Hi lionnyc,
1) What are the requirements to become an Episcopal priest?
Here are a few links which list the various steps to priesthood but it
would be best to contact your local Diocese for their specific
requirements.
Episcopal Diocese of Maine
Handbook for the Ordination Process Priesthood
THE PRIESTHOOD
I. PREPARATION BEFORE APPLICATION
A. Before applying for consideration as a Postulant for Holy Orders,
the following requirements must be met:
1. For no less than one year the person must have been a confirmed
adult communicant in good standing of a Congregation within the
Diocese of Maine. That Congregation must be willing to involve itself
actively in the person's preparation for Holy Orders.
2. The person must have completed either the two-part discernment
process sponsored by the Commission on Ministry or an equivalent
approved by The Bishop and the Commission on Ministry. The person must
provide COHO such information as it may request concerning his or her
participation in the discernment processes. For further information on
discernment contact the Commission on Ministry. See also Appendix N.
3. The person has been, and continues to be, engaged in spiritual
formation, usually with assistance from a spiritual director, pursuing
a study of scripture and theology, continuing in prayer and liturgy,
and demonstrating an active ministry in the Church.
4. The person has consulted with the member of the Clergy in charge
of the Congregation ("the Priest in Charge"). The Priest in Charge has
made a careful inquiry, in consultation with other leaders of the
Congregation, into the physical, intellectual, moral, emotional, and
spiritual qualifications of the person. In the course of such inquiry
the Priest in Charge shall assist the person in determining to which
order the person feels called, the grounds of the desire for admission
to Holy Orders, and such personal circumstances as may bear on the
person's qualifications or course of preparation.
5. The Priest in Charge has made a written report of his or her
findings to the Bishop. If the Priest in Charge is unable to support
the person for Postulancy, he/she will assure that the person receives
pastoral care.
II. APPLICATION FOR POSTULANCY
III. FROM APPLICATION TO POSTULANCY
IV. FROM POSTULANCY TO CANDIDACY
V. FROM CANDIDACY to TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE
VI. FROM TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE TO PRIESTHOOD
http://www.diomaine.org/priesthandbook.htm
Flow Chart
A GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE FORMATION PROCESS FOR DEACONS
http://www.diomaine.org/flowdiaconate.htm
The Priest?s Handbook for Discernment and Formation in The Episcopal
Diocese of Eastern Michigan
OVERVIEW OF PROCESS
"The process towards ordination to the Priesthood will involve
discernment, formation/ education, and practical experience.
Discernment will primarily take place during the period before
postulancy; formation/education will primarily take place in seminary,
between postulancy and ordination as a transitional deacon; and
practical experience will come primarily during the later period in
seminary and as a transitional deacon. However, all three
aspects-discernment, formation, and experience-will occur throughout
the entire process. Below is a brief overview of the process; for
details see the checklist, pp 10-14.
ASPIRANT TO POSTULANT [1.5 to 3 years]
Period of discernment with clergy
Parish discernment process
With Supervised Ministry Project
Medical, psychological psychiatric exams
BACOM (see p 4)
Background check initiated (see p 4)
POSTULANT TO CANDIDATE TO TRANSITIONAL DEACON [6 to 12+ months]
Seminary, including:
Clinical Pastoral Education [CPE] (see p 5)
Field Experience in a parish
Interview with Standing Committee prior to Candidacy
General Ordination Exams
DEACON TO PRIEST [6 to 12+ months
Work in a parish in the Diocese of Eastern Michigan for at least 6 months
[see] Seminaries of the Episcopal/Anglican Church
[see] PRIESTHOOD CHECK LIST
http://www.eastmich.org/ToolKits/PriestsManual.pdf
Outline of the Ordination Process for the Diocese of West Virginia
http://www.wvdiocese.org/about/discernment.asp
A Guide to the Ordination Process and its Requirements In the Diocese of Newark
http://www.dioceseofnewark.org/comhome/comguidelines.html
Guidelines for the Discernment Process The Episcopal Diocese of Alaska
http://home.gci.net/~episcopalak/commission%20on%20ministry.htm
Ordination in the Episcopal Church
http://www.iliff.edu/catalog/Ordination.pdf
2) Are women eligible to become Episcopal priests?
The gradual acceptance of female ordination within the Anglican Communion :
"There has historically been a threefold ministry in the church,
consisting of deacons, priests and bishops. Prior to the mid-20th
century, all provinces in the Anglican Communion had refused to
consider female candidates as eligible for ordination to the
priesthood, no matter what their qualifications. There was little
discussion on the matter. However, in the 1960s, the evolving feminist
movement began to have an impact on the Anglican Communion,
particularly in the west. Discussions of the unthinkable began. By
1974, the first female priests were ordained in the U.S. By 1998,
debate had been confined to the sizeable minority of provinces which
still banned the ordination of women."
http://www.religioustolerance.org/femclrg3.htm
Female Priests in the Episcopal Church
24 Years of Women's Ordination
http://newark.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/womenpr.html
I hope this helps to give you a good idea of the process. If you have
any questions, please post a clarification request and wait for me to
respond before closing/rating my answer.
Thank you,
hummer
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