Ordination to the Diaconate Process
If you sense a CALL, you are an ASPIRANT
To begin, you will work with your FAITH COMMUNITY & BISHOP
- Speak to your congregation’s Rector/Vicar/Priest-in-Charge
- Rector/Vicar/Priest-in-Charge sends the Bishop a Letter of Introduction and Support.
- Submit Declaration of Intent- Form 1
- Bishop invites Aspirant to meet
- Aspirant is invited to continue with next steps
- Aspirant submits Waiver of Confidentiality– Form 2A and Release of Records– Form 2B
- Public records check
- Aspirant makes appointment with clinicians chosen by the Bishop for a Psychological Evaluation- Complete: Behavioral Screening Questionnaire (BSQ), Mental Health Evaluation, and Life History forms
- Bishop grants permission to continue discernment on congregational level
Next, engage in DISCERNMENT IN FAITH COMMUNITY
- Form Congregational Discernment Team (CDT) – Guidelines
- Attend Discernment Team meetings as scheduled
- Discernment Team completes Discernment Team Report– Form 3
You may then be ready for NOMINATION
- Rector/Vicar/Priest-in-Charge and the Vestry or Bishop’s Committee review the Discernment Team Report, interview the Aspirant, and decides whether to nominate the Aspirant as a Postulant for ordination as a Deacon
- If nominated, the Rector/Vicar/Priest-in-Charge completes Nomination Form 4 and sends with Form 3 to the Bishop, along with a copy of the Aspirant’s spiritual autobiography
- Bishop reviews Forms 3 and 4 and the Aspirant’s spiritual autobiography and decides whether to grant Nominee status
The next step is POSTULANCY – Outline
- Nominee completes Application for Postulancy- Form 5
- Nominee schedules medical appointment with personal physician and doctor completes Medical Exam Questionnaire
- Nominee interviews with Commission on Ministry (COM)
- COM discusses interview with Bishop and makes recommendation
- Bishop discerns decision to admit to Postulancy
- Postulant registers in program of formation.
- Postulant writes Ember Day Letters to Bishop (Title III, Canon 6, Section 3e)
- Postulant attends Diocesan Convention annually as able
During the 2nd year is a transition to CANDIDACY
- Postulant completes Application for Candidacy- Form 6
- Rector/Vicar/Priest-in-Charge and Vestry or Bishop’s Committee complete Affirmation for Candidacy-Form 7
- Background Check updated if necessary
- Postulant updates spiritual autobiography
- Postulant interviews with COM and Standing Committee (SC) for Candidacy
- On advice of SC, Bishop may grant Candidacy and informs Postulant
- Candidate completes canonical exams.
- If needed, update medical and/or psychological evaluation, along with release and confidentiality forms- Form 3 and Form 4
- Candidate completes Safe Church, Anti-Racism, Title IV training, and other canonically required trainings.
After completion of the educational process is ordination to the DIACONATE
- Candidate completes Application to be Ordained a Deacon- Form 8
- Candidate and Nominating Church leadership completes Affirmation for Ordination – Form 9
- Candidate updates spiritual autobiography
- Ordination interviews with COM and SC
- SC sends testimonial to Bishop regarding ordination to the Diaconate
- With the advice of SC, Bishop may approve ordination and schedule diaconal ordination date