Today’s Epistle reading from the First letter to Timothy focuses on Church leadership.
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; for the scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain’, and, ‘The laborer deserves to be paid.’ Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
The sins of some people are conspicuous and precede them to judgment, while the sins of others follow them there. So also good works are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden. (1 Tim. 5: 17-25).
“Do not ordain anyone hastily.” The Episcopal Church takes this seriously. During this process, people who may believe they are called to ordained ministry discover, sometimes to their surprise, that they are not.
Today the ordination process starts at the local parish level with a Discernment Committee, under the leadership of the rector with at least three other persons, which meets with the person who believes he or she is called and with their spouse.
If the Discernment Committee believes that the person is truly called, they send their recommendation to the Diocesan Commission on Ministry. Many do not make it past the Discernment Committee.
At that juncture, the person completes an entire life history, a spiritual autobiography, financial disclosures with financial history as well as all assets and liabilities, agrees to a background check, produces all academic transcripts, and undergoes a series of psychological examinations and testing (this is done at the start of the process and prior to ordination). If this is accomplished, then the person has a series of meetings with the Commission on Ministry, and if approved, then meets with the Bishop.
Only then does the person start seminary, and that only begins three more years of evaluation, review and periodic meetings with the Commission and Ministry. During that time, in accordance with the Canons of the Church (Title III, Canon 7, Section 5a), a candidate must be examined and show proficiency in: (1) the Holy Scriptures, (2) Church History, including the Ecumenical Movement, (3) Theology, (4) Ethics and Moral Theology, (5) Studies in Contemporary Society, including Racial and Minority Groups, (6) Liturgics and Church Music, and (7) Theory and Practice of Ministry.
At the end of the three years, the person becomes a candidate for Holy Orders and goes through the psychological battery of examinations again and presents an updated spiritual autobiography. If that is successfully accomplished, then the person meets with the Commission on Ministry and the Standing Committee of the Diocese. If the candidate is approved, the Examining Chaplains meet with and examine the candidate to determine whether the candidate is proficient in the seven areas outlined above. If the candidate passes the examination, then the Bishop will "take order" for the ordination.
During the summer, candidates from Episcopal seminaries will be ordained to the diaconate, and six months later to the priesthood. Please remember to pray for them as they begin their lives of service to faith communities everywhere.
Collect for Ordinations to the Diaconate:
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were being cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and this week especially for those who were baptized, for Betty Head and her family, Cotele Singleton who is in the hospital, for Tammie Taylor, and for all of those who are travelling, especially Bill Taylor.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
12 June: Gospel by the Sea.
11:00 a.m. every Sunday in the nave, Adult Christian Formation: Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks? Or Maybe Something Else?
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; for the scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain’, and, ‘The laborer deserves to be paid.’ Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
The sins of some people are conspicuous and precede them to judgment, while the sins of others follow them there. So also good works are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden. (1 Tim. 5: 17-25).
“Do not ordain anyone hastily.” The Episcopal Church takes this seriously. During this process, people who may believe they are called to ordained ministry discover, sometimes to their surprise, that they are not.
Today the ordination process starts at the local parish level with a Discernment Committee, under the leadership of the rector with at least three other persons, which meets with the person who believes he or she is called and with their spouse.
If the Discernment Committee believes that the person is truly called, they send their recommendation to the Diocesan Commission on Ministry. Many do not make it past the Discernment Committee.
At that juncture, the person completes an entire life history, a spiritual autobiography, financial disclosures with financial history as well as all assets and liabilities, agrees to a background check, produces all academic transcripts, and undergoes a series of psychological examinations and testing (this is done at the start of the process and prior to ordination). If this is accomplished, then the person has a series of meetings with the Commission on Ministry, and if approved, then meets with the Bishop.
Only then does the person start seminary, and that only begins three more years of evaluation, review and periodic meetings with the Commission and Ministry. During that time, in accordance with the Canons of the Church (Title III, Canon 7, Section 5a), a candidate must be examined and show proficiency in: (1) the Holy Scriptures, (2) Church History, including the Ecumenical Movement, (3) Theology, (4) Ethics and Moral Theology, (5) Studies in Contemporary Society, including Racial and Minority Groups, (6) Liturgics and Church Music, and (7) Theory and Practice of Ministry.
At the end of the three years, the person becomes a candidate for Holy Orders and goes through the psychological battery of examinations again and presents an updated spiritual autobiography. If that is successfully accomplished, then the person meets with the Commission on Ministry and the Standing Committee of the Diocese. If the candidate is approved, the Examining Chaplains meet with and examine the candidate to determine whether the candidate is proficient in the seven areas outlined above. If the candidate passes the examination, then the Bishop will "take order" for the ordination.
During the summer, candidates from Episcopal seminaries will be ordained to the diaconate, and six months later to the priesthood. Please remember to pray for them as they begin their lives of service to faith communities everywhere.
Collect for Ordinations to the Diaconate:
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were being cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and this week especially for those who were baptized, for Betty Head and her family, Cotele Singleton who is in the hospital, for Tammie Taylor, and for all of those who are travelling, especially Bill Taylor.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
12 June: Gospel by the Sea.
11:00 a.m. every Sunday in the nave, Adult Christian Formation: Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks? Or Maybe Something Else?
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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