Resolved, That Canons 2 and 3 of Title III be, and the same are hereby, repealed; and be it further
Resolved, That a new Canon 2 of Title III, entitled, "Of Candidates for Holy Orders", be enacted; which new Canon shall read as follows:
Canon 2.
Of Candidates for Holy Orders
Sec. 1. This Canon shall be interpreted in its plain and literal sense, except that words of male gender shall also imply the female gender.
Sec. 2 (a). Every person desiring to be admitted a Candidate for Holy Orders is, in the first instance, to consult his immediate Pastor, or, if he have none, some Presbyter to whom he is personally known, setting before him the grounds of his desire for admission to the Ministry, together with such circumstances as may bear on his qualifications, or tend to affect his course of preparation.
(b) (1). If, as the result of a careful inquiry into the physical, intellectual, moral, emotional, and spiritual qualifications of the applicant, he is counseled by the aforesaid Presbyter to persevere in his intentions, he shall make his desire known personally, if possible, or in writing, to the Bishop in whose jurisdiction he has been canonically resident for the three months preceding.
(2). But, with the written consent of the said Bishop, and on the recommendation of at least one Presbyter of the said jurisdiction who is acquainted with the applicant, the latter may at once apply to some other Bishop. He shall give to that Bishop the name of his Pastor, or, if he have none, of some other Presbyter in good standing, to whom he is personally known, from whom the Bishop shall ascertain, either by personal conference, or by direct report in writing, his qualifications, as stated above, for the work of the Ministry.
(c). The applicant shall state to the Bishop in writing
(1). His full name, date of birth, and marital status.
(2). The length of time he has been resident in the Diocese.
(3). When, and by whom, he was baptized.
(4). When, and by whom, he was confirmed.
(5). When, and where, he was admitted to the Holy Communion.
(6). Whether he has ever before applied for admission as a Candidate for Holy Orders.
(7). On what grounds he is moved to seek the Sacred Ministry.
(8). The level of education which he has attained, with degrees earned, if any, and areas of specialization.
(d). Before the admission of a Candidate, the Bishop shall whenever possible confer in person with the applicant, and shall require the applicant to submit to a thorough examination, covering both mental and physical condition, by professionals appointed by the Bishop. The forms for medical and psychiatric reports prepared by The Church Pension Fund shall be used for this purpose. These reports shall be kept on file by the Bishop and shall be made available to the Standing Committee and the Commission on Ministry.
Sec. 3 (a). No Bishop shall consider accepting as a Candidate any person who has been refused admission as a Candidate for Holy Orders in any other Diocese, or who, having been admitted, has afterwards ceased to be a Candidate, until he shall have produced a letter from the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese in which he has been refused admission, or in which he has been a Candidate, declaring the cause of refusal or of cessation.
(b). Should the Bishop then decide to proceed in the matter, he shall send the said letter or a copy thereof to the Commission on Ministry.
Sec. 4 (a). If, on the basis of the application, and of a personal interview (if such was had), the Bishop is moved to proceed in the matter, he shall so notify the applicant and the Chairman of the Commission on Ministry. The said Commission, either as a whole, or by means of a Committee charged with the responsibility, shall meet with the applicant to review the application and to prepare a recommendation in respect of the applicant's qualifications to pursue a course of preparation for Holy Orders. This meeting may take place at an interdiocesan conference in the conduct of which the Diocesan Commission is represented.
(b). The Commission on Ministry shall lay before the Bishop and the Standing Committee, with regard to each applicant, the aforesaid recommendation, together with reasons therefor.
Sec. 5 (a). The following papers shall be laid before the Standing Committee, to
wit:
(1). The formal application specified in Section 2 of this Canon.
(2). The recommendation of the Commission on Ministry, as provided in Section 4 above.
(3). If the applicant is or has been a student in a theological school, a transcript of his academic record together with the school's evaluation of his personal qualifications for the Ministry of this Church.
(4). A certificate from the Minister and Vestry of the Parish of which the applicant is a communicant, setting forth the grounds upon which they judge him to possess such qualifications as would fit him to be admitted a Candidate for Holy Orders, and whether their judgment is based on personal knowledge or on evidence satisfactory to them. This certificate must be signed by both the Minister of the Parish to which the applicant belongs and by a majority of the whole Vestry, and must be attested by the Minister, or by the Clerk or Secretary of the Vestry, as follows, viz.:
I hereby certify that the foregoing certificate was signed at a meeting of the
Vestry of
Parish,-
, duly convened at--on
the---- day of-
-,---
and that the names attached are those of all (or a majority of all) the
members of the Vestry.
(Signed)
Clerk or Secretary of Vestry.
But should the parish be without a Minister, it shall suffice that in his place
the certificate from the Vestry be signed by some Presbyter of the Diocese in
good standing to whom the applicant is personally known, the reason for the
substitution being stated in the attesting clause.
Should there be no organized Parish at the place of residence of the applicant,
or should it be impracticable, through circumstances not affecting his moral or
religious character, to obtain the signatures of the Minister and Vestry, or of
the Vestry, it may suffice if the certificate be signed by at least-
(1). One Presbyter of the Diocese in good standing to whom the applicant is
personally known; and,
(2). Four Lay Persons, communicants of this Church in good standing, to
whom the applicant is personally known. In such case, the reasons for
departing from the regular form must be given in the attesting clause, which
shall be signed by the same, or some other Presbyter of this Church in good
standing, and shall be in the following words,. viz.:
I hereby certify that the Lay Persons whose names are attached to the foregoing
certificate are communicants of this Church in good standing, and that this form
of certificate was used for no reasons affecting the moral or religious character of
the applicant but because (here give the reasons for departing from the regular
form).
(Signed)--
Presbyter of the Diocese of-
(b) The Standing Committee may require that the applicant appear before it, in
order that the members thereof may have a personal acquaintance with him.
Sec. 6. The Standing Committee, on receipt of the recommendation of the
Commission on Ministry required in Canon III. 2. Sec.4, and of the certificate or
certificates as above described, and, after investigation, having found the applicant
to possess qualifications which fit him to be admitted a Candidate for Holy
Orders, and having no reason to suppose the existence of any sufficient objection
on grounds either physical, intellectual, moral, emotional, or spiritual, to his
admission, may, at a meeting duly convened (a majority of all the members
consenting), recommend him for admission to Candidacy, by a testimonial
bearing the signatures of a majority of all the members of the Committee, and
addressed to the Bishop, in the following words, viz.:
, Bishop of
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND
We, being a majority of all the members of the Standing Committee of--
, do testify that from personal
-- , and having been duly convened at-
knowledge or from certificates laid before us we are well assured that A.B. is
sober, honest, and godly; and that he is a communicant of this Church in good
standing; and we do furthermore declare that, in our opinion, he possesses
qualifications which fit him to be admitted a Candidate for Holy Orders.
in
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, this-----day of-
the year of our Lord,--
.
(Signed)-
This testimonial shall be presented to the Bishop without delay.
Sec. 7. When the aforesaid requirements have been complied with, the Bishop
may admit the applicant as a Candidate for Holy Orders. He shall thereupon
record his name, with the date of his admission, in a book to be kept for that
purpose, and shall inform the Candidate, the Secretary of the Standing
Committee, the Commission on Ministry, and the Dean of the Seminary he may
be attending, of the fact and date of such admission.
Sec. 8. A Standing Committee, acting as the Ecclesiastical Authority of a
Diocese, shall be competent to receive and act upon applications under this
Canon from persons desiring to be received as Candidates.
Sec. 9. (a). The Candidate, before entering upon, or pursuing further, his course
of theological studies, must lay before the Bishop and the Commission on
Ministry satisfactory evidence that he is the holder of an accredited baccalaureate
degree, or its equivalent, together with a full transcript of the academic work he
has completed. If this work includes sufficient instruction in the subjects specified
in clause (b) of this Section, and is otherwise deemed adequate and satisfactory,
no examination shall be required.
(b). If the Candidate is not a graduate as aforesaid, and has not attained the age
of 32 years, he may be required to obtain an accredited baccalaureate degree; if
not, he shall be required to pass an examination, to be administered by the
Commission on Ministry, or otherwise satisfy them that his knowledge is
sufficient in the following subjects:
(1). English or the language (including grammar and composition) and
(2). Literature of the country in which he expects to exercise his Ministry;
(3). History;
(4). One of the following subjects:
(a). Mathematics,
(b). A Natural Science,
(c). Philosophy,
(d). A Social Science.
(c). If the Candidate is not a graduate as aforesaid, and has attained the age of
32 years, and has shown such proficiency in his occupation or profession as gives
promise of usefulness in the Ministry, he shall be examined in the subjects listed
in Sec. 9 (b) above, or otherwise satisfy the Commission on Ministry that his
knowledge in these fields is generally satisfactory.
(d). If the native language of the Candidate is other than English, and he is to
exercise his Ministry among peoples of his own language, or if he is of a
distinctive or foreign culture, the Bishop may, on the recommendation of the
Commission on Ministry, dispense him from the academic requirements of
Sec. 9 (b) above, precedent to his being admitted to Candidacy.
(e). Should a Candidate who has been examined in any of the subjects prescribed
in Sec. 9 (b) above afterwards apply for admission as Candidate in any other
Diocese, he shall lay before the Bishop of such Diocese a certificate from the
Bishop who admitted him as a Candidate, stating what examinations he has taken
and the result of each.
The Commission on Ministry may accept, in lieu of examination, satisfactory
evidence that the Candidate has fulfilled the requirements in any one or more of
the subjects specified.
(f). In every case the applicant must satisfy the Bishop and the Commission on
Ministry that he possesses the intellectual ability and competence to enable him
to pursue a course of study preparatory to the work of the Ministry.
Sec. 10. The Commission on Ministry shall report to the Bishop in writing
whether the above requirements have been met, and the Bishop shall make this
report available to the Standing Committee.
