Anyone up for a chat thread?

[Arcangl86]

Oh okay.

I think we manage that by basically saying "Here is a list of things you must have covered in your studies." Mostly we do go through Anglican seminaries, but if we haven't, we still need to show that we've covered all the things the diocese considers necessary. Quite a few people who come from other traditions end up going back to college to do Anglican studies and one or two other units to tick everything off the list.

Then the interviews get to be about fun things like your personal prayer life, your family life, and whatever else the examining chaplains feel like grilling you on!

The Episcopal Church actually has a similar process to Shane in that postulants need to pass the General Ordination Exams.

 

[Paidiske]

Maybe I should be grateful I ended up in Australia!

 

[Arcangl86]

The Episcopal Church actually has a similar process to Shane in that postulants need to pass the General Ordination Exams.

Ok so I think I should explain a little bit more about the exams. They are required for everybody entering ordained ministry. They are open resource exams administered over the course of I think 3 days, each day being 7 hours of testing. Here is an example of what they can look like. http://www.episcopalgbec.org/previous-exams/questions/2017.pdf

 

[Paidiske]

That covers a lot of good ground, and all of those things are beneficial to have thought about.

I'm glad I didn't have to do it that way, though!

 

[Arcangl86]

That covers a lot of good ground, and all of those things are beneficial to have thought about.

I'm glad I didn't have to do it that way, though!

They are supposedly pretty brutal because while you know the 6 areas of ministry, the actual content of the questions is kept secret until you sit down and take them. And the test is only given once a year.

 

[Paidiske]

Do they make people coming in from other parts of the world take it before being given a licence?

I'm thinking not so much of people like me (not likely to go to America) but - for example - we had a bit of difficulty during the war in Sudan when we had a number of Sudanese refugee clergy arrive here. We recognised their orders, but... their education level was about equivalent to our fourth year of high school. In no way would we consider them qualified for actual ministry work.

So that was really awkward, and I think all of them ended up having to do a diploma, which wasn't easy because they didn't really have the English etc etc.

 

[Arcangl86]

My read of the canons is no, but they would have to convince the local Ecclesiastical Authority they have the proper theological training.

 

[Deegie]

Ok so I think I should explain a little bit more about the exams. They are required for everybody entering ordained ministry. They are open resource exams administered over the course of I think 3 days, each day being 7 hours of testing. Here is an example of what they can look like. http://www.episcopalgbec.org/previous-exams/questions/2017.pdf

Hey, that's actually the year I took the GOE! I still shudder thinking back on that week. LOL. They aren't quite required for everyone entering ordained ministry. Just for priests, although there are always a few deacons who take it each year. And a few dioceses don't use the exam at all -- not sure why.

Yes, the exam is now 6 questions over 3 days, with a day off (so typically Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday). Until recently it was 7 questions over 3 1/2 days because there are 7 canonical areas in which one must show proficiency. But the board combined Contemporary Society and Theory & Practice of Ministry into one question. It was also not open book until a few years ago. When they made the change to open book, they also eliminated the requirement to have a proctor watch you take the whole thing. So I was able to sit it online from my house, surrounded by my books and with my wife making pots of coffee and bringing me snacks. I cannot imagine how much scarier the exam would have been if I had to take it under the old rules.

They are supposedly pretty brutal because while you know the 6 areas of ministry, the actual content of the questions is kept secret until you sit down and take them. And the test is only given once a year.

Correct. The GOE provokes much anxiety in seminarians. It's always the first week of January, so at least you have Christmas to freak out? LOL.

Do they make people coming in from other parts of the world take it before being given a licence?

No. It's only used in the ordination process.

 

[Deegie]

I was down at the chancery for the last four days doing liturgical training. There were three of us in this class and we were informed on Saturday that the Bishop's intention is to make all of us priests at the fall clericus on the morning of 6 October: the commemoration of Blessed William Tyndale. We were instructed to acquire a red chasuble and priest's stole and a chalice and paten in the intermediate period.

Shane, a hearty congratulations to you! I will hold you in my prayers that day. And I do hope you'll share some pictures with us!

 

[Arcangl86]

Hey, that's actually the year I took the GOE! I still shudder thinking back on that week. LOL. They aren't quite required for everyone entering ordained ministry. Just for priests, although there are always a few deacons who take it each year. And a few dioceses don't use the exam at all -- not sure why.

Yes, the exam is now 6 questions over 3 days, with a day off (so typically Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday). Until recently it was 7 questions over 3 1/2 days because there are 7 canonical areas in which one must show proficiency. But the board combined Contemporary Society and Theory & Practice of Ministry into one question. It was also not open book until a few years ago. When they made the change to open book, they also eliminated the requirement to have a proctor watch you take the whole thing. So I was able to sit it online from my house, surrounded by my books and with my wife making pots of coffee and bringing me snacks. I cannot imagine how much scarier the exam would have been if I had to take it under the old rules.



Correct. The GOE provokes much anxiety in seminarians. It's always the first week of January, so at least you have Christmas to freak out? LOL.



No. It's only used in the ordination process.

Thank you for the clarification. It's nice to have a priest come in when I speaking out of my you know what.

 

[Shane R]

My younger daughter has reached the stage where she feels at liberty to remove her diaper herself. That is not a positive development. Her sister also had that compulsion at one point. I found that making the older one wear pants all the time foiled her efforts to take off the diaper. The little one will not be pleased with this course of action.

 

[Paidiske]

It's our job as parents to displease our children. My current battle is about getting ready for school every morning; we do actually need to eat breakfast/brush teeth/get dressed/do hair before being allowed to play, if we have time!

Breathe; this too shall pass!

 

[gordonhooker]

Yikes!

Ladies and Gents are there anywhere other than here that has not been infiltrated with fruit-cakes and fruit-loops even the Traditional Theology area has a few finding their way in?

This place seems to be the only place left, how can we breathe life back into it?

cheers....

 

[Paidiske]

I'm retreating here from another forum where the moderators decided to allow jokes about physically bashing clergy to stand.

I know we've all been traumatised by the sexual abuse crisis, but surely there should be a line, no?

 

[gordonhooker]

I'm retreating here from another forum where the moderators decided to allow jokes about physically bashing clergy to stand.

I know we've all been traumatised by the sexual abuse crisis, but surely there should be a line, no?

The is no need for that I had a person last year that heard me talking to a friend about studying theology. He said to me ‘do they teach you how to abuse kids?’ You can imagine what our reaction was.

 

[Paidiske]

Had a very tricky conversation today trying to navigate the reality that my daughter is a child of two churches, and right now, a communicant in one, but not the other. My husband's minister is willing to admit her but we think there will be opposition in the congregation. Sigh.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

we think there will be opposition in the congregation.

Tail wagging dog?

 

[Paidiske]

My husband's church has a congregational polity, so... maybe not?

 

[Naomi4Christ]

My husband's church has a congregational polity, so... maybe not?

What does that mean?

 

[Paidiske]

It means that the local congregation is self-governing, and not answerable to any hierarchy or denominational body in how it governs its affairs.