a.
Priest and vestry endorsement. The vestry at a meeting introduces and passes a resolution endorsing your application for Postulancy by a two-thirds majority of the entire vestry (excluding the priest). The rector or priest-in-charge also signs the certificate indicating his or her endorsement. The vestry agrees to be involved in your preparation and pledges to aid you financially. If you are a member of the vestry or a warden, you cannot vote on or sign your own certificate. You are, however, included in the total count of the vestry in determining a majority.
b. You accept the nomination by signing and dating the
form.
c.
Social History. This document includes such things as your name, address, phone number, date of birth, spouse, children, education and church participation. It also asks about your
Rule of Life. Be sure it is signed and dated when you finish. Download the
Instructions for Word forms to help you complete the form.
d. Spiritual Autobiography. This reflects your spiritual journey to this day. You can address such issues as when you first became aware of spirituality in your life; who were your spiritual guides and heroes, what were the significant events in your journey, both negative and positive, that affected your spirituality; how you experienced God’s call to you for this ministry and what your spiritual practices are currently. The Spiritual Autobiography section is part of the Social History form above.
e. Your priest will write a
confidential evaluation based on his or her knowledge of you and submit that to the bishop and Commission on Ministry.
f. Evidence of baptism. This can include a baptismal certificate, a copy of the entry in the church records or if those are not available, a letter from a participant at your baptism indicating the date and place.
g. Evidence of confirmation. Same as above.
h. A description of the process of discernment. There is a box on the
nomination form to describe that process in your parish.
i. Academic transcripts. Please send official copies of your undergraduate and graduate education to the Rev. Dr. John Schaefer, Diocese of Nebraska, 109 N. 18th St., Omaha, NE 68102
j. Submit a picture with your application. Snap shots are welcome. Portrait (close-up head shots) pictures are preferred. If you have a digital picture, please e-mail that to the
Rev. Dr. John Schaefer .Your rector or priest-in-charge will then sign the
Nomination form that has all of the above elements checked and you can submit your application to the Rev. Dr. John Schaefer. He will make copies for the bishop and the chair of the Commission on Ministry. The bishop will read the material and then give the indication to proceed.
2. Background check. There will be two background checks. A
simpler one initially that checks databases for any criminal records, sexual offenders registry, a credit report and a motor vehicle record. A more extensive one will be done just before Candidacy. We use Oxford Document Management Co., Inc. out of Anoka, Minnesota. They will check for any criminal offenses, will do a credit check and also check your driving record. In addition they will contact previous and current employers for any indication of sexual misconduct. The diocese pays for this check. Oxford begins the background check when it receives your written permission and the completed forms that they will send you. If you lose the forms and need replacements, you will be assessed the cost ($10).
3. Psychological assessment by a licensed psychologist. The bishop will make a referral to a psychologist in either
Omaha or
Scottsbluff. You will be notified when that has been done and then you can schedule an appointment with the psychologist. This assessment involves a battery of tests and an interview. You will have an opportunity to review the assessment with the psychologist before it is sent to the bishop. If you decide at that point that you do not wish it to be sent, that action will suspend the ordination process for you until you are comfortable in having the assessment sent or withdraw from the process. The assessment is sent only to the bishop. The diocese pays for the assessment.
4. Release of information. In the psychologist’s office you will sign a release giving the psychologist permission to send the report to the bishop. We ask you to sign a
release that states that the bishop may share portions of the information with the Commission on Ministry and Standing Committee as he sees fit. Sign the document in the presence of your witness. The witness can be anyone 19 or older.
5.
Behavioral Screening Questionnaire. This is a self-reporting questionnaire that asks for a “yes/no” answer to such questions as arrests, criminal behavior, etc. The “yes” answers require elaboration. Sign the document in the presence of your witness. The witness can be anyone 19 or older.
6.
Medical Exam. These forms are used to report the results of your medical exam. You will bear the cost of the exam and you may choose your physician.
7. Drug Screen. This is a random pre-employment drug screen. There will be two. This one and one just before ordination. You bear the cost of this one and the diocese picks up the cost of the last one. We have accounts set up in
Omaha, Lincoln,
Kearney and Scottsbluff. You will be notified via e-mail or phone and asked to complete the test within the next three days.
Note: The psychological assessment, medical exam and background check have a three-year limit. If you are not ordained before the expiration date, you will need to repeat the exams in order to be ordained. The vast majority of individuals need to repeat them.
8. Meet with the bishop. You will need to schedule this appointment through
Diocesan Administrator at the Diocesan Office (402-341-5373 in the Omaha area or 1-866-341-5373, toll free, in the rest of Nebraska. It is best to begin the scheduling process at least a month before you want to meet with him because of his busy schedule. In addition to becoming acquainted with you and you with him and his expectations, he will be discussing the costs involved and how you are prepared to meet them. In preparation for the meeting, you need to complete the
financial form. Please send a copy to the Rev. Dr. John Schaefer for your file.
9.
The Commission on Ministry--Total Ministry (COM-TM) interviews the ministry team and the Nominee. Once the bishop is satisfied with the information he has received from you, and the various testing agencies, he will refer your name to the COM for a formal interview. The chair of the COM will indicate when a subcommittee of the COM and perhaps a member of the Standing Committee will meet with you and the team.
10. Recommendation from the COM. Once you have completed the interview, the COM will submit a recommendation to the bishop and also send you a copy.
11. Made a Postulant. Once you have received a positive recommendation from the COM and the bishop is comfortable with that recommendation, he will make you a Postulant for ordination to the priesthood.
Note on privacy: Your Social Security number will never be given out by the diocesan office without your written consent. It will be required for your psychological assessment, background check, release of information and, after ordination, for the recorder of ordinations at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City. Your file is maintained at the diocesan office in a locked file cabinet.
For the requirements for Candidacy, please see the document titled “
Postulancy to Candidacy”. For the requirements for ordination to the (transitional) diaconate, please see the document titled “
Candidacy to the Diaconate”.
For the requirements for ordination to the priesthood, please see the document titled “
Diaconate to Priesthood.”