Deacon Ordination Process Diocese of Wyoming
For (name) ______
The journey from nomination to ordination is not necessarily straight-forward and is never taken alone. It is a road which unfolds as we seek to discern God's will on several levels, involving both individuals and communities. Four basic entities are involved in this process of discernment: The Individual (I)--The person nominated; the Congregation (C) represented by the rector, vestry or ministry team; the Diocese (D) represented by the Bishop, Commission on Ministry, and the Standing Committee; and a Mentor (M)--a ministry developer or rector and a mentor from the COM will be assigned to assist the person on the journey. In the list below, the initials for these four participants will be used to indicate who is to take primary responsibility for initiating or fulfilling particular steps.
Before Nomination:
I/C An initial discernment process, including congregational formation and a consideration of ministry roles in all aspects of congregational life, is necessary even for self-identified seekers for ordination. In a congregation engaged in Baptismal Ministry discernment, names for ordained roles will emerge and the individual will be asked to consider whether they feel called to deeper discernment for ordination. (Note: There is a required minimum time for the process of 18 months, from nomination to ordination.)
Initial congregational discernment process completed
THE PERSON ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS SHOULD KEEP A NOTEBOOK/ PORTFOLIO OF ALL PAPERWORK SUBMITTED TO DIOCESE/COM, CLASSES THEY TAKE, SERMONS PREACHED, LITURGIES PLANNED AND PARTICIPATED IN, TESTS TAKEN, BOOKS READ, PROJECTS WORK ON, ETC.
AS PER THE CANONS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ACCEPTED AT GENERAL CONVENTION IN 2006—
Title III Sec. 6. Ordination to the Diaconate
(a) A person may be ordained Deacon:
(1) after at least eighteen months from the time of written acceptance of nomination by the Nominee as provided in III.6.2(b), and
(2) upon attainment of at least twenty-four years of age.
THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC TIME FRAMES FOR POSTULANCY AND CANDIDACY, HOWEVER, ALL REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET SATISFACTORILY PRIOR TO MOVING ON TO THE NEXT STAGE .
Nomination toward Postulancy:
Goal—to ascertain whether an individual meets diocesan and national canonical requirements, and has the support of the congregation before entering deeper discernment.
C Letter from vestry/congregation recommending the nominee, sent to COM and Bishop. This letter is to be signed by 2/3 of the vestry and by the person exercising oversight of the congregation, and attested to by the clerk of the vestry. (Title III, Canon 6, Sec. 2a)
______Letter submitted
I Individual must accept his/her nomination in writing and request to be considered for Postulancy—send to COM and Bishop. (Title III, Canon 6, Sec. 2b)
Nomination accepted
AS PER NOTE ON PREVIOUS PAGE-THERE MUST BE 18 MONTHS BETWEEN THIS DATE AND DATE OF ORDINATION
I & M Social History Form (Parts 1 and 2), Statement of Consent for Release of Information,
and Form #4 the Church Worker Questionnaire will need to be filled out and sent in to
the COM and Bishop's office. You will need help completing them. Find them in the
back of the COM handbook on ordination to the priesthood.
Forms completed and submitted
I Medical Examination to be completed, using the approved form, found in the Handbook,
and submitted to the bishop.
______Medical Examination received.
I Psychological Exam and Behavioral Screening Questionnaire to be completed as described by and reported on the approved forms found in the Handbook. (Diocesan office will set up appointment for Psychological Exam)
Psychological Exam received.
I A written description of the process of discernment that brought you to nomination and a report from the Discernment Team will need to be sent to the COM and Bishop's office.
Written description and report submitted
I Official transcripts of your high school or college work sent to COM and Bishop's office.
Transcripts submitted
D A background check on the individual will be made from the Bishop's office.
Background check completed.
D Upon direction from the Bishop the COM will conduct a community interview with the individual and her/his congregation to determine that all qualifications to go forward are met. The COM will inform the Bishop of their recommendation.
Community interview completed
Bishop received recommendations of interview
I Personal interview with the Bishop.
Interview with Bishop completed
D The Bishop will decide to accept into Postulancy and inform the individual, COM and SC of the decision.
______Bishop's decision communicated to individual
Goal—continued exploration of and decision about the Postulant's call to the Diaconate, and initiation of education for that role.
Postulancy toward Candidacy: (no specific time limit, ordination cannot take place sooner than 18 months from acceptance of nomination)
D The COM will assure the selection of Mentors (Ministry Developer or Rector, Archdeacon, and COM representative to help the individual develop an ongoing plan of discernment and education.
______Mentor selected
1 Regular meetings with Mentor to evaluate the process of discernment and begin the educational process (education plan shall be a combination of diocesan, individual, and congregational programs and should be done in community whenever possible.)
Education/Formation plan developed
I Regular meetings with a Spiritual director.
I Attend Deacon's meetings and retreats.
I Ember Day letters to the Bishop
I/M In consultation with Mentor, COM (through reports) and Congregation, determine if the
call to the diaconate is clear.
M Letters from mentors to COM discussing postulant's progress regarding the four
items immediately above
______Letters received
I Apply for Candidacy—letter which includes date of admission to postulancy sent to
COM and Bishop.
Application for Candidacy submitted
I & M Send 1 page summary of education to date to COM and SC, as well as plan for continuing education in the five required areas.
Education summary and educational plan submitted
______(If in Iona School) Letter from Wyoming IONA School on postulant’s progress and formation
C Letter of support from congregation /vestry sent to COM and Bishop.
Congregational letter of support submitted
D COM considers request, attests to continuing formation of postulant.
COM attestation of continuing formation submitted to Standing Committee
D Standing Committee invites individual to meeting for interview. Recommends action to Bishop.
Meeting with Standing Committee
Standing Committee recommendation received by Bishop
D Bishop admits individual to candidacy and informs individual as well as COM and SC.
Admission to Candidacy
Candidacy toward Ordination : (no specific time limit, ordination cannot take place
sooner than 18 months from acceptance of nomination)
Goal—this is a time for education and formation, in preparation for ordination to the diaconate.
I Continue regular meetings with mentor and spiritual director as well as pursuing your
educational plan.
Attend and receive certification in:
Date certified - Safe Church Training.
Date certified - Anti-racism training.
Date certified - Civil requirements about reporting abuse.
Date certified - Title IV training.
I Continue Ember Day letters to the Bishop (discuss possible ordination dates).
M Letters from mentors to COM discussing Candidate’s progress
______Letters received
______(If in Iona School) Letter from Wyoming IONA School on candidate’s progress
and formation
As part of the formation process for ordination each person shall be required to complete a Pilgrimage (partially funded by the Diocese). If unable to go on Pilgrimage, Bishop will assign a project to be completed in lieu of Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage to ______completed
I Candidate applies to Bishop for ordination.
Application for ordination submitted
C Letter of support is sent by congregation.
Letter of support submitted
D Evaluation of Education in canonical areas done by COM (Note:Background Check, Medical and Psychiatric exams must all be no older than 36 month at the time of ordination).
Evaluation done by COM
D COM sends statement attesting to sufficient education and proficiency in the required areas of study for ordination to Bishop and Standing Committee
Attestation of COM received by Bishop and Standing Committee
D Standing Committee reviews Application for Ordination, Letter of Support, and COM attestation.
D Testimonial from the Standing Committee giving consent to ordination. (Title III, Canon 6, Sec. 6c)
______Testimonial issued
I/D Candidate and Bishop set date for ordination
Title III Sec. 6. Ordination to the Diaconate
(a) A person may be ordained Deacon:
(1) after at least eighteen months from the time of written acceptance of nomination by the Nominee as provided in III.6.2(b), and
(2) upon attainment of at least twenty-four years of age.
Date of ordination
Revised October 2014