When considering ordained ministry, most mainline denominations have two processes which usually must be performed by potential candidates.
The first and foremost is deciding where to attend seminary and obtain acceptance to a Master of Divinity Program (3 Year Graduate Program). Most Master of Divinity Programs are designed to help prepare ministers, pastors, and priests for full-time ministry in a local church, congregation or parish.
However, just being accepted to a Master of Divinity Program does not necessarily that the student will be ordained with his church (or denomination) once graduating from the Master of Divinity Program.
Most mainline processes have a second process which typically is administered by the church or denomination to help with a candidates discernment and determine if the potential candidate is truly received God's calling to full-time ordained ministry (as opposed to simply lay ministry as a member of a local church, congregation or parish).
If you have been following my blog, you already have an idea of the process for the United Methodist Church. First potential candidate must declare his candidacy to apply for ordination within the United Methodist Church. This declaration is normally to the local staff/parish relations committee. If the committee accepts the candidates declaration based on requirements from the Book of Discipline (church law for the United Methodist Church), then the declared candidates next step is to be certified as a candidate for ordained ministry. This is normally after a number of examinations are performed usually by the district superintendent (much like a local diocesan bishop for a particular territory who has charge over several local churches). This the candidate succeeds, then he is certified by the Board of Ordained Ministry as a candidate for ordained ministry. Once this process is completed, either before (while the student is still completing college degree) or between college and seminary (or during the first year of seminary) the certified candidate for ordained ministry is assigned as a student local pastor to a local church so that he may begin the mentoring process by local pastors to learn the ropes of local church ministry.
Within the American Catholic Church in the United States (ACCUS), after being accepted to seminary as a First Year Theology student, the student if desiring to receive Holy Orders (be ordained priest) he or she must apply to be considered a Candidate for Holy Orders through the church (in this case to the Archbishop, Vocations Director, and Admissions Committee of ACCUS). Only the church can grant candidacy for Holy Orders.
I have completed the first step (applying for seminary) and I am pleased to announced that I have been accepted as a First Year Theology student at St. John XXIII Theological Institute (an ACCUS sponsored seminary) in the Master of Divinity Program. My matriculation will begin with the summer mini-semester (the beginning of the school year for St. John XXIII TI) on July 5, 2011.
Within the next week or so I will submit my Application to be accepted as a Candidate for Holy Orders within the American Catholic Church in the United States (http://www.accus.us).
I wanted to make this announcement as I am extremely excited to be admitted to the Master of Divinity Program and I am so looking forward to starting my First Year as a seminarian on July 5, 2011 at St. John XXIII Theological Institute.
Now Look for Part VI of my Discernment Process as I continue sharing my story with you...
Peace,
jeff
