The Committee on Holy Orders (COHO) is pleased to present this revision of the ordination process for the Diocese of Maine. Procedures and policies, which comply with and flesh out the current canons of the national Episcopal Church, have been drawn up after thorough study, discussion, and consultation with many in our diocese and throughout the Church.

Our goal has been to provide a "journey in formation" that is based in the baptismal ministry of all persons, focuses on the spiritual and personal development of those considering ordination, and is guided by the leadership needs of this diocese and the Church at large. At the same time, it has been our desire to design and model interactions with interested persons and congregations that respect the diversity of our diocese and the wide range of skills, life experiences, and individual callings of those who approach us for consideration.

With strict adherence to the present Canon III, two basic processes have been developed for moving toward Holy Orders: one for ordination to the Diaconate, and the other for ordination to the Priesthood (including a period in the Transitional Diaconate). Grounded in the vastly more numerous and arguably more extensive ministry of God’s People, the Laity, these two orders--together with the Episcopacy--offer a ministry of service, support, and leadership to the entire Church. Since each Order, Diaconate and Priesthood, is a unique ministry in itself and requires many unique skills, the requirements for consideration and the process of formation for each differ somewhat. Both begin, of course, from a similar understanding of ministry and the same base in Canon.

For this reason two distinct handbooks have been developed to describe each process--one (red) for ordination to the Diaconate and the other (blue) for ordination to the Priesthood, with its preceding period of Transitional Diaconate. Since both processes start out of the base of the same canonical prerequisites, the handbooks share an almost identical introductory section, but each has a series of Appendices appropriate only to its process.

This revised Handbook incorporates all the hard work of those who prepared the original versions, and stirs in our experience over the last two years. COHO does not anticipate further revisions unless and until Title III of the National Canons is revised.

All of us recognize, of course, that those in Holy Orders--Deacons, Priests, Bishops--represent but a very small portion of the entire ministry of Christ within the Episcopal Diocese of Maine. The more comprehensive and pressing question, therefore, is how can we assist each other in discerning and developing the individual ministries of all of God’s People here--only a few of whom will be set aside by ordination to provide support, service, and leadership for the ministry of the rest of Christ’s baptized.

To this end, the Commission on Ministry has developed an extensive process for the Discernment of Baptismal Ministries. This begins with an annual "Ministry Faire" for the "celebration of baptismal ministry"--with displays and workshops on many aspects and varieties of ministry, formation and spiritual growth. The Discernment Process continues in segments. The first is a regional program for all interested individuals to explore together in small, facilitated groups their growing sense of the direction their baptismal ministry might take. The second phase for anyone considering the possibility of ordination involves focused, small-group discernment of that particular vocation. Participation in the appropriate segments of this Discernment Process, or its equivalent, is a mandatory prerequisite for Maine’s ordination process.

All of this is unfolding in God’s time and, we trust, with God’s grace and guidance. At times it seems incredibly complex and voracious of time, energy, and attention. However, those of us who have been privileged to participate in its refinement and to journey as companions to persons "on the way" have found ourselves honored, excited, and blessed with the joy and power of God’s Spirit working in our midst. The Commission on Ministry, the Committee on Holy Orders, and the Bishop stand ready to assist you in any way we can; please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. Into this continuing, demanding journey we invite you--as inquirer, mentor, or companion.

Very truly yours in Christ,

A study group consisting of members of the Committee on Holy Orders (COHO) and resource people of the Diocese of Maine has prepared this handbook. COHO is grateful to those dioceses whose ordination handbooks have contributed ideas and wordings to this one. Among them are the Dioceses of Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Chicago, and Massachusetts.

This handbook is designed to assist both:

1. persons who believe they may be called to ordained ministry and
2. individuals who will be called to assist them as the Church discerns that call.

Within the framework of the Canons of the Episcopal Church, this handbook describes the steps taken in the process toward ordination. The first step that you will take is to complete the Diocesan discernment processes. It is the intent of the Diocese, with faith, trust and candor, to assist all baptized persons to hear and test calls to ministry within their congregation and community. After this crucial first step, the larger community of the Church will join your journey and also hear and test any call. This "larger community" is embodied in the persons of the Bishop of Maine, COHO and the Standing Committee.

We are grateful that you are responding to a possible call to serve God as a Deacon or Priest. No matter how the discernment process turns out for you, this process of hearing a call confirms that you are called to committed service as an essential member of the Body of Christ. All the people who enter this process with you will give of their time, energy and prayer to help you discover just what this call is about.

Even if your sense of call is clear and strong, we hope you will remember that this process is about discernment in community. This will help you stay open to those tough questions and challenges that this journey will ask of you.

It is up to you to use this process well. It is your job to know the process, ask questions, clear up confusion, and get help from the many sources mentioned in this handbook. We know that this process seems long, cumbersome and costly. We promise our best efforts to prevent unnecessary obstacles and unexpected delays; but we know that real hardships happen. We urge you to practice faithfulness and use this time to foster a continuing conversion into a life with Christ.

Committee on Holy Orders
June, 2002

We are all Christian ministers by virtue of our Baptism. We are all called to share in Christ’s eternal Priesthood. Thus the ministry of the laity is the foundation upon which the Church was established, the structure which gives it strength throughout its history. We emphasize the importance of lay ministry to the lives of individual faith communities and the larger Church. Every Baptized Christian is called upon to bring the presence of Christ into the home, workplace, and the community. We celebrate the gifts that members of the laity bring to the Church, and we recognize that celebration of individual ministry need not, and usually does not, lead to a call to ordination.

Lay ministers with special gifts often need encouragement to allow these gifts to develop. This diocese is committed to helping our laity exercise their ministry. We strongly oppose the view that a lay member with serious commitment to ministry can have that devotion recognized or fulfilled only through ordination. Academic accomplishment, a life of caring and compassion, a history of personal struggle and courage, a strong personal sense of being called, are all valuable assets, but they do not of themselves mean a call to ordination. This diocese seeks ways to affirm and continue to raise up strong, vibrant lay ministers.

Within the context of the general ministry of the people of God, the Church calls out certain women and men for ordained leadership roles. This leadership must be well chosen, highly trained and committed to serving God and the Church. The call to Holy Orders comes to the individual both from God and from the Church. Therefore discernment of the call occurs within the context of the community.

It is the task of COHO to assist the Bishop, the individual and the Church mutually to discern and evaluate a vocation to ordination. The need for ordained leadership in our Church suggests that only a very few will exercise their Baptismal ministry through ordination. It is the responsibility of the Bishop and the representatives of the Church to recommend prayerfully--and very possibly to identify and recruit-- the strongest and most appropriate candidates for ordained ministry to fulfill the mission of the Church at large.

The word Deacon comes from a Greek word meaning "servant" or "envoy." The unique role of the Deacon among the ordained is to represent Christ and his redemptive love in the world and to interpret the needs, concerns and hopes of the world to the Church. The role of Deacon requires unique gifts and formation, serving as an "ordained messenger of the faith" outside the walls of the congregation. Deacons model how to be in the Church and in the world as servants, and they have the ability to inspire that life in others. Deacons help the laity to be free to find places of connection with God in their lives beyond Sunday morning. Deacons are not those who alone do the work of the Church in the world; rather, they gather, lead, equip, and inform the laity in that work. In all their work, Deacons enhance the ministry of the laity, not supplant it.

Deacons must be academically trained in Holy Scriptures and able to integrate scripture into their Diaconal ministry and the liturgy, often including preaching. They must be conversant in Christian ethics and societal issues. Deacons must be well versed theologically and translate through their work the Church’s understanding of the Paschal mystery, the Incarnation, Baptismal servanthood and Eucharistic community.

Because in this Diocese the Diaconate is non-stipendiary, those who are called to this ministry must exhibit the energy necessary for a full schedule of work both in and outside the Church. Deacons serve under the authority of the Bishop and are assigned in the Diocese of Maine where needed. Deacons will in most cases work under the direct supervision of a Priest, and the capacity to work comfortably in a subordinate position is fundamental to the Diaconate. Deacons will be expected to live a Rule of Life, which includes prayer, immersion in Scripture, self-examination and regular study. Deacons will seek regular continuing education opportunities in order to grow in their vocation. Lastly Deacons will participate in the diocesan community of Deacons as fully as possible.

The Order of Priests

The ministry of the Priest, as a representative of Christ and the Church, is customarily, though not exclusively, within a designated congregation where the Priest serves primarily as celebrant of the sacraments and transmitter and interpreter of the tradition of the faith. The Priest is also a participant in the collegium of presbyters and assists the Bishop in the councils of the diocese. Essential elements for this ministry are prayer, reflection, study, teaching, preaching, so that the sacerdotal life is lived with integrity and depth. In the hands and heart of the Priest should reside such a love of Christ and the Church that others are drawn into the grace of a spiritual life.

The Priest is also responsible for administration and institutional community building. A Priest is a representative, calling forth the priesthood of all believers and providing an example of a faithful life in Christ. Perhaps the greatest challenge for today’s Priest is to lead the Body of Christ in living out its mission in the world. The Priest must be able to equip the saints for their ministry, not just in the parish, but in the wider world where God-talk and servanthood are alien and risky.

We believe that it is fair and helpful to all who take part in this process for us to be clear about the qualities and attributes we seek. First of all, the Deacons and Priests we seek must be committed to knowing and following Jesus, the Christ, and showing strong signs of growth toward maturity as Christians.

We believe that a person called to ordained ministry must:

• Firmly believe the vows he or she will take at ordination regarding the Holy Scriptures and conformity to the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church. She or he will accept the authority of the Bishop and have an open mind and loving heart for those within and outside our Church, who faithfully struggle with their beliefs.

• Show ability to offer leadership in the Church and in the outside world. This would include the capacity to offer an example of faith and discipleship, to collaborate effectively with others and to guide and shape the life of the Church community in its mission to the world as community-builders, competent administrators, and reconcilers.

• Be able to speak of his or her vocation to ministry and mission. This sense of vocation will be obedient, realistic, and informed.

• Show an understanding of the Christian faith and a desire for a deeper understanding. Be in love with the faith, being formed by the Anglican tradition and always open to mystery and God’s new revelation. Have a vision of what the community of faith might become and an energy and enthusiasm to inspire others. Delight in shared ministry. Demonstrate personal commitment to Christ and a capacity to communicate the Gospel.

• Show evidence of a commitment to a spiritual discipline, involving individual and corporate prayer and worship. Be able to create a sense of harmony, order and reverence which draws people into the presence of God.

• Be sufficiently mature and stable to show ability to sustain the demanding role of an ordained minister and to face change and pressure in a flexible and balanced way. Know how to get and receive consultation and personal help when needed.

• Demonstrate self-awareness and self-acceptance as a basis for developing open and healthy professional, personal and pastoral relationships as ministers. Possess a sense of humor, reflecting trust and delight in God’s surprises. Show respect for the tradition of the Church on matters of sexual morality and other ethical issues.

• Have the necessary intellectual capacity and quality of mind to undertake a course of theological study and pastoral preparation.

These qualities will be most obvious in well seasoned individuals, though no one is expected to possess all of them. In those who are still very young, we will seek a particular hunger to grow in these areas. We hope that we will always make room for the godly mavericks who will never fit a checklist.

Because the training and nurturing of Postulants and Candidates require a considerable commitment of time and energy from the Diocesan community, it is impossible for the Diocese to accept all persons who might qualify for Holy Orders. In selecting Postulants COHO will also consider the particular needs of this Diocese as they may be manifested at various times.

I. PREPARATION BEFORE APPLICATION

A. Before applying for consideration as a Postulant for Holy Orders, the following requirements must be met:

1. For no less than one year the person must have been a confirmed adult communicant in good standing of a Congregation within the Diocese of Maine. That Congregation must be willing to involve itself actively in the person's preparation for Holy Orders.
2. The person must have completed either the two-part discernment process sponsored by the Commission on Ministry or an equivalent approved by the Bishop and the Commission on Ministry. The person must provide COHO such information as it may request concerning his or her participation in the discernment processes. For further information on discernment contact the Commission on Ministry. See also Appendix N.
3. The person has been, and continues to be, engaged in spiritual formation, usually with assistance from a spiritual director, pursuing a study of scripture and theology, continuing in prayer and liturgy, and demonstrating an active ministry in the Church.
4. The person has consulted with the member of the Clergy in charge of the Congregation ("the Priest in Charge"). The Priest in Charge has made a careful inquiry, in consultation with other leaders of the Congregation, into the physical, intellectual, moral, emotional, and spiritual qualifications of the person. In the course of such inquiry the Priest in Charge shall assist the person in determining to which order the person feels called, the grounds of the desire for admission to Holy Orders, and such personal circumstances as may bear on the person's qualifications or course of preparation.
5. The Priest in Charge has made a written report of his or her findings to the Bishop. If the Priest in Charge is unable to support the person for Postulancy, he/she will assure that the person receives pastoral care.

(Note: It is the sole responsibility of the applicant at all times during the process to ordination to provide the materials and information to the Priest in Charge, Vestry/Bishop’s Committee, Bishop, COHO and the Standing Committee in a timely manner. Appendix A gives a brief Outline of the Formation Process for Deacons, which is described in detail here.)

1. The applicant shall submit to the Bishop a fully completed application with all documents and supporting material listed therein. (See Appendix C).
2. The applicant shall schedule a personal conference with the Bishop, unless such a personal conference has been held within the last six months.
3. Once all of the submissions and personal conference are completed, the applicant may apply to the Bishop for a Postulancy interview with COHO.
4. Before accepting any applicant for a Postulancy interview, COHO shall:
1. Examine the background of each applicant, including a thorough review of all post-high school study (if any) and training. Certificates, transcripts, diplomas, and other documentation will be requested and evaluated.
2. Verify that the applicant is able, both intellectually and practically, to undertake a rigorous course of study, including the completion of written work and extensive reading assignments.
3. Verify that the applicant is well-versed in the language and culture of the people with whom the applicant expects to exercise ministry.
4. Review all material in the application, and request any additional testing, inquiry or other documentation as COHO shall require for its determination.

III. FROM APPLICATION TO POSTULANCY

IV. FROM POSTULANCY TO CANDIDACY

A. Prior to applying for ordination the Candidate must complete the following:

1. At least a six months period of Candidacy. Canon III.6.2
2. A second medical exam with the report sent to the Bishop using special form provided by the Church Pension Fund. In the interest of good stewardship the cost of the medical exam should first be submitted to the Insurance Carrier. The balance is then divided between the Candidate and the Diocese.
3. A psychiatric exam with confidential report sent to the Bishop’s office. The cost of this exam is divided between the Candidate and the Diocese.
4. COHO shall determine competency in all seven of the canonical areas of study required before a Candidate can be recommended to the Standing Committee for ordination as a Deacon.
5. Completion of training or practical experience suitable to the Candidate’s occupation and ministry in the Church and the world. A evaluation by the DFP Coordinator shall be submitted in writing to COHO and accompany the application described in the section B below.
6. Completion of Clinical Pastoral Education, or its approved equivalent, and receipt of evaluation and report.

B. The Candidate shall complete and submit the Application in Appendix K. The submissions shall include

1. A statement of how the Candidate intends to exercise the ministry of a Deacon.
2. The reaffirmation of the certificate by the Priest in Charge and Vestry/Bishop’s Committee of the Congregation as required by Canon III.6.6(c)(1). See Appendix J.

C. A positive recommendation of the DFP Coordinator must be received by the Standing Committee. The DFP Coordinator will also report on the Candidate’s formation, general qualifications and spiritual readiness for ordination.

D. The Standing Committee reviews application. No person may be ordained without the recommendation of the Standing Committee.

E. After receiving a favorable recommendation from the Standing Committee the Bishop may take order for the Ordination.