Diocese of North Queensland amazonaws com
Diocese of North Queensland
THE JOURNEY TO ORDINATION A Process of Discernment and Formation To be read in conjunction with the Diocesan Policy Document on Ordination: A Changing Church for a Changing World and the process chart: Process for Ordination in NQ – December 2012. (updated October 2013) Introduction: The Diocesan Journey to Ordination is based on three premises: a. that Baptism forms the basis for all ministry; b. that God’s Call to the ordained Ministry is unique and will be tested by the Church at local and Diocesan levels; c. that the focus of training for Ordination will be developing a new kind of leadership and not the preparation of functionaries. This Church is no longer understood to be a series of communities (parishes) gathered around a minister but is, rather, a series of Ministering Communities. All members of such a Community will be exercising a ministry themselves. Some of those ministers may be called to ordination and will have a particular role to play in the life and mission of the Church, either locally or in the Church at large. Those who sense a call to the ordained ministry will do so as an active member of a Faith Community. They will already be exercising a ministry in that Community and will expect to have that call affirmed by them. Exceptions will only be made in this regard in respect to any Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or South Sea Islander cultural arrangements. These will be addressed by that leadership. In any case, no ordination will take place in the Diocese without the specific approval of the Diocesan Bishop and an appropriate completion of this process. Preparation for ordination takes about 4 years and is divided into two main parts: Discernment and Formation. Each of these is expanded below.
It will be appropriate to understand what kind of qualities that the Church will look for in any potential leadership, so the question to ask is this:
1
What Kind of Candidates Are We Looking For? Effective ordained ministry requires gifts or skills in many areas. There are at least 9 qualities of life that are important for a Candidate to have. These include: 1) The Godly Quality: Vocation The person should be able to speak of his/her sense of vocation to ministry and mission, both in terms of his/her own conviction and the extent to which others have confirmed it. The sense of vocation should be obedient, realistic and informed. (APBA p786 & 794) 2) The Commitment Quality: Faith The person should show an understanding of the Christian faith and a desire to deepen that understanding. S/he should demonstrate personal commitment to Christ and a capacity to communicate the Gospel. 3) The Discipline Quality: Spirituality The person should show evidence of a commitment to a spiritual discipline involving individual and corporate prayer and worship. This spiritual practice should sustain and energise his/her daily life. 4) The Maturity Quality: Personality and Character The person should be sufficiently mature and stable to sustain the role of an ordained minister and can face change and pressure faced in a flexible and balanced way. S/he should be seen as a person of integrity. 5) The Pastoral Quality: Relationships The person should demonstrate self-awareness and self-acceptance as a basis for developing open and healthy professional, personal, and pastoral relationships. S/he should respect the will of the Church in matters of sexual morality (according to the Faithfulness in Service, the national code adopted by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia in 2006). 6) The Guiding Quality: Leadership and Collaboration The person should show ability to offer leadership in the Church community and to some extent in the wider community. This ability includes the capacity to offer an example of faith and discipleship, to collaborate effectively with others, as well as to guide and shape the life of the Church community in its mission to the world. 7) The Understanding Quality: Intellect The person should have the necessary intellectual capacity to undertake satisfactorily a course of theological study and preparation for ordained ministry, and to cope with the continuing intellectual demands of ordained ministry. 8) The Practical Quality: Ministry in the Diocese of North Queensland The person should be familiar with the tradition and practice of the Anglican Church of Australia, and willing to work with the vision laid out by the Bishop in the documents, A Future With Hope and Future Directions. 9) The Task Quality: Prayer Book Demands The Church outlines a job description for its clergy, so that they will be able to perform their particular tasks. These include:
2
Reading and Teaching the Scriptures in Church Prayer, Bible and other studies Fashion own life (and that of their family) according to the model of Jesus Promote peace in the Church Proclaim the Gospel Be in submission to the Bishop and others in lawful authority Seek divine inspiration for the task Be faithful to the received doctrines and teachings of the Church Be able to refute heresies Have a pastoral focus to one’s work
Each of these is outlined in the Ordination Service for both Deacons and Priests, which are contained in APBA, p783 and following. To say ‘yes’ to a person seeking ordination, then, is to affirm that s/he is either already clearly competent in these areas, or is potentially competent and moving steadily in that direction.
The Discernment (or Enquiry) Stage Preamble: Those who embark on the Journey to Ordination will have a sense that God is calling them. No amount of talk or insistence by others can replace the Voice of God to a person’s heart. However, He does speak in a variety of ways (see the story of Balaam and the donkey in ) and may well prompt other people to speak into the life of a potential candidate. A key question to ponder is “What difference, if any, will ordination make to the ministry to which I am already called by virtue of my Baptism?” This question presupposes that a person is already exercising a ministry in their Faith Community. If this is not so, the question then becomes “Why not?” Ordained ministry creates a major impact on a person’s life and lifestyle, even if that ministry is to be a self-supporting one. As well as the impact it makes on one’s family (spouse, children or elderly parents), the financial impact cannot be overlooked. Course fees, accommodations, meals and travel for the preparation needed for ordination are all costs that, for the most part, are to be borne by the candidate and will need to be thought through. The Steps in Discernment (The Enquiry) 1. Discuss the matter with your parish priest in the first instance or, when necessary, the MDO. S/he will explore with you the possibilities of both lay and ordained ministry. It is recommended that you meet at least twice to answer some of your questions and to pray. 2. The priest will then inform the Bishop of your inquiry, together with his/her initial recommendation, and a meeting with the Bishop will be arranged. An application form will be forwarded to you, which you can complete and bring to a meeting that will be arranged with the Bishop.
3
3. If the Bishop decides to proceed, he will ask your parish priest or the MDO to organise a Parish Discernment Committee to assist in making an assessment of your call. A police check will also be required at this early stage of the process, as will your Blue Card. 4. The parish priest will submit the names of six people to the Parish Council for approval. This Parish Discernment Committee will then meet with you on six occasions over about six months, before making a recommendation to Parish Council. 5. The Parish Council will discuss the committee’s recommendation and make its decision, which it will then convey to the Bishop. If the recommendation is ‘yes’, the Bishop will then invite you to enter the second stage. 6. Please note that the invitation to become a candidate is not an indication that you have been accepted for ordination. It is, however, an important step in the process of discerning your call.
Please Note: In some cases the Parish Discernment Committee, Parish Council and priest, through their collective tasks of discernment, may feel that ordained ministry is not the best or most appropriate form of ministry for an inquirer. It may then be necessary to assist the person to discern other challenging, satisfying forms of ministry in his/her areas of primary involvement, i.e. job, family, community and church, rather than in an ordained capacity. The important thing is to discover what God is calling this unique person to be and to do.
A Note About Mentoring You will be assigned a Mentor who will be a special companion on your journey through Discernment and Formation. A Mentor is an encourager, a listener, a challenger, a fellow-journeyer, who works with a postulant through the process of discerning God’s call. Mentors and Candidates will meet regularly on a mutually agreed or contracted basis. These meetings are an opportunity to review what is happening as the process unfolds, and to discuss any other issues of growth or challenge. Both mentor and postulant will be provided with some guidelines and materials for discussion. Personal or emotional issues may also need to be discussed. It is, after all, essential that those in ministry are sufficiently mature to deal with such matters. It is, however, beyond the role of your mentor to provide professional counselling. Other assistance may be necessary if this level of support is required. The mentor relationship is a wonderful opportunity for honest exploration of issues of life and faith as they impact on your journey of discernment.
A great deal of sorrow can be avoided if the process of discernment is done properly. There is no benefit to anyone in ordaining someone whose gifts and graces should be channelled in other directions. On the other hand, a person who is truly called to ordained ministry will draw strength from the support and affirmation of other Christians along the way. The mentor works with you, on behalf of the Church, to assist you in the ongoing task of discerning whether the call to ordination is real and true.
What is said between you and your Mentor remains confidential. Meetings with the Bishop’s Examining Chaplains are also held throughout the whole process. As we’ve already noted, regular meetings with your Mentor are crucial. These are mandatory, not optional, as are meetings with Examining Chaplains.
4
Reflection Days You will be asked to attend Reflection Days three times during the year. These may well take place in your Parish or in a group setting elsewhere. Your training Incumbent is expected to lead these but the MDO may also be involved. The major themes for the three Reflection Days will be: The Diocesan Vision (see Future Directions) Diaconal/Priestly Ministry (What ‘Wearing the Collar’ means) The Anglican Way (Why we are Anglicans and not Presbyterians or Roman Catholics) You will be encouraged during these days to reflect theologically on your own life and ministry. Each Candidate will also be asked to prepare two reflective essays of approximately 1000 words, to be shared with other members of the group. The topics are (a) My Understanding of God and (b) My Understanding of Ministry. You will be able to revise them, if you wish, in the light of the group discussion. They will then be forwarded to the MDO, and eventually will assist the Diocesan Discernment Team in their deliberations. You will be asked to undergo a psychological assessment. This will be at your own expense. You will also be asked to provide the names and addresses of three people who have consented to be a referee. Your parish priest and Parish Council will also be asked to make any final comments. When this Stage is complete, the Bishop will notify you of the outcome. In general, only those who are accepted as candidates for ordination will enter the next stage. It may take more than 3 years to complete.
The Formation Stage Formation is a time for exploration – for reading and study, developing spiritual disciplines and reflecting with others about the ministry and mission of the church. Formation provides an opportunity to grapple with the Purpose and Vision of the Diocese of North Queensland, and to get on board with what is required of ordained Anglican leaders in the church today. It is also at this stage that formal theological training begins in earnest, although it is also possible to begin the study earlier in the process. While allowing some flexibility because of the range of people in terms of age, previous general education and future ministry roles, the following general outline is a good guide. Requirements in this Stage The matter of academic training is very important. A number of tertiary education Institutions currently offer courses that can be pursued by Distance Education. Fees for these courses vary. Some Institutions that offer acceptable Courses are:
5
Charles Sturt University (www.csu.edu.au/courses ) University Certificate in Theology Diploma of Theology Bachelor of Theology Wontulp Bi-buya (http://www.wontulp.qld.edu.au/) Certificate in Theology Diploma in Theology (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders ONLY) Trinity College (http://online.mcd.edu.au/ ) Certificate in Theology and Ministry (a small group process) Diploma of Ministry Graduate Diploma in Theology Master of Divinity Ridley College (http://www.ridley.edu.au/studying-at-ridley/distance/ ) Graduate Diploma of Theology Bachelor of Theology Australian College of Ministry (ACOM) http://www.acom.edu.au/page/41/Undergraduate+Courses Diploma of Christian Studies Diploma of Christian Thought and Practice Bachelor of Divinity Those training to be deacons will be required to work towards a Certificate, but may wish to study for a diploma or a degree. Completion of Education for Ministry (EFM) is an acceptable qualification for Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate. Those seeking ordination as a non-stipendiary priest will be required to work towards completing a recognised diploma, but will be encouraged to study for a degree. Candidates for the stipendiary priesthood will be required to work towards a bachelor degree in theology, or, if appropriate, a graduate degree or diploma. It is strongly advised that such persons consider a period of formal theological study at an Anglican Theological College in Brisbane or elsewhere. In addition to academic study, candidates for ordination will be required to achieve the Diploma of Anglican Orders, which is currently delivered in 3x5-day week Intensives over 18 months. These are currently being held in Cairns. The Diploma course includes opportunities for worship and fellowship, as well as theological reflection on ministry experience and input from staff from Charles Sturt University. Themes include: Theology of Ministry and Mission Understanding Worship and Prayer Preaching and Pastoral Care Diaconal and Priestly Leadership Theological Reflection
6
During the Diploma Course, students are introduced to the concept of Peer Groups. This is an accountability methodology that extends theological reflection on ministry to another, and some say more intimate, level. Meetings of the Peer Groups occur once or twice a year between Intensives. A pre-requisite for non-indigenous Candidates for Ordination is the successful completion of one (1) Unit through Wontulp Bi-buya College. The content of this is by arrangement with and the agreement of the Principal of Wontulp Bi-buya College and the Bishop. When the pressure is on, it is easy to lose focus, to become discouraged or to neglect spiritual disciplines. Your relationship with your Mentor will assist you to keep on track. You may also wish to seek out a spiritual director, or at least a ‘soul friend’. The Examining Chaplains are there to care for your welfare, too. Regular, if not frequent, meetings will be held with them. This stage ends with a series of interviews with members of the Diocesan Discernment Panel who then will make a recommendation to the Bishop as to whether you should be accepted as a candidate for ordination. The Bishop is concerned with the welfare and progress of each person in Formation. He will certainly wish to connect with you at least once each year. In addition, also at the end of each year, an Examining Chaplain will interview each of the candidates to assist the Bishop in discerning the person’s readiness for ordination. Please remember that, in the final analysis, it is the Bishop who has the ultimate responsibility for deciding who will be ordained. The decision about the readiness for Ordination as a Priest, following the Discernment and Formation (above) currently is based on written Recommendations from Examining Chaplains, the Incumbent of the Parish and from the Parish Council. These Recommendations are sent to the Bishop, who has the final word. Those people accepted as candidates for ordination will need to undergo a medical examination as well. What Happens Next? To ensure that the preparation for Ordination has not been wasted, on-going learning and training in supervised local and Diocesan settings become a necessity. ‘Use it or lose it’ is the maxim. The Diocese will ensure that opportunities for training are provided. It is up to each clergy person to avail themselves of these possibilities. A vital aspect of the ordained life, as well as what is written here, is to ensure on-going ministry development: In-Service courses; Clergy Conferences; Regional Consultations; Clergy Retreats; Assisted Ministerial Reviews and the like should be part of a regular diet in the Ministerial Life. The frequency at which these happen is spelled out in the Diocesan Canons.
7
THE JOURNEY TO ORDINATION A Process of Discernment and Formation To be read in conjunction with the Diocesan Policy Document on Ordination: A Changing Church for a Changing World and the process chart: Process for Ordination in NQ – December 2012. (updated October 2013) Introduction: The Diocesan Journey to Ordination is based on three premises: a. that Baptism forms the basis for all ministry; b. that God’s Call to the ordained Ministry is unique and will be tested by the Church at local and Diocesan levels; c. that the focus of training for Ordination will be developing a new kind of leadership and not the preparation of functionaries. This Church is no longer understood to be a series of communities (parishes) gathered around a minister but is, rather, a series of Ministering Communities. All members of such a Community will be exercising a ministry themselves. Some of those ministers may be called to ordination and will have a particular role to play in the life and mission of the Church, either locally or in the Church at large. Those who sense a call to the ordained ministry will do so as an active member of a Faith Community. They will already be exercising a ministry in that Community and will expect to have that call affirmed by them. Exceptions will only be made in this regard in respect to any Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or South Sea Islander cultural arrangements. These will be addressed by that leadership. In any case, no ordination will take place in the Diocese without the specific approval of the Diocesan Bishop and an appropriate completion of this process. Preparation for ordination takes about 4 years and is divided into two main parts: Discernment and Formation. Each of these is expanded below.
It will be appropriate to understand what kind of qualities that the Church will look for in any potential leadership, so the question to ask is this:
1
What Kind of Candidates Are We Looking For? Effective ordained ministry requires gifts or skills in many areas. There are at least 9 qualities of life that are important for a Candidate to have. These include: 1) The Godly Quality: Vocation The person should be able to speak of his/her sense of vocation to ministry and mission, both in terms of his/her own conviction and the extent to which others have confirmed it. The sense of vocation should be obedient, realistic and informed. (APBA p786 & 794) 2) The Commitment Quality: Faith The person should show an understanding of the Christian faith and a desire to deepen that understanding. S/he should demonstrate personal commitment to Christ and a capacity to communicate the Gospel. 3) The Discipline Quality: Spirituality The person should show evidence of a commitment to a spiritual discipline involving individual and corporate prayer and worship. This spiritual practice should sustain and energise his/her daily life. 4) The Maturity Quality: Personality and Character The person should be sufficiently mature and stable to sustain the role of an ordained minister and can face change and pressure faced in a flexible and balanced way. S/he should be seen as a person of integrity. 5) The Pastoral Quality: Relationships The person should demonstrate self-awareness and self-acceptance as a basis for developing open and healthy professional, personal, and pastoral relationships. S/he should respect the will of the Church in matters of sexual morality (according to the Faithfulness in Service, the national code adopted by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia in 2006). 6) The Guiding Quality: Leadership and Collaboration The person should show ability to offer leadership in the Church community and to some extent in the wider community. This ability includes the capacity to offer an example of faith and discipleship, to collaborate effectively with others, as well as to guide and shape the life of the Church community in its mission to the world. 7) The Understanding Quality: Intellect The person should have the necessary intellectual capacity to undertake satisfactorily a course of theological study and preparation for ordained ministry, and to cope with the continuing intellectual demands of ordained ministry. 8) The Practical Quality: Ministry in the Diocese of North Queensland The person should be familiar with the tradition and practice of the Anglican Church of Australia, and willing to work with the vision laid out by the Bishop in the documents, A Future With Hope and Future Directions. 9) The Task Quality: Prayer Book Demands The Church outlines a job description for its clergy, so that they will be able to perform their particular tasks. These include:
2
Reading and Teaching the Scriptures in Church Prayer, Bible and other studies Fashion own life (and that of their family) according to the model of Jesus Promote peace in the Church Proclaim the Gospel Be in submission to the Bishop and others in lawful authority Seek divine inspiration for the task Be faithful to the received doctrines and teachings of the Church Be able to refute heresies Have a pastoral focus to one’s work
Each of these is outlined in the Ordination Service for both Deacons and Priests, which are contained in APBA, p783 and following. To say ‘yes’ to a person seeking ordination, then, is to affirm that s/he is either already clearly competent in these areas, or is potentially competent and moving steadily in that direction.
The Discernment (or Enquiry) Stage Preamble: Those who embark on the Journey to Ordination will have a sense that God is calling them. No amount of talk or insistence by others can replace the Voice of God to a person’s heart. However, He does speak in a variety of ways (see the story of Balaam and the donkey in ) and may well prompt other people to speak into the life of a potential candidate. A key question to ponder is “What difference, if any, will ordination make to the ministry to which I am already called by virtue of my Baptism?” This question presupposes that a person is already exercising a ministry in their Faith Community. If this is not so, the question then becomes “Why not?” Ordained ministry creates a major impact on a person’s life and lifestyle, even if that ministry is to be a self-supporting one. As well as the impact it makes on one’s family (spouse, children or elderly parents), the financial impact cannot be overlooked. Course fees, accommodations, meals and travel for the preparation needed for ordination are all costs that, for the most part, are to be borne by the candidate and will need to be thought through. The Steps in Discernment (The Enquiry) 1. Discuss the matter with your parish priest in the first instance or, when necessary, the MDO. S/he will explore with you the possibilities of both lay and ordained ministry. It is recommended that you meet at least twice to answer some of your questions and to pray. 2. The priest will then inform the Bishop of your inquiry, together with his/her initial recommendation, and a meeting with the Bishop will be arranged. An application form will be forwarded to you, which you can complete and bring to a meeting that will be arranged with the Bishop.
3
3. If the Bishop decides to proceed, he will ask your parish priest or the MDO to organise a Parish Discernment Committee to assist in making an assessment of your call. A police check will also be required at this early stage of the process, as will your Blue Card. 4. The parish priest will submit the names of six people to the Parish Council for approval. This Parish Discernment Committee will then meet with you on six occasions over about six months, before making a recommendation to Parish Council. 5. The Parish Council will discuss the committee’s recommendation and make its decision, which it will then convey to the Bishop. If the recommendation is ‘yes’, the Bishop will then invite you to enter the second stage. 6. Please note that the invitation to become a candidate is not an indication that you have been accepted for ordination. It is, however, an important step in the process of discerning your call.
Please Note: In some cases the Parish Discernment Committee, Parish Council and priest, through their collective tasks of discernment, may feel that ordained ministry is not the best or most appropriate form of ministry for an inquirer. It may then be necessary to assist the person to discern other challenging, satisfying forms of ministry in his/her areas of primary involvement, i.e. job, family, community and church, rather than in an ordained capacity. The important thing is to discover what God is calling this unique person to be and to do.
A Note About Mentoring You will be assigned a Mentor who will be a special companion on your journey through Discernment and Formation. A Mentor is an encourager, a listener, a challenger, a fellow-journeyer, who works with a postulant through the process of discerning God’s call. Mentors and Candidates will meet regularly on a mutually agreed or contracted basis. These meetings are an opportunity to review what is happening as the process unfolds, and to discuss any other issues of growth or challenge. Both mentor and postulant will be provided with some guidelines and materials for discussion. Personal or emotional issues may also need to be discussed. It is, after all, essential that those in ministry are sufficiently mature to deal with such matters. It is, however, beyond the role of your mentor to provide professional counselling. Other assistance may be necessary if this level of support is required. The mentor relationship is a wonderful opportunity for honest exploration of issues of life and faith as they impact on your journey of discernment.
A great deal of sorrow can be avoided if the process of discernment is done properly. There is no benefit to anyone in ordaining someone whose gifts and graces should be channelled in other directions. On the other hand, a person who is truly called to ordained ministry will draw strength from the support and affirmation of other Christians along the way. The mentor works with you, on behalf of the Church, to assist you in the ongoing task of discerning whether the call to ordination is real and true.
What is said between you and your Mentor remains confidential. Meetings with the Bishop’s Examining Chaplains are also held throughout the whole process. As we’ve already noted, regular meetings with your Mentor are crucial. These are mandatory, not optional, as are meetings with Examining Chaplains.
4
Reflection Days You will be asked to attend Reflection Days three times during the year. These may well take place in your Parish or in a group setting elsewhere. Your training Incumbent is expected to lead these but the MDO may also be involved. The major themes for the three Reflection Days will be: The Diocesan Vision (see Future Directions) Diaconal/Priestly Ministry (What ‘Wearing the Collar’ means) The Anglican Way (Why we are Anglicans and not Presbyterians or Roman Catholics) You will be encouraged during these days to reflect theologically on your own life and ministry. Each Candidate will also be asked to prepare two reflective essays of approximately 1000 words, to be shared with other members of the group. The topics are (a) My Understanding of God and (b) My Understanding of Ministry. You will be able to revise them, if you wish, in the light of the group discussion. They will then be forwarded to the MDO, and eventually will assist the Diocesan Discernment Team in their deliberations. You will be asked to undergo a psychological assessment. This will be at your own expense. You will also be asked to provide the names and addresses of three people who have consented to be a referee. Your parish priest and Parish Council will also be asked to make any final comments. When this Stage is complete, the Bishop will notify you of the outcome. In general, only those who are accepted as candidates for ordination will enter the next stage. It may take more than 3 years to complete.
The Formation Stage Formation is a time for exploration – for reading and study, developing spiritual disciplines and reflecting with others about the ministry and mission of the church. Formation provides an opportunity to grapple with the Purpose and Vision of the Diocese of North Queensland, and to get on board with what is required of ordained Anglican leaders in the church today. It is also at this stage that formal theological training begins in earnest, although it is also possible to begin the study earlier in the process. While allowing some flexibility because of the range of people in terms of age, previous general education and future ministry roles, the following general outline is a good guide. Requirements in this Stage The matter of academic training is very important. A number of tertiary education Institutions currently offer courses that can be pursued by Distance Education. Fees for these courses vary. Some Institutions that offer acceptable Courses are:
5
Charles Sturt University (www.csu.edu.au/courses ) University Certificate in Theology Diploma of Theology Bachelor of Theology Wontulp Bi-buya (http://www.wontulp.qld.edu.au/) Certificate in Theology Diploma in Theology (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders ONLY) Trinity College (http://online.mcd.edu.au/ ) Certificate in Theology and Ministry (a small group process) Diploma of Ministry Graduate Diploma in Theology Master of Divinity Ridley College (http://www.ridley.edu.au/studying-at-ridley/distance/ ) Graduate Diploma of Theology Bachelor of Theology Australian College of Ministry (ACOM) http://www.acom.edu.au/page/41/Undergraduate+Courses Diploma of Christian Studies Diploma of Christian Thought and Practice Bachelor of Divinity Those training to be deacons will be required to work towards a Certificate, but may wish to study for a diploma or a degree. Completion of Education for Ministry (EFM) is an acceptable qualification for Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate. Those seeking ordination as a non-stipendiary priest will be required to work towards completing a recognised diploma, but will be encouraged to study for a degree. Candidates for the stipendiary priesthood will be required to work towards a bachelor degree in theology, or, if appropriate, a graduate degree or diploma. It is strongly advised that such persons consider a period of formal theological study at an Anglican Theological College in Brisbane or elsewhere. In addition to academic study, candidates for ordination will be required to achieve the Diploma of Anglican Orders, which is currently delivered in 3x5-day week Intensives over 18 months. These are currently being held in Cairns. The Diploma course includes opportunities for worship and fellowship, as well as theological reflection on ministry experience and input from staff from Charles Sturt University. Themes include: Theology of Ministry and Mission Understanding Worship and Prayer Preaching and Pastoral Care Diaconal and Priestly Leadership Theological Reflection
6
During the Diploma Course, students are introduced to the concept of Peer Groups. This is an accountability methodology that extends theological reflection on ministry to another, and some say more intimate, level. Meetings of the Peer Groups occur once or twice a year between Intensives. A pre-requisite for non-indigenous Candidates for Ordination is the successful completion of one (1) Unit through Wontulp Bi-buya College. The content of this is by arrangement with and the agreement of the Principal of Wontulp Bi-buya College and the Bishop. When the pressure is on, it is easy to lose focus, to become discouraged or to neglect spiritual disciplines. Your relationship with your Mentor will assist you to keep on track. You may also wish to seek out a spiritual director, or at least a ‘soul friend’. The Examining Chaplains are there to care for your welfare, too. Regular, if not frequent, meetings will be held with them. This stage ends with a series of interviews with members of the Diocesan Discernment Panel who then will make a recommendation to the Bishop as to whether you should be accepted as a candidate for ordination. The Bishop is concerned with the welfare and progress of each person in Formation. He will certainly wish to connect with you at least once each year. In addition, also at the end of each year, an Examining Chaplain will interview each of the candidates to assist the Bishop in discerning the person’s readiness for ordination. Please remember that, in the final analysis, it is the Bishop who has the ultimate responsibility for deciding who will be ordained. The decision about the readiness for Ordination as a Priest, following the Discernment and Formation (above) currently is based on written Recommendations from Examining Chaplains, the Incumbent of the Parish and from the Parish Council. These Recommendations are sent to the Bishop, who has the final word. Those people accepted as candidates for ordination will need to undergo a medical examination as well. What Happens Next? To ensure that the preparation for Ordination has not been wasted, on-going learning and training in supervised local and Diocesan settings become a necessity. ‘Use it or lose it’ is the maxim. The Diocese will ensure that opportunities for training are provided. It is up to each clergy person to avail themselves of these possibilities. A vital aspect of the ordained life, as well as what is written here, is to ensure on-going ministry development: In-Service courses; Clergy Conferences; Regional Consultations; Clergy Retreats; Assisted Ministerial Reviews and the like should be part of a regular diet in the Ministerial Life. The frequency at which these happen is spelled out in the Diocesan Canons.
7
