Other Appendices for the Priesthood Ordination Process

Appendix J: Discernment
Appendix K: Guidelines for Postulants, Candidates and COHO Contact Persons
Appendix L: Regarding the General Ordination Exams
Appendix M: Roles and Responsibilities

Appendix J: Discernment
Identifying and responding to a call to Ordination involves many conversations with many people over time. The goal of all such conversations, whatever their context, is to discern God's invitation to the individual and the community.

We have identified several fundamental principles which must be part of a process of discernment:

(1) Discernment is set within the established, disciplined life of prayer and meditation (especially upon Scripture) of each discerner (and of each discerning community).

(2) The predisposing reality of Discernment is freedom (Ignatius' Indifference; 12 steps' detachment)

(3) The purpose of Discernment is a progressive discovery of God's will in all the subtlety and graciousness of that will.

(4) Discernment seeks for faithfulness, rather than a particular result or outcome.

(5) Discernment acknowledges fully the context in which it takes place.

(6) Discernment acknowledges fully the human particulars of the discerner's own circumstances (family, physical limitations, gifts and liabilities, temperament, age, etc.) at this moment.

(7) Discernment encompasses the whole of the personal journey of the discerner.

(8) Discernment embraces, but is not driven by, the emotions, desires, "baggage" of the discerner.

(9) Discernment assumes (or commends) the gift of rigorous insight (self-awareness) as essential for sifting, sorting and distinguishing between temptations and invitations.

(10) Discernment is dynamic; it attends to the movements, growth and evolution of the discerners, and it encompasses the redemption of those persons or communities.

(11) Discernment takes place within the faith community; presupposes trust, complementarity, synergy and candor.

(12) The indicators of appropriate Discernment are peace, consensus, felt rightness and courage.

Appendix K: Guidelines for Postulants, Candidates and COHO Contact Persons

At the time a person is named a postulant for Holy Orders, the Committee on Holy Orders (COHO) will assign one of its members to be a Contact Person to that person. These guidelines are intended to define the relationship of the postulant and the COHO contact person.

1. Purpose. The purpose of the COHO contact person is to provide a convenient and relatively informal avenue for ongoing communication and advice between people in process (PIPs) and COHO.

2. The Role of the COHO Contact Person. Initial contact with the PIP should be made by the Contact Person soon after he or she is assigned. Once that initial contact is made, responsibility for ongoing communication is shared but is primarily that of the PIP.

The COHO Contact Person is to be aware of where the PIP is in terms of studies, Clinical Pastoral Education (or equivalent), field education, and other aspects of progress towards ordination. The contact person should serve as an ordination process adviser to the PIP: he or she should help to identify procedural steps (such as application for candidacy) when the time is appropriate, and guide the PIP through any questions that may arise. The Contact Person should be familiar with the ordination process for Deacons and Priests, but should not hesitate to contact either of the COHO co-chairs, or the Bishop, if clarification is needed or special circumstances arise.

3. The Role of the Person in Process. The PIP has an obligation to keep the Contact Person informed about what the PIP is doing: program of studies, scheduling of CPE or equivalent, choices concerning field education, and so forth, so that the Contact Person will have the information he or she needs to serve usefully as an adviser. As a general rule, PIPs should be in touch with their Contact Person at least a couple of times a year, and should update them each time a major step in the ordination process is completed. Because Contact Persons will be the COHO members most familiar with their respective PIPs, questions about the ordination process should be directed in the first instance to the Contact Person.

The PIP is always primarily responsible for knowing, anticipating, and completing the various steps of the ordination process. The Contact Person is a resource toward that end.

4. What the Contact Person is Not. COHO, and postulants and candidates, share a ministry and a goal: to identify and prepare faithful people to take up ordained ministry in the Church. The COHO Contact Person will seek to further that goal by giving the best possible advice and encouragement. However, the Contact Person is an adviser and not an advocate; the Contact Person acts on behalf of COHO in the relationship, and is obligated to share with COHO (or with the co-chairs, if that is more appropriate) all information which has a bearing on the PIP's information. That does not mean that the COHO Contact Person is to be a gossip, but it does mean that the relationship is not one where pastoral confidences should be confided or maintained.

Appendix L: Regarding the General Ordination Exams

Following are the general policies for all Priest Candidates. The Committee on Holy Orders, in exceptional circumstances and in consultation with the Bishop, may decide about other appropriate procedures on a case-by-case basis.

CANDIDATES FOR THE PRIESTHOOD (GENERAL ORDINATION EXAMS)

Preface:
The Committee on Holy Orders (COHO) uses the General Ordination Examination (GOE) as its primary tool to evaluate a candidate's proficiency in the required canonical areas. COHO may and does, however, use other sources of information (including but not limited to seminary transcripts, papers, evaluations, and other materials) in particular cases where the GOE results raise questions about a candidate's proficiency.
A candidate's readiness for ordination, of course, depends on many matters beyond the scope of the GOEs, such as general academic performance, spiritual health, and readiness to live into the ordination vows. COHO, the Standing Committee, and the Bishop will continue to use all available resources for discernment of this sort of readiness. This document does not address that broader continuing discernment.

Policy:
1. Expense
The Committee on Holy Orders will pay the registration fee for General Ordination Examinations for any person who is formally in the ordination process (i.e. who is a Postulant or Candidate). People not in the process for ordination will assume this cost on their own.
2. Proficiency
a. Any Candidate who scores 3 or above in any area will be deemed to have demonstrated proficiency in that area.
b. Any question which receives a score below 3 will be processed as follows:
1. A subcommittee of COHO will review the problematic answer and will substitute its evaluation for that of the GBEC.
2. If the subcommittee deems the answer does not demonstrate proficiency, the subcommittee will ask the Candidate to furnish further evidence of proficiency in the area, such as a seminary paper or a rewrite of the question.
3. This evidence will be reviewed by the subcommittee to determine if proficiency has been demonstrated.
3. Remediation
If, following the procedure noted above, proficiency still has not been demonstrated, a plan of remediation will be developed by the Bishop, COHO, and the Candidate, tailored to the Candidate's particular needs and situation. The need for remediation may or may not delay ordination to the transitional diaconate.

TIPS FOR PREPARATION:
Read the catechism.
Take basic classes before you take the exam (postpone electives to final semester).
Choose one or two theologians and know their work thoroughly.
Breathe. Pray. Laugh. Sleep. Avoid people who are stressed out about the exam.

Appendix M: Roles and Responsibilities

The role of the Commission on Ministry (COM): Specific processes for ministry discernment (both for lay ministries and for ordained ministries) will be conducted under the auspices of the Commission on Ministry. The Commission will be responsible for administering the regional group discernment processes, and for the training of discernment facilitators.

The role of the individual: It is the responsibility of the individual to communicate any questions, forward necessary paperwork and forms to the Bishop and/or COHO as required and on time, and to move the process forward for themselves. Individuals should contact the Priest in charge of their congregation, the Bishop or the Co-chairs of the Commission on Ministry if they have questions or concerns about discernment or applying for Postulancy. A Postulant or Candidate for Holy Orders should communicate with the Bishop through regular Ember Day letters, and with their Sponsoring Priest and their assigned Contact Person at COHO.

The role of the Priest in charge of the congregation: The primary role of the Priest in the beginning of the discernment process is a pastoral one. However, should the individual decide to apply for postulancy, then the canons require that the Priest in charge make a recommendation as to the individual's fitness. Both the individual and the Priest should be aware of this possible change in role. The Priest in Charge needs to know how this process works, so it is important for the priest to acquaint themselves with this handbook.

The role of the Committee on Holy Orders (COHO): COHO is the branch of the COM responsible for overseeing the ordination process. The responsibility for administering the process of continuing discernment about ordination falls to the Committee on Holy Orders if an individual is named a Postulant for Holy Orders by the Bishop. At that point (and not before) an individual is considered to be in the ordination process. COHO has certain canonical responsibilities in the process of formation and preparation for ordination.

The role of the Standing Committee is to recommend a person for candidacy and then ordination, according to the Constitutions and Canons of the Episcopal Church, permitting the Bishop to take order for an ordination.
In case of any questions or concerns do call the Diocesan Office at 1-800-244-6062