A GUIDE FOR CANDIDATES TO THE ORDERS OF MINISTRY IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF CANADA
The program and course requirements for the Diploma in Sacred Theology (S.TH.D.) are currently in the process of revision as determined by a decision reached at the Orthodox Church of Canada Sobor in June of 2003. The following information however, provides some basic and essential information for those interested in pursuing academic studies.
Information for Candidates to Ordained Ministry
"And He ordained twelve (Apostles), that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach" Mark3:14 (AV)
Ordination is the Sacramental means (established by God) for confering upon a man whom He has chosen, one of the three degrees of the priesthood of His Church. The giving of Holy Orders through the laying on of hands, is the visible sign and affirmation of a call to a life of service and stewardship, in the name of Christ, for our Holy Orthodox faith and Church. Having been accepted and prepared for Ordained Ministry, candidates are recognized and commissioned by the Holy Church to "preach the Gospel to all peoples". Through Holy Orders, an additional measure of grace is granted the ordinand to assist him in preaching and living the Gospel through his words and actions. Through the sacramental life of the Church - as servants and stewards - those who are ordained, themselves are spiritually nurtured, growing continuously in knowledge and faith. This strenthening is accomplished through the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the ordinand at the Bishop(s) laying on of his hands. This imparting of grace is not a static gift and implies a full and active participation in the life of the local Church. The recipient is empowered to preach, teach and evangelize, calling all men and women to salvation in Jesus Christ, who is The Way, The Truth and The Life!
The outward sign of the sacrament of ordination is the laying on of the Bishop's hand with prayers offered to God. The Bishop is the minister of the sacrament because the ministries of Deacon and Priest are extensions of his Office, rather than integral offices in and of themselves. The specific office of Bishop may not be prepared for as it is bestowed upon the person through the power and action of the Holy Spirit working through the Synod of Bishops who elect these shepherds & stewards from their midst.
The sacrament of ordination is the Holy Mystery of the Church that enables all other sacraments and all of the rites and common prayer of the Church. As such, each man who aspires to the priesthood shall examine himself and be approved by others, and shall study to show himself approved prior to his ordination. The Fathers of the Church have observed that the efficacy of the sacrament is not dependent upon the moral character of the Bishop (although the administarion of the office is): that the priesthood imparts divine grace which cannot be purchased; and that the priesthood constitues a worthy office and authority containing gifts of the Holy Spirit, received at the time of ordination.
As a call to service, all qualifications are specific and significant. In other words, the ordinand must be prepared and qualified to serve. He must be Orthodox (Nicaea Cannon 19); irreproachable in faith and conduct (Titus 1:7, 1 Tim 3:2 & 4:14, Laodicaea Cannon 12); knowing Scripture and Tradition and the Canons of the Church and in good health without physical shortcomings which would inhibit him in the fulfillment of his ministry (Cannon 78 of the Holy Apostles). The Minimum age for Ordination to the Deaconate or Presbyterate is 25. Candidates may be married or not, but the decision must be made - and the Holy Sacrament of Crowning/Marriage must occur - prior to ordination to the Deaconate.
"These they set before the Apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them." Acts 6:6.
RECEPTION INTO ORTHODOXY
While it seems to go without stating, a man must be a member of The Orthodox Church of Canada, before being accepted by a Bishop as a candidate for Orders and by the College & Seminary as a student. Reception is at the hands of the Bishop following a short period of study of the basic beliefs of the Church called Catechism. During this period the Candidate is a Catechumen. Because of the numbers of candidates coming from other backgrounds and groups, it is possible to be approved for acceptance into the College & Seminary program following successful completion of the catechesis and before actual, physical reception into the Church.
CANDIDACY
A Candidate must be at least eighteen years of age. Men wishing to become candidates for ordination shall submit an application (along with all, necessary supportive documentation) to their local Bishop or his Director of Vocations. Along with this application, letters of recommendation must be obtained from persons of good repute: (1) who know the applicant personally, (2) who are well acquainted with the applicant's spiritual, mental, psychological and/or phyisical states, and (3) who are willing and competent to comment based upon relevant and actual knowledge. At the same time, educational transcripts as well as certificates of the candidate's prior educational work and documentation of Sacraments already received (Baptism, Chrismation, Marriage, Ordination, etc.) are required. The Orthodox Church of Canada also requires a recent Police Security check, complete medical/physical asessment and a psychological profile. All of these are pre-requisites to acceptance as a candidate and are mandatory! A personal interview with the local Bishop/Hierarch is also required during the preliminary stages of inquiry. If the student and the local Bishop/Hierarch cannot meet in person, other arrangements can be made to complete this requirement.
In applying for candidacy, the applicant promises to place himself under the direction of his local Bishop/Hierarch (and any appointed representatives) in regards to his spiritual life and preparation for ordination. The granting of candidacy is conditional upon the candidate's demonstrated ability to follow the advice and directives of his superiors throughout his course of preparation. If a candidate for Holy Orders fails to meet any educational and preparational requirements, or is found to be lacking in those qualities essential to Ordained ministry, he will be deemed ineligible for ordination and excluded from any future considerations.
As soon as a candidate for the priesthood is deemed knowledgeable and in the possession of a valid Klesis, he shall be ordained first to minor orders and then to the Deaconate. Such bestowal of "minor" orders is consistent with the traditions and practice of the Orthodox Church, allowing the candiate to prove his klesis while continuing his studies and to demonstrate his ability to undertake some duties and responsibilities in the life of the Church. If a candidate fails to embrace those duties associated specifically with those minor orders he has received, he will be asked to leave and will not again considered as a candidate for minor orders nor the Deaconate or Presbyterate.
ORDINATION
Ordination to the sacredotal office of presbyter/priest will not occur before the completion of the required course of studies and adequate preparation. There may be some exceptions at the discretion of the local Bishop/Hierarch who will consider such requests individually and according to their own merit. Every care and consideration will however, be taken in these circumstances, for Deacons and Priests are spiritual extensions of the Bishop and their work must necessarily reflect the faith in its completeness. Nonetheless, it is intended that the Bishop shall act in concert with the College & Seminary and the recommendations provided by the Dean/Rector and Seminary Staff. All costs associated with Ordinations shall be borne by the candidates themselves.
CRITERIA USED FOR EVALUATING CANDIDATES FOR ORDINATION
The following may be seen as ideal criteria for fully mature candidates for ordination, not all of which may be found in the applicants at the commencement of studies and preparation. Periodic evaluations shall be made over the course of the candidate's training.
1. Motivation - The most important factor is motivation. The candidate for ordination should have a well-examined calling (klesis) for his vocation. It should be informed, serious, of substantial duration, and should arise from deep inner and spiritual conviction.
2. Maturity - The candidate should demonstrate well-developed social skills. He should demonstrate responsiblity and good judgement in his conduct of the affairs of life. He should have a well-developed sense of himself as a whole person, of social responsibility, and should be independent and quite able to carry the responsibilities for the welfare of other people easily and effectively.
3. Balance - The candidate should have a balanced life. He should be able to satisfy his own needs from the inner resources, from his own spiritual life, and from his friends and family. He should bring into his vocation a reservoir of strength and support for the needs of others and the demands of his work. The candidate should have a range of interests and activities in his life that are restorative and uplifting.
4. Integrity - The candidate should display a high degree of consonance in his life; consonance between what he says and what he does; what he professes and what he believes; what he does in private and what he does in public; what he experiences inwardly and what he demonstrates outwardly.
5. Competence - The candidate should be intelligent. He should be able to express himself effectively. He should have valuable and demonstrable skills that can augment his pastoral responsiblities.
6. Sense of Humor - The candidate should have a sense of humor. He should be able to laugh at himself. He ought never to laugh at the expense of others. He ought to find humor spontaneously in little things of life that evoke amusement.
7. Humility - The candidate should be free of excessive vanity and self-importance. He should should be industrious rather than ambitious. He should be determined and self-reliant but not insensitive or authoritarian. He should be able to recognize his own weaknesses and strive to correct them.
8. Obedience - The candidate should have a habitual attitude of submission to duly constituted authority, especially to his Bishop, the Canons of the Church and others placed over him.
9. Psychological Impairments - The candidate should be free from psychological impairments of a serious nature. If psychological or emotional problems seem indicated at any time during candidacy, further psychological testing shall be required of the candidate, with the results available to the Seminary and the candidates Bishop. The Dean of the College with the Diocesan Bishop - in consultation with experts - will make the final determination regarding suitability.
10. Moderation - The candidate should be moderate in all his qualities, except in VIRTUE and CHARITY.
11. Spiritual - The candidate must be a man of regular private and public prayer, a follower and exemplar of the traditional precepts of the Church and one who demonstrates in his family, work and ministry a virtuous life and his love for God and for his neighbor. Appropriate attenuation of these facts will be necessary.
12. Doctrinal - The candidate must be a man of sound Orthodox Christian faith, holding the tenets of the faith of the Church within those boundaries deemed permissible in traditional Orthodox thought. He shall certify his faith to his Bishop.
13. Academic - Academic degrees are not necessarily a requirement, yet competence is required in the following areas:
a: Holy Scripture: the English Bible with its full content, plus an understanding of the importance of the original languages of the canon of scripture;
b: Church History: From beginnings of the Church to the present times with a special emphasis on the Sacred Traditions of the Church and Patrisitcs.
c: Doctrine: The teaching of the Holy Orthodox Church as set out in Holy Scripture and the Holy Tradition including the 7 Ecumenical Councils.
d: Liturgics: The principles of Orthodox worship with an especial understanding of the rites, practices, Sacraments and governance of The Orthodox Church of Canada for North America. Practical competence is required in dealing with all of the regular services of the Church.
e: Homiletics: The preparation and delivery of sermons. The capacity to study scriptures in the light of Tradition and to teach others the content of the Gospel contained therein are an important aspect of priestly service. All candidates - without exception - must at least have a basic public speaking course supplemented by a supervised & directed program (during the Deaconate) in Homiletics.
f: Pastoral Arts: Counselling the faithful, administering the Sacraments, and parish management. The use of the voice in reading, speaking and singing/chanting.
Application for Candidacy
The Applicant seeking admission to candidacy for Holy Orders in The Orthodox Church of Canada - through Saint Alexis Toth Theological College & Seminary - must submit to his Bishop all of the following items:
1. A completed St. Alexis Toth Theological College & Seminary application form.
2. Supporting documentation and testimonials as required and outlined in the College & Seminary application or as are mentioned herein.
3. A letter from the applicant detailing:
a. His spiritual autobiography from the earliest recollection to the present.
b. A statement of his conception of the Church and her ministry.
c. Why he believes that God is calling him to be a part of that ministry.
d. What talents or gifts he possesses that he believes can be offered to the Church in the exercise of that ministry.
e. What form he believes that his ministry should take (e.g. parish, mission, chaplaincy, charity, religious order or society, etc.).
f. By what financial means he proposes to support himself during his studies.
4. Each candidate is required to be in monthly contact with his Bishop, giving an account of his manner of life and progress, spiritually and academically. He shall enclose adequate contributions to the Bishop's parish, or receipt of contributions to his local parish. Failure to submit such reports in a timely manner shall result in the candiate being removed from active candidacy and his studies terminated.
Clergy Applications from other jurisdictions or Christian Churches
The preceding section relates primarily to those laymen who are in pursuit of ordination. In the case of men who wish to join the OCC and who are already ordained, all requirements will be presented to the applicant by the Diocesan Bishop as outlined in the Adminstrative Canons of the OCC particular to these situations. Some General Guidelines however, follow below:
1. Applicants from other Orthodox jurisdictions: Clergy from other Orthodox jurisdictions, and those with Orthodox training, who apply for reception into The Orthodox Church of Canada, will be required to submit details of their clerical training, details of Holy Orders received and their involvements in ministry to the present time. Areas of deficiency must be rectified before their reception as determined by the Dean of the College in consultation with the Diocesan Bishop.
2. From non-Orthodox Christian Churches: Ministers of the Gospel from other Christian Churches who seek reception into The Orthodox Church of Canada shall fulfill the above requirements with special attention to remedial work in the area of Church history, doctrine and rites. First, however, they must complete all requirements as outlined in the Administrative Canons of the OCC pertaining to these particular cases.
Preparation
1. Sources of training. While always open to the requirements of the individual situation, it is expected that candidates for the Orders of the Church will pursue their theological training through Saint Alexis Toth Theological Collge & Seminary. Exceptions to this may only be granted by the candidates Bishop. The College/Seminary provides an excellent and comprehensive curriculum. The College/Seminary charges candidates for Holy Orders some fees based on the actual costs involved in the operation of the program. Persons outside of the Church are welcomed into the study program on a space available basis. Fees for these students will be higher. Our College/Seminary exists primarily for THE TRAINING OF OUR CLERGY but we are open to accepting students interested in studies for other purposes!
2. Supervision. The authority over all preparations for ordination rests with the local Bishop/Hierach. However, in many cases, the day to day supervision shall be delegated by the Bishop to others, including the staff of the College & Seminary. All these persons shall work with the student, carefully advising them of the all requirements that must be met. To whatever extent possible, a spiritual Director, mutually acceptable and locally accessible, shall be assigned to supervise the candidate's spritual growth.
All staff of the College & Seminary shall endeavor to make clear to the candidate the reciprocal and mutual responsibilities invoved. An atmosphere of candor, honesty and openness is expected to prevail in all such relationships.
3. Finances: St. Alexis Toth Theological College & Seminary and the Orthodox Church of Canada are not presently in a position to give financial aid to students. Students are responsible for all costs associated with the course work including books, study materials and the fees associated with weekend and summer seminars. Adjustments in the training schedule shall be made to accommodate the student's work schedule, whenever possible.
Persons not able to meet these financial requirements should openly discuss their needs with their Bishop, as finances must never be an impediment to the fulfillment of a valid klesis.
Fees:
Saint Alexis Toth Theological College and Seminary charges some basic and minimal fees for the College & Seminary study program, including a non-refundable applicatin Fee of $50.00. It should be noted that (as previously indicated), financial support and donations to the Seminary program are requested. Students themselves will be responsible for the total cost of books, travel, postage, supplies, etc., needed to complete courses and course requirments. All books & study materials required for the course diploma program will enable each student to have an excellent and useful library for future use in their ministries, upon graduation.
Programs of Study
St. Alexis Toth Theological College and Seminary is not presently an accredited academic institution, rather, it exists as a canonical entity of the OCC, providing a framework for the education and formation of both clergy and lay leadership in the Church. No course-by-course tuition is charged for our overall program, although service fees will apply for specified courses or seminars to recoup actual expenses and to provide some support for the operation of our College & Seminary. We are also prepared to recognize courses taken at other theological institutions; advanced credits will be granted on a case-by-case basis. Any certificates, diplomas, or degrees issued by St. Alexis Toth Theological College & Seminary (for completed studies) are purely ECCLESIASTICAL awards, and are not meant to imply civil or governmental recognition. These programs are authorized by the Orthodox Church of Canada. As a federally incorporated not-for-profit Church Corporation, we have the authority to establish seminaries and houses of theological study by virtue of our articles of incorporation as granted by the Crown through the Office of the Minister of Industry Canada.
Course Description & Content
The courses required for our Diploma Program and for candidates for Holy Orders are presently being revised according to a decision reached at our Church Sobor in 2003. Please contact the Dean & Rector of St. Alexis Toth Theological College & Seminary for information.
Applicants who feel they have other relevant qualifications which should be considered, including prior employment, church and/or ministry expereince and independent study should detail this in their application as part of the admission process to the College & Seminary.
ORDINATION:
Ordination always lies at the discretion of the Bishop, of whom all Deacons and Priests are spiritual extensions. All ordinations must occur in person. All costs of education shall be borne by the candidate and a donation made for that purpose. All vestments and altar-ware are the responsibility of the candidate, as are all associated travel costs. All ordinations are to take place in the local Parish/Mission to which the candidate has adhered himself to and has been active in, unless circumstances warrant otherwise.
Each student-candidate must also pass the final examination upon completion of the diploma program. Details will be provided to all student-candidates. All students are expected to complete specific and pre-determined courses according to the schedule submitted to the College & Seminary.
Questions pertaining to the overall program, course of studies or specific course requirements are to be directed through the local Bishop/Hierarch and/or the Seminary staff.
MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY
At the present time - according to the recommendations and decision made at the 2003 Sobor of the Orthodox Church of Canada - our Theological College & Seminary Program (including additions to our Staff/Faculty) is currently being revised. All programs however are ongoing and admissions are currently being accepted. Please watch for our new Theological College & Seminary program in December of 2004!
CONCLUSION
Completion of the Study Program will require that students/candidates apply themselves regularly over a period of time. Many students who are engaged in studies and read the required course materials find themselves overwhelmed by the quantity of information and our course requirements. However, the Orthodox Church of Canada necessarily maintains that those involved in Ordained ministries in the Church MUST be adequately prepared. We firmly believe that - by setting a very high standard - our candidates will be well versed and most competent in all areas of Orthodox Church faith, practice, life and knowledge.
Program of Study For Deaconess
St. Alexis Theoloigcal College & Seminary staff are presently working to develop a study program for women who may desire to serve in the church as DEACONESS.
This role and function within the Church was given to women in the first centuries, who were appointed to assist the minister and perform other worthy duties, including caring for the sick, catechetical instruction, etc. They never served at the altar. In the Western church they were discontinued following the the Council of Nicea. In the Eastern Church women deaconesses flourished until the Middle Ages. Recently, attention has been given to its restoration which truly was not abolished.
ALL CORRESPONDENCE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO:
The Orthodox Church of Canada
Saint Alexis Toth Theological College and Seminary
5824-118 Avenue,
Edmonton, Alberta - Canada
T5W 1E4
E-mail: seminary@allsaintsorthodox.net or
occ1@telus.net
Tel: 780-471-2781
There is an answering device at the telephone number indicated above to enable you to leave a message. Your call will then be promptly returned by the Deann & Rector of St. Alexis Toth Theological College & Seminary.
An application package and further information is available from Saint Alexis Toth Theological College and Seminary, via the methods indicated above. We thank you for your interest and hold you in our prayers!
