Sarah Mitchell
The Episcopal Church ordains women as deacons, priests, and bishops, while the Catholic Church does not ordain women, viewing it as an obstacle to rapprochement with the Anglican Church. Episcopal ordination requirements vary by bishop and diocese, and the process typically takes three years from nomination to ordination. In the Catholic Church, deacons destined to be ordained priests are called transitional deacons, while those who are married before ordination or choose not to become priests are called permanent deacons. The ordination of a bishop in the Catholic Church is also called a consecration, and the Mass is rich in symbolism and meaning.
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What You'll Learn
Requirements for episcopal ordination
Episcopal ordination requirements vary by bishop and diocese. However, there are general requirements that apply to anyone seeking to become an ordained minister in the Episcopal Church.
The first step is to become a baptized Episcopalian member of a local church. The individual must then discern their calling to the ordained ministry through prayerful reflection and exploration. This discernment process can begin at the aspirant stage, regardless of previous educational experience. The next step is to have a conversation with the clergy and parish committee, who will reflect and decide whether to recommend the individual to the diocese. If the parish recommends the individual, the bishop will review the candidate's file and interview them. The bishop will then decide on a training program in consultation with the candidate.
The Commission on Ministry (COM) is a group of 12 clergy and lay people appointed by the bishop to serve the diocese. They interview applicants for postulancy, candidacy, the transitional diaconate, and the priesthood. The COM first discerns the individual's calling to the ordained ministry and then evaluates their ability to accept that call through education and formation.
In the Diocese of North Carolina, applicants must be confirmed as an Episcopalian and a member in good standing of a church in the diocese for a minimum of one year. Additional educational formation may be required following acceptance to postulancy, such as a residential Anglican year, a unit of CPE, or an M.Div at an Episcopal seminary.
General Ordination Exams (GOEs)
The GOEs are a series of exams taken in the third year of seminary. They evaluate six canonical areas of education: the Holy Scriptures, Church history, Christian theology, worship, the practice of ministry, and Christian ethics and moral theology. If a candidate does not demonstrate proficiency in one or more of these areas, the diocesan Board of Examining Chaplains will assign additional work as necessary.
Ordination Rite
The Ordination Rite includes lessons and a sermon, the examination of the candidate, the singing of the hymn "Veni Creator Spiritus" or "Veni Sancte Spiritus", a period of silent prayer, the prayer of consecration, and the laying on of hands by the ordaining bishop or bishops. The newly ordained person is then vested according to their new order of ministry and participates in the Eucharist.
Symbols of the Office
Each bishop is presented with the symbols of their new office during the ordination rite, including the Book of the Gospels, an episcopal ring, a miter (bishop's hat), and a crosier (a staff shaped like a shepherd's crook). These symbols represent the bishop's role as a shepherd of God's people.
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Process of episcopal ordination
Episcopal ordination is the sacramental rite of the church by which God bestows authority and the grace of the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by bishops on those being ordained bishops, priests, and deacons. The three distinct orders of bishops, priests, and deacons have been characteristic of Christ's holy catholic church.
The process of episcopal ordination varies by bishop and diocese. However, there are some general steps that are common across different dioceses.
Firstly, an individual who feels called to ordination initiates a conversation with their parish, typically first with the clergy and then with the parish committee. If the parish recommends the individual to the diocese, the candidate's file is reviewed by the bishop, who will then interview them. The candidate is also interviewed by a Commission on Ministry (COM) or an equivalent body. The COM is a group of clergy and lay people appointed by the bishop to serve the diocese. The COM works with individuals to discern their call to the ordained ministry and evaluate their ability to accept that call through education and formation.
If the bishop approves the candidate to become a postulant, they decide on a training program in consultation with the postulant. The postulant may also discuss any developmental recommendations given by the COM with the bishop or the Canon for Vocations. At this stage, the postulant will also develop a plan for their theological formation and training with the bishop and the Canon for Vocations.
In some dioceses, the postulant will then take the General Ordination Exams (GOEs) in their third year of seminary. These evaluate six canonical areas of education: the Holy Scriptures, Church history, Christian theology, worship, the practice of ministry, and Christian ethics and moral theology.
Following this, the candidate is ordained as a transitional deacon for a period of no less than six months, receives a ministry assignment, and obtains a recommendation from their supervising clergy and vestry. They then submit an application, along with an endorsement from their sponsoring presbyter and vestry, and complete Title IV training, an updated physical exam, and a background check.
Finally, the candidate is ordained as a priest through the imposition of hands by the bishop and other clergy. The newly ordained priest then participates in the Eucharist, signifying their admittance into the episcopacy.
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Rites of episcopal ordination
Episcopal ordination is a sacramental rite of the church by which God bestows authority and the grace of the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by bishops on those being made bishops, priests, and deacons. The three distinct orders of bishops, priests, and deacons have been characteristic of Christ’s holy catholic church. Bishops are responsible for leading, supervising, and uniting the church, while presbyters, or priests, assist in church governance and pastoral work. Deacons, on the other hand, assist bishops and priests and have a special duty to minister to the poor, sick, suffering, and helpless.
The earliest known text of ordination rites is found in the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus, dating back to around 215. The Book of Common Prayer (BCP), which provides the rites for the ordination of bishops, priests, and deacons, did not include ordination rites in its 1549 edition. However, "The Form and Manner of Making and Consecrating of Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons" was published in 1550, and subsequent revisions of the Prayer Book have included rites of ordination.
The process of episcopal ordination involves several key steps and rituals. It begins with the presentation of the ordinand to the ordaining bishop or bishops, followed by the ordinand's Declaration of Consent, where they affirm their belief in the scriptures and adherence to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church. The people's consent is then sought, and they promise to support the ordinand in their new ministry. This is followed by the Litany for Ordinations and the singing of the hymn "Veni Creator Spiritus" or "Veni Sancte Spiritus". A period of silent prayer ensues, after which the prayer of consecration is recited, and the laying on of hands by the ordaining bishop or bishops takes place.
The newly ordained individual is then vested according to their new order of ministry and participates in the Eucharist in a manner befitting their new role. At the ordination of a bishop, the Presiding Bishop and at least two other bishops lay their hands on the ordinand's head. Bishops-elect make nine solemn promises to the Church and God, expressing their commitment to uphold the faith, maintain unity, and obey the Pope and their ordinary bishop. They are presented with symbols of their new office, including the Book of the Gospels, an episcopal ring, a miter (bishop's hat), and a crosier (a staff resembling a shepherd's crook). The Rite of Ordination concludes with the traditional kiss of peace, sealing the new bishop's admittance into the episcopacy.
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Exams for episcopal ordination
The General Ordination Exams (GOEs) are a series of exams taken in the third year of seminary by those seeking ordination to the priesthood in most dioceses of the Episcopal Church. The GOEs are standardised by the General Board of Examining Chaplains of the Episcopal Church USA, which falls under the Commission on Ministry (COM). The COM is a group of 12 clergy and lay people appointed by the bishop to serve the Diocese.
The GOEs consist of six essay exams, each lasting three and a half hours and scored on a pass/fail system. The exams cover six canonical areas of education: the Holy Scriptures, Church history, Christian theology, worship, the practice of ministry, and Christian ethics and moral theology. Candidates are expected to showcase their knowledge and understanding by comparing and contrasting information and connecting its relevance to something in the church today.
The GOEs may ask "Limited Resources" questions, where candidates are given access to specified resources such as the Book of Common Prayer, the 1982 Hymnal, and the Bible. Alternatively, they may ask "No Outside Resources" questions, which test how well the candidate responds using their own knowledge and experience.
It is important to note that the GOEs are not a perfect measure of a candidate's suitability for the priesthood. The Episcopal Church recognises that there are other important factors beyond academic performance. Therefore, even candidates who do not achieve perfect scores on the GOEs may still be ordained by their bishop.
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Symbols of episcopal ordination
The Ordination Mass for a bishop in the Catholic Church is a lengthy liturgy, rich in symbolism and meaning. The ordination service is appointed by the church, and no person is to exercise the office of bishop without having been ordained.
The ordination ceremony includes a presentation of the ordinand to the ordaining bishop or bishops, the ordinand's Declaration of Consent, the people's consent to the ordination, and the Litany for Ordinations. The Book of the Gospels is removed from above the head of the new bishop, who is anointed with sacred chrism and given the book, an episcopal ring, a miter, and a crosier or pastoral staff. These are symbols of the office of bishop, with the ring and miter signifying the role of shepherd of God's people. The rite ends with the kiss of peace, sealing the new bishop's admittance into the College of Bishops.
The Mass begins with the entrance procession, signifying the solemnity of the occasion, followed by the “Come, Holy Spirit” prayer, which symbolizes the beginning of the Ordination Rite of the Mass. The bishops-elect are then presented to the congregation, and the Mass continues as usual with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Episcopal Church, also known as the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America (PECUSA), is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It has a sacramental understanding of worship, with sacraments defined as "an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given to us". The BCP identifies Baptism and the Eucharist as the "two great sacraments of the Gospel", with Confirmation, ordination, holy matrimony, reconciliation of a penitent, and unction identified as "sacramental rites".
The official symbol of the Episcopal Church (TEC) represents its history. The red Cross of St. George on a white field symbolizes the Church of England, while the blue field in the upper left corner features the Cross of St. Andrew, as the first American bishop was consecrated in Scotland. This cross is made up of nine crosslets, representing the nine dioceses that met in Philadelphia in 1789 to form the Protestant Episcopal Church of the U.S.A.
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Frequently asked questions
The Episcopal ordination process involves four distinct steps: Aspirancy, Postulancy, Candidacy, and Ordination. This process typically takes three years from nomination to ordination.
Requirements for Episcopal ordination vary by bishop and diocese. However, some common requirements include being a confirmed Episcopalian, undergoing a discernment process, and completing educational requirements such as seminary or an M.Div. from an accredited theological school.
In the Catholic Church, deacons destined to be ordained priests are often referred to as transitional deacons, while those who choose not to be ordained or are married before ordination are called permanent deacons. Episcopal ordination, on the other hand, does not make this distinction and ordains deacons, priests, and bishops without these specific terms.
The time to become an Episcopal priest can vary. However, the process typically involves several steps, including discernment, postulancy, candidacy interviews, and completion of General Ordination Exams (GOEs), which typically occur in the third year of seminary.
The primary difference between Episcopal and Catholic priests is the denomination they belong to. Episcopal priests are part of the Episcopal Church, which is a Protestant denomination that separated from the Catholic Church during the Reformation. Catholic priests are part of the Roman Catholic Church and are in full communion with the Pope.
