Priesthood Discernment Process Steps

(with Canonical References)

1.

Applicant regularly attends his/her congregation for at least one year.

2.

Applicant discusses discernment with priest-in-charge. Applicant begins process with an overview of the process with Cory Hoehn, in the Offices of the Bishop. choehn@diocesemo.org

3.

Applicant composes a 500 (approximate) word essay explaining their goals and intentions for ministry and why they would like to be a priest. This document needs to be submitted at least one week prior to his or her initial meeting with Bishop Smith (see item 4).

4.

Applicant meets initially with Bishop Smith.

5.

Congregational discernment committee is formed and trained. This step requires approval of the Bishop in order to proceed.

6.

Applicant completes autobiographical sketch and vision statement.

7.

Discernment committee and applicant meet.

Requires between 3-6 months to complete.

8.

Discernment committee and priest-in-charge complete their respective reports.

9.

Priest and vestry/bishop's cmte. certify recommendation for postulancy. (III.8.2(a))

Postulancy for the Priesthood (PP) Application – Part 1(III.8.3a)

What You Need To Know To Complete (PP-P1) (68k DOC)

ALL of the following must be included.

PP1 (62k DOC)

Discernment committee report (same as #7 above).

PP2 (46k DOC)

Priest-in-charge report (same as #7 above).

PP3 (47k DOC)

Vestry letter of support (same as #8 above).

PP4 (176k DOC)

§ Application form. (III.8.2.(b))

PP5 (52k DOC)

§ Autobiographical sketch.

PP6 (53k DOC)

§ Vision statement.

PP7 (79k DOC)

§ Self-disclosure form.

PP8 (53k DOC)

§ Personal check for $400.

PP9 (53k DOC)

§ Congregation’s check for $150.

Postulancy for the Priesthood (PP) Application – Part 2

What You Need To Know To Complete (PP-P2) (64k DOC)

Requires minimum of 8 weeks to complete, includes:

PP11 (705k DOC)

§ Background check.

PP12 (95k DOC)

§ Initial psychological review/psychiatric evaluation.

PP13 (278k DOC)

§ Physical examination.

Postulancy for the Priesthood (PP) Application – Part 3

What You Need To Know To Complete (PP-P3) (62k DOC)

PP10

§ Attend the Diocesan Discernment Conference that is within 12 months prior to Postulancy Application Review.

PP15

§ Complete Church Pension Group’s PlanAhead online worksheets. (III.8.3(a))

PP14

PP16

Postulancy Application Review: applicant meets with Bishop Smith. Bishop may recommend Commission on Ministry (COM) interview. (III.8.3(a)2)

Postulancy for the Priesthood (PP) Application – Part 4

What You Need To Know To Complete (PP-P4) (67k DOC)

PP17 (62k DOC)

Commission on Ministry postulancy interview. (III.8.3(b))

PP18

Bishop postulancy interview to receive COM recommendation.

Following Acceptance as Postulant for the Priesthood (PP) – Part 5

What You Need To Know To Complete (PP-P5) (87k DOC)

PP19

§ Apply to seminaries.

PP20

§ Meet with designated financial advisor regarding PlanAhead worksheets. (III.8.3(a))

PP21 (55k DOC)

§ Receive, follow, and converse with the Diocesan Board of Examining Chaplains (DBEC) regarding formation plan. (III.8.3(b)), (III.8.5)

§ Communicate with Bishop Smith, sponsoring congregation, and COM liaison during Ember Days. (III.8.3(e))

§ Attend Discernment Conference annually.

§ Complete one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) during summer between junior and middler year of seminary.

Candidacy for the Priesthood (CP) Application – Part 1

What You Need To Know To Complete (CP-P1) (59k DOC)

To be completed by November 1^st of middler year of seminary.

CP1 (68k DOC)

§ Formal application requesting candidacy. (III.8.4(a))

CP2 (65k DOC)

§ Certificate of priest and vestry/bishop's committee. (III.8.4(a)2)

CP3

§ Annual transcripts. (III.8.4(b))

CP4

§ Evaluation(s) from seminary. (III.8.4(b))

CP5

§ CPE evaluations (student's and supervisor's). (III.8.4(b))

CP6

§ Evaluation of field education (where applicable). (III.8.4(b))

Candidacy for the Priesthood (CP) Application – Part 2

What You Need To Know To Complete (CP-P2) (62k DOC)

CP7 (53k DOC)

DBEC has reviewed formation plan and certified it as “halfway.” (III.8.4(b))

CP8 (64k DOC)

Commission on Ministry candidacy check-in at Diocesan Convention. (III.8.4(b))

CP9

Check-in meeting with Bishop Smith to receive COM recommendation. (III.8.4(b))

CP10 (58k DOC)

Standing Committee interview and approval. (III.8.4(b))

Following Acceptance as Candidate for the Priesthood (CP) – Part 3

What You Need To Know To Complete (CP-P3) (79k DOC)

§ Continue to communicate with Bishop Smith, sponsoring congregation, and COM liaison during Ember Days. (III.8.5(i))

§ Attend Discernment Conference annually.

§ Meet with Canon to the Ordinary, the Rev. Dan Smith regarding placement after graduation.

Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate (OTD) Application – Part 1

What You Need To Know To Complete (OTD-P1) (61k DOC)

To be completed during the summer between middler and senior year of seminary.Includes:

OTD1 (70k DOC)

§ Formal application for ordination to diaconate. (III.8.6(c)(1))

OTD2 (66k DOC)

§ Certificate from vestry/bishop's committee and priest. (III.8.6(c)(2))

OTD3

§ Current seminary transcript. (III.8.6(c)(4))

OTD4

§ Evaluation and recommendation from seminary. (III.8.6(c)(4))

OTD5

§ Additional evaluation of field education (where applicable).

OTD6

§ Update background check. (III.8.5(k)(1))

OTD7

§ Update physical examination. (III.8.5(k)(2))

OTD8 (39KDOC)

§ Update psychiatric evaluation. (III.8.5(k)(2))

OTD9

§ Safe Guarding God’s Children workshop (III.8.5(h))

OTD10 (55k DOC)

§ Issues of Sexual Harassment workshop (III.8.5(h))

OTD11 (57k DOC)

§ Constitution and Canons (Title IV) workshop (III.8.5(h))

OTD12 (58k DOC)

§ Dismantling Racism Leadership workshop (III.8.5(h))

Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate (OTD) Application – Part 2

What You Need To Know To Complete (OTD-P2) (66k DOC)

OTD14

DBEC certification of continued progress on formation plan. (III.8.6(c)(5))

OTD15

COM certification for ordination. (III.8.6(c)(5))

OTD16

Standing Committee certification. (III.8.6(d))

Occurs on the fourth Tuesday of September of candidate’s senior year.

OTD17

Ordination planning worksheet returned

Ordination To The Transitional Diaconatein December of senior year.

Minimum of 6 months as a deacon is required.

Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate (OTD) – Part 3

What You Need To Know To Complete (OTD-P3) (80k DOC)

General Ordination Exam in January of senior year.

Ordination to the Priesthood (OP) Application – Part 1

What You Need To Know To Complete (OP-P1) (61k DOC)

Minimum of 18 months since acceptance as postulant required before ordination to the priesthood.

To be completed by March 1^st of senior year, includes:

OP1 (68k DOC)

§ Formal application for ordination to priesthood. (III.8.7(b)(1))

OP2 (67k DOC)

§ Certificate of Priest and Vestry/Bishop's Committee. (III.8.7(b)(2))

OP3

§ Completed formation plan. (III.8.7(b)(4))

OP4

§ Final transcript from seminary. (III.8.7(b)(4))

OP5

§ Evaluation and recommendation from seminary. (III.8.7(b)(4))

OP6

§ Additional evaluation of field education. (where applicable)

OP7

§ Update background check. (III.8.7(a)(3))

OP8 (39K DOC)

§ Update psychological evaluation.(III.8.7(a)(3))

OP9

§ Update medical evaluation. (III.8.7(a)(3))

Ordination to the Priesthood (OP) Application – Part 2

What You Need To Know To Complete (OP-P2) (67k DOC)

OP12

DBEC has reviewed formation plan and certified it as “complete.” (III.8.7(b)(5))

OP13 (54k DOC)

COM certification for ordination. (III.8.7(b)(5))

OP14 (56k DOC)

Approval of the Standing Committee. (III.8.7(c))

Occurs on the fourth Tuesday of March of senior year.

OP15 (57k DOC)

Ordination planning worksheet returned.

ORDINATION TO PRIESTHOOD in June after seminary graduation.