4.1 CUSTOMARY FOR THE BISHOP'S VISITATIONS

        Scheduling:

The Bishop will schedule only one visitation for each weekend and will be available to the clergy and congregation from late Saturday until early Sunday afternoon. The Bishop can often come earlier or stay later if requested to do so. Because of other occasional commitments on Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings, please consult with him before announcing what he will do in your congregation. The Bishop will schedule only one visitation for each weekend and will be available to the clergy and congregation from late Saturday until early Sunday afternoon. The Bishop can often come earlier or stay later if requested to do so. Because of other occasional commitments on Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings, please consult with him before announcing what he will do in your congregation.

        Purpose of Visit:

The Bishop's priorities during an official visitation are to preside at the Holy Eucharist and at the Initiatory Rites, as required, preach the Word, examine the Parish Registers and other records of the life and ministry of the Clergy and Congregation in such categories as the Bishop shall have previously requested in writing. (Please see Canons III.9.5(c) and Canon III.12.3(a) of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church.)

        Service Plans:

Please send the Bishop a draft copy of the bulletin for approval ten days before the visitation. The Bishop conducts services according to forms approved by the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, including The Book of Common Prayer and Enriching Our Worship. Any plan to deviate from these forms should be discussed with the Bishop before the bulletin is printed. Also, be sure to check with the Bishop before planning to use lections other than those appointed for the day.

        Bishop's Participation:

The Bishop will preside and preach at all Sunday morning services, at his discretion. If there is a Christian education hour, the Bishop may want to teach the adults, or in some way serve as a teacher.

        Offering:

The congregation is to be reminded, either through the bulletin or by announcement, that the offering is for the Bishop's Discretionary Fund, and that this offering is used for those preparing for the ordained ministry or for emergencies for which other funds are not available. (Canon 5.4.1). Special offering envelopes are available on request from the Diocesan office.

        Publicity:

Taking note of the Bishop's visitation in the local press, especially in small communities, may be appropriate. A photograph of the Bishop and a sample press release are available from the Bishop's office should these be needed.

        Alternatives:

If the services of a Bishop other than the current Assisting Bishop are desired, please clear this with the current Assisting Bishop, Bishop Hampton, prior to making any arrangements.

The Diocese will pay the expenses and provide an honorarium for visiting Bishops. Offerings from these services are sent to the Diocesan Office.

 

        Overnight Accommodations:

When it is necessary for the Bishop to spend a night out of town, the Bishop's Office will make the arrangements. When he stays in a motel, the Diocese will pay the cost of these accommodations.

        Bishop's Hospitality:

At some time during the weekend, the Bishop will want to entertain the clergy family for a meal, at a place of your choosing.

4.2 PREPARATION FOR ORDINATION

The Ordination Process in the Episcopal Church is designed to test the validity of the call, provide academic and spiritual preparation and sufficient time to demonstrate the candidate's commitment. There are many requirements for ordination. The usual length of time from initial visit with the Pastor (the member of the clergy in charge of the congregation of which the person is a communicant) to ordination will be about five years. The time provides significant opportunity for personal growth and new awareness of one's vocation within the Body of Christ. There are, however, no guarantees that ordination (or employment in the Church) is certain. By its very nature, the ordination process requires all to be open to God's leading into new and unexpected opportunities.

Reference Sources include Title III of the Canons of the Episcopal Church; The Ordination Manual published by the Commission on Ministry (COM) of the Diocese of Oregon. Two publications also useful to those concerned with the ordination process (Nominee, Pastor, and Vestry or BAC) are Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry by Thomas C. Oden (HarperCollins Publishers) and Being a Deacon Today: Exploring A Distinctive Ministry in the Church and in the World by Rosalind Brown (Morehouse Publishing).

4.2.1 Those Involved in the Pre-ordination Process

The COM serves as counsel to the Bishop and works with the Standing Committee of the Diocese which has certain canonical responsibilities regarding ordination. Others involved in the process include the Pastor, the Vestry or BAC and the Parish or Mission congregation of which the candidate is a member. (A person is called a Nominee until qualified as a Postulant).

The Ordination Manual describes in detail, the steps and guidelines for those who seek ordination in Holy Orders. The following list is a brief summary of the steps in the process. Please see this document for further information.

4.2.2 The steps to POSTULANCY:

1) Nominee consults with own Pastor

2) Pastor assigns reading and supervised lay ministry

3) Pastor either activates the Standing Discernment Committee of the congregation or consults with nominee to create a Discernment Committee to work with this person. This committee needs to meet with the nominee for at least six to twelve months.

4) Nominee meets with the Vocations Director.

5) Nominee completes spiritual autobiography, social history and application forms.

6) Pastor writes letter to Bishop recommending a specific ordination track, i.e. the Diaconate or Priesthood.

7) Nominee obtains Vestry endorsement, medical and psychological exams, six letters of recommendation, and orders Oxford Documents Background Check.

8) Nominee is interviewed by Bishop.

9) Nominee attends a Vocations Conference.

10) COM evaluates Nominee's file, interviews and advises the Bishop.

11) Bishop enrolls the Nominee as a Postulant.

12) Postulant obtains theological education (Seminary if in preparation for Priesthood; Diocesan school if in preparation for the Diaconate).

(Application for Candidacy typically requires six months as a Postulant, and enrollment in a theological institution.)

4.2.3 The steps to CANDIDACY:

1) Postulant applies for Candidacy.

2) Seminary sends evaluation of academic performance.

3) Vestry interviews Postulant and endorses application.

4) Postulant interviewed by COM and Bishop.

5) Standing Committee endorses application.

6) Bishop enrolls Postulant as a Candidate.

7) Completes CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) and school, takes Anti-Racism and Safe Church Training, and takes General Ordination Examination or Diocesan equivalent.

4.2.4 The steps to ORDINATION:

1) Candidate applies for ordination.

2) Candidate obtains evaluations from Seminary of academic performance, for field work, Clinical Pastoral Education, and a report of the General Ordination Examination.

3) Vestry interviews Candidate and endorses application.

4) Candidate interviewed by the COM and the Bishop.

5) Standing Committee signs testimonial.

6) Bishop schedules ordination.

NOTE: If a person ordained to the diaconate under Title III Canon 6 later experiences a call to the priesthood, they will be required to repeat substantially the entire ordination process and complete seminary study.

In 2003 the General Convention of the Episcopal Church made major revisions to the Canons pertaining to ministry, specifically Title III Ministry (see the Canons of the Episcopal Church), giving renewed primacy to the affirmation and development of the ministry of all baptized persons, including:

(a) Assistance in understanding that all baptized persons are called to minister in Christ's name, to identify their gifts with the help of the Church and to serve Christ's mission at all times and in all places.

(b) Assistance in understanding that all baptized persons are called to sustain their ministries through commitment to life-long Christian formation.

Through Baptism we become part of the Body of Christ wherever we are. The Promises of the Baptismal Covenant set us free to live into the reality of God in our lives. Faithfulness to this Covenant compels us to

• Continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers
• Persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord
• Proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ
• Seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves
• Strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being

Such ministry is the life’s work of every baptized person. Through discernment each person is called by God to certain ministries at particular times and in particular places. These ministries may function within or beyond the local congregation; some require ordination, while many do not. We always need to be aware of the multitude of opportunities for ministry that present themselves to us every day and everywhere we are.

According to Title III of the Canons of the Episcopal Church, the following ministries constitute the Licensed Ministries in the Episcopal Church:

• Pastoral Leader
• Worship Leader
• Preacher
• Eucharistic Minister
• Eucharistic Visitor
• Catechist

For further information on the nature of licensed ministries and specific expectations and requirements for serving in one of these roles, please see the Licensed Ministries Manual of the Diocese of Oregon.

Note: The material printed above in 4.3 Licensed Ministers was excerpted from the Licensed Ministries Manual.