GOEs, the Bishop’s office will register the individual for the upcoming exam.

The General Board of Examining Chaplains (GBEC) evaluates each candidate's exams, grading the Candidate's performance in each of seven areas of study. Persons taking the exams receive a grade between 1 (indicating a lack of competence) and 5 (indicating a high level of competence) for each of these seven canonical areas. Persons seeking priestly ordination must receive a minimum grade of 3 in each of the seven areas to be considered a suitable candidate for ordination. If a candidate is deficient in any area and if the COM concurs with the GBEC's judgment, the COM will assign him or her a tutor or additional seminary classwork for remedial purposes. The candidate will complete remedial work assigned by the COM on a schedule set by the COM or tutor.

If a candidate's performance on the GOEs calls his or her preparedness for ordination into question, a consultation between the COM and the candidate's seminary may take place. The Standing Committee and/or the Bishop may decline to approve the ordination of such candidates.


Stage 6: The Transitional Diaconate

A Candidate, who must be at least 24 years of age, may be ordained a Transitional Deacon. The COM does not hold a conference prior to recommending a Candidate for Deacon's orders, but discerns a Candidate's readiness based on GOE results, seminary record, and the cumulative evidence of the Candidate's preparedness for ordination.


Paperwork

The following paperwork is required for a Candidate to apply for diaconal ordination:

    • I-1 * Ordination Process Information Form
    • D-1 * Application for Ordination to the Diaconate
    • D-2 * Endorsement for Ordination to the Diaconate by the candidate’s Rector/Priest-in-Charge/Vicar and vestry/executive committee
    • D-3 Completed seminary transcript
    • D-4 Recommendation of seminary, theological school, or director of the program of studies
    • D-5 Ember Day letter
    • D-6 * Medical Examination Form update, if required (same form as Form P-10)
    • D-7 Psychological Examination update, if required
    • D-8 Background Check update, if required

Note: Medical, Psychological Examination, and Background check reports submitted for postulancy must be updated before ordination if more than three years have elapsed since the original exams, or at the request of the COM.

After its March or April meeting the COM will report to the Bishop and the Standing Committee whether each candidate has successfully completed the required course of study and training, giving an evaluation and recommendation as to the candidate's readiness for ordination to the transitional diaconate. This recommendation will be communicated to the Bishop and Standing Committee.

The Standing Committee then certifies, by simple majority vote, to recommend to the Bishop candidates for Diaconal Ordination. Candidates may be asked to speak with the Standing Committee in person prior to its approval of each candidate for ordination.

When ordained to the transitional diaconate, the Candidate shall be at least 21 years of age and shall publicly sign, in the presence of the ordaining bishop(s), the declaration required in Article VIII of the Constitution of the Episcopal Church.

All transitional deacons who seek priestly ordination and who are serving in the Diocese of Newark shall be enrolled in the diocesan Fresh Start program for two years to deepen their priestly formation.


Stage 7: The Priesthood

After a minimum of six months since ordination as a Deacon and 18 months from the time of acceptance of nomination by the Nominee, transitional deacons may be ordained to the priesthood. Deacons must submit the following paperwork prior to being ordained priests:

    • I-1 * Ordination Process Information Form
    • PR-1 * Application for Ordination to the Priesthood
    • PR-2 * Endorsement for Ordination to the Priesthood of Rector/Priest-in-Charge/Vicar and Vestry/Executive Committee where deacon is serving
    • PR-3 A letter of evaluation from the supervising cleric in the deacon’s place of employment
    • PR-4 Evidence of appointment to a priestly ministry as outlined in Title III, Canon 7, Sec. 14 (may be covered by PR-3)

      Deacons must also submit updated reports of medical and psychological examinations and background checks if the most recent such reports were completed more than three years prior to ordination to the priesthood.

The COM does not hold a conference during the diaconal period and does not offer a recommendation or non-recommendation regarding Deacons approaching priestly ordination. Such recommendation is the sole responsibility of the Standing Committee.

At the time of ordination to the priesthood, the transitional deacon shall be at least 24 years of age and shall publicly and in the presence of the ordaining bishop(s), sign the declaration required in Article VIII of the Constitution of the Episcopal Church.


Procedures for Those Ordained in Other Denominations


For Clergy from Denominations in Historic Succession Seeking to Have Their Orders Received Into the Episcopal Church

Clergy from denominations in historic succession who wish to have their orders received into the Episcopal Church will need to satisfy the requirements of Title 3, Canon 11 of the National Church Canons. Having provided the Bishop and Documents Chair with all the information required by Canon 11, such clergy should schedule an appointment to meet with the Bishop and subsequently with the Education Committee of the COM in order to develop a course of study and formation in order for the applicant to show proficiency in the subjects listed in Canon 11. The COM will also have the opportunity to interview the applicant during this time. The COM will make its recommendation to the Bishop and Standing Committee at which time the Bishop will decide whether to receive the applicant's orders. The Bishop may at this time set additional requirements to be met by the applicant. The Bishop will determine the timing of the Reception of each applicant's orders.

It is expected that individuals in this category will be in the process for at least two years.

For Clergy Ordained in Denominations Not in Historic Succession Seeking to Have Their Orders Received Into the Episcopal Church

For persons ordained in denominations not in historic succession seeking Episcopal orders, the following is a description of the applicable ordination process. Persons in such situations should also consult the Canons of the Episcopal Church (Title 3 Canon 10).

Such persons shall follow the ordination process through the Postulancy Conference in exactly the same manner as other persons in the ordination process. At the Postulancy Conference, such persons should be prepared to discuss their term of ordained service in their previous denomination and their reasons for desiring to leave that denomination. Such persons shall also furnish the Commission on Ministry and the Bishop with the name of a pastor or other ecclesiastical authority in whose jurisdiction this person served in the prior denomination, such person to serve as a reference (in addition to the other references that are required elsewhere in these Guidelines).

Following the Postulancy Conference, if the Bishop decides to make such a person a postulant, the Bishop will ask the Commission on Ministry for recommendations regarding further study or training this postulant needs before being ordained an Episcopal deacon and priest. The Bishop, in consultation with the Commission on Ministry, will determine the specific training required, and the timetable for its completion.

Prior to diaconal ordination, postulants in this situation shall write essays in response to the following questions:

1) In five pages, describe the main differences between the doctrine or theological tradition of the denomination which you propose to leave and the Episcopal Church, noting at least three main characteristics of Episcopal/Anglican theology.

2) In five pages, describe the main differences between the style, order, content and theology of worship of the denomination which you propose to leave and the Episcopal Church, noting at least three main characteristics of Episcopal/Anglican worship.

3) In five pages, describe the main differences between the polity and discipline of the denomination which you propose to leave and the Episcopal Church, naming at least three main characteristics of Episcopal Church polity and discipline.

4) In five pages, give an outline of ten key events in the history of the Anglican Communion.

The Education Committee will evaluate these essays and make recommendations to the Bishop regarding each postulant's readiness to become an Episcopal deacon and priest, and any subsequent work the postulant needs to complete prior to ordination.

The Bishop and Standing Committee may approve such person for ordination. All persons in this category, whether or not they undergo a period of candidacy, shall serve as deacons for six months prior to ordination to the priesthood.


Conclusion

The ordination process is long and complex, with many steps. The COM recognizes the intellectual, emotional and spiritual stamina required to complete this process and hopes that each newly-ordained priest experiences life-changing spiritual growth during his or her time in the process.

The Bishop, Commission on Ministry, and Standing Committee again thank you for your willingness to share your sense of vocation with us. We look forward to getting to know you in person through this process and sharing in the ministry of Christ's Church. Please do not hesitate to contact the Conference Chair if you have any questions about the ordination process.

(Rev. January 2007)