The Old
Catholic Church of America
Application for Candidacy for Holy Orders as a Seminarian
General Instructions
This application is for
individuals who wish to be accepted as candidates for Holy Orders in the Old
Catholic Church of America. Individuals who are accepted into this program must
submit to formal instruction and practical training as part of the process leading to ordination.
Information requested
in this application will be kept confidential. All information submitted with this
application will be verified independently, so please be detailed in providing
dates and locations and all other relevant information. Any material
misstatement of fact shall be considered deliberate, and shall be grounds for
rejection of this application. This application in no way guarantees or
provides any promise to the recipient of being ordained. Candidates and
Seminarians may be separated from the program at any time, up to the day of
diaconate or priestly ordination.
Basic Information
Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Address:
_________________________________________________________________________________
City:
____________________________________ State: _____________________ Zip: _________________
Home Phone:
___________________________________ Work: ____________________________________
E-Mail
Address____________________________________________________________________________
Secular Employer:
_________________________________________________________________________
Address:
_________________________________________________________________________________
City: __________________________________ State: _____________________ Zip: _________________
Position: ____________________________________________ Years Employed There: _______________
Do You Make Enough Money to Support Yourself and Family? ___________________________________
Have You Ever Been Convicted of a Felony Offense? ___________ (If so, describe on a separate sheet of paper.)
Have You Ever Been Adjudicated Mentally Incompetent by any Court, or institutionalized for any mental illness? _____________ If so, describe in detail on a separate sheet of paper.
Have you ever been convicted of any Misdemeanor Offense? ________ ( If so, describe in detail on a separate sheet of paper.)
Do you have any kind of an illness that would interfere with your ability to pastor a parish? _______________
(If so, describe in detail on a separate
sheet of paper.)
Pastoral Information
What denomination are your currently? _____________________________________________________
How long have you been this denomination? ___________________
What other churches/denominations have you belonged to in the past? ______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
How long have you been actively ministering? _________________________________________________
Where did you receive your formal training and instruction in theology? _____________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
List any College Degrees that you currently hold: ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
[NOTE: Enclose all copies of any and all college degrees, and certified transcripts along with this application]
Please
describe, on separate sheets of paper, your reasons for wanting to be a
Seminarian, where you are theologically and how you came to be where you are
theologically. Include also your
understanding on the following theological points: The Sacraments, The Real
Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Catholicism and why you feel you are drawn
to it, and any discussions that you have had with your congregation (if any)
regarding becoming catholic or studying as a Seminarian into the OCCA. Please
take your time and be as detailed as possible. Touch upon each point
completely.
Are you married? ________________ If so, how long have you been married? _______________________
If so, will your wife approve of your ministry in the Old Catholic Church? ___________________________
Enclosed
is a “Statement of Faith” for our church. After reading it, do you feel that it
represents your devout and unchanging faith and belief? (If so, sign the Statement of Belief and return with this
Application.)
Do you have any theological problems
with Catholicism or personal obstructions? ____________________________ (If so, please state in detail on a separate
sheet.)
Do
you understand, that as a Catholic Church, the OCCA does not ordain
women to the Holy Priesthood, does not subscribe to gender-neutral
language (inclusive language) Bibles, nor any such other innovations and
heretical acts? _______________________
Do you understand, that as a Seminrian, you will be required to take an Oath of Obedience to your diocesan ordinary (Bishop) as his pastoral assistant in ministering to the faithful of the church, and that you must agree to the Code of Canon Law of the OCCA, in its entirety, and fully support it? ______________
Financial History
Have you ever files for
bankruptcy?____________ If so, when? _______________________________________
Have you ever been the subject of any
civil or criminal action regarding any outstanding debts? _______________
If so, please state in detail and the
outcome on a separate sheet of paper.
Has any church that you personally
have belonged to been the subject of any civil or criminal investigation into
any kind of financial wrongdoing, or misappropriation of funds?
___________________________________
(If so, please indicate, in detail, the problems encountered which initiated the investigation, as well as the result of the investigation, on a separate sheet of paper.)
Have you ever been a member who had to close any church
bank account due to problems with funding or use of existing funds? _______
(If so, please indicate, in detail, the problems encountered which initiated the investigation, as well as the result of the investigation, on a separate sheet of paper.)
How many years if any, have you had
being in a position of oversight or responsible charge regarding church
finances? ____________
Background Information
Current Address: ______________________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Documentation Checklist
The following documents must accompany this Application:
- Any & All Theological Studies Certificates and/or Degrees
- Any & All Academic Certificates and/or Degrees
- Certificate of Ordination (if any)
- Copy of Driver’s License or State I.D.
- Copy of Social Security Card
- One (1) Head & Shoulders Color Photograph
- Pastoral Notes from Preaching/Homilies Given (If any)
- Statement of Faith of current Church you are affiliated with
- Signed Statement of Faith of the OCCA (Must be notarized)
- All additional sheets as requested within this Application, including the $ 150.00 fee for the reference and background check expense, as indicated in the cover letter, made out to the “the Old Catholic Church of the America”.
Acknowledgment
I
understand that by submitting this Application for Candidacy for Holy Orders,
that I am not guaranteed acceptance.
Further, I understand that acceptance shall be based, in part, upon the
information and documents that I have submitted (and failed to submit), the
investigation of the veracity of any document submitted along with additional
formative programs of the OCCCA.
I do hereby give my permission to The Old Catholic Church of America to conduct a reasonable and diligent inquiry and investigation into my background, for the purpose of determining the truth and veracity of any and all information submitted herein. In addition, I understand that The Old Catholic Church of America may use outside agencies to conduct said investigation, may obtain credit reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, may obtain police reports and any and all other public records and reports directly or from outside agencies, in order to reasonably determine the truthfulness of the information submitted herein, and my suitability for acceptance. I authorize and give permission to The Old Catholic Church of America to conduct all specified investigations and inquiries described herein, without reservation. I further understand that any material misstatement of fact within this Application may be ground for rejection of this application by The Old Catholic Church of America. I completely and irrevocably (my heirs, executors and administrators) indemnify, waive, release and hold harmless, The Old Catholic Church of America, its directors, executives, employees, agents and subcontracted agents from any and all liability, including (but not limited to) third party causes of action, arising in any way, directly or indirectly, out of this Application for Candidacy for Holy Orders, theological instruction, training (mine or others), any church activities or any pastoral activities whatsoever. In consent and full agreement to these terms and provisions, I set my signature below:
Signature: ______________________________________________________
Date: ________________________
This
_________ day of ______________________ , 200____
I,
_________________________________ , having first duly sworn and deposed the
above individual under oath, set my seal upon this document. My commission end
on:
_________________________________
, 200_____
[NOTARY SEAL]
______________________________________________________
Notary
Signature
Statement of Union
(Please read and sign)
These
Articles of Belief were originally issued by the Old Catholic Church of England
in a pamphlet entitled: The Articles of Belief of the Old Catholics of Great
Britain and Ireland of the Western Orthodox Church. They serve as the basis for
the Union with the Holy Orthodox Church of
Beirut, Syria, in the Patriarchate of Antioch.
Dogmatic
Articles
1. The Way of Salvation. Eternal Salvation
is promised to mankind only through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ, and
upon condition of obedience to the teaching of the Gospel, which requires
Faith, Hope and Charity, and the due observance of the ordinances of the
Orthodox and Catholic Religion.
2. Faith, Hope and Charity. Faith is a
virtue infused by God, whereby one accepts, and believes without doubting,
whatever God has revealed in the Church concerning true Religion.
Hope is a virtue infused by God, and
following upon Faith; by it one puts their entire trust and confidence in the
goodness and mercy of God, through Jesus Christ, and looks for the fulfillment
of the Divine promises made to those who obey the Gospel.
Charity is a virtue infused by God,
and likewise consequent upon Faith, wherby one, loving God above all things for
His own sake, and their neighbor as oneself for God’s sake, yields up one will
to a joyful obedience to the revealed will of God in the Church.
3. The
Church. God has established the Holy Catholic Church upon earth to be
the pillar and ground of the revealed Truth; and has committed to her the
guardianship of the Holy Scriptures and of Holy Tradition, and the power of
binding and loosing.
4. The
Creed. The Catholic Church has set forth the principal Doctrines of the
Christian Faith in twelve articles of the Creed, as follows:
I.
I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible;
II. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all Ages, God of God, Light
of Light, Very God of Very God,
begotten not made, of one substance with the he Father, by Whom all
things were made;
III. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and
was Incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made
Man;
IV.
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, He suffered and was buried;
V.
And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;
VI. And ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the
Father;
VII. And He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and
the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end;
VIII. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life,
Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is
worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets;
IX. And in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church;
X. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins;
XI. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead;
XII. And the Life of the world to come. Amen.
This sacred Creed is sufficient for
the establishment of the Truth, inasmuch as it explicitly teaches the perfect
Doctrine of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
5. The
Sacraments. The fundamental
ordinances of the Gospel, instituted by Jesus Christ as special means of conveying
Divine Grace and influence to the souls of men, which are commonly called
Mysteries or Sacraments, are Seven in number, namely Baptism, Confirmation, the
Holy Eucharist, Holy Orders, Matrimony, Penance, and Unction.
Holy Baptism is the first Sacrament
of the Gospel, administered by
threefold immersion in, or affusion with, water with the words, “I baptize thee
(you) in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” It
admits the recipient into the Church, bestows upon them the forgiveness of
sins, original and actual, through the Blood of Christ, and causes in them a
spiritual change called Regeneration. Without valid Baptism no other Sacrament
can be validly received.
Holy Confirmation or Chrismation is
a Sacrament in which the baptized person, on being anointed with Chrism
consecrated by the Bishops of the Church, with the imposition of hands, receive
the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit to strengthen them in the grace which
they received at Baptism, making them a strong and perfect Christian and a good
soldier of Christ.
The Holy Eucharist is a Sacrament in
which, under the appearance of Bread and Wine, the real and actual Body and
Blood of Christ are given and received for the remission of sins, the increase
of Divine grace, and the reward of everlasting Life. After the prayer of
Invocation of the Holy Spirit in the Liturgy, the bread and wine are entirely
converted into the Living Body and Blood of Christ by an actual change of being
to which change the philosophical terms of Transubstantiation and Transmutation
are rightly applied. The celebration of this Mystery or Sacrament, commonly
called the Mass, constitutes the chief act of Christian worship, being a
sacrificial Memorial or re-Presentation of our Lord’s death. It is not a
repetition of the Sacrifice offered once for all upon Calvary, but is a
perpetuation of that Sacrifice by the Church on earth, as our Lord also
perpetually offers it in heaven. It is a true and propitiatory Sacrifice, which
is offered alike for the living and for the departed.
Holy Orders is a Sacrament in which
the Holy Spirit, through the laying-on of hands of Bishops, consecrates and
ordains the pastors and ministers chosen to serve in the Church, and imparts to
them special grace to administer the Sacraments, to forgive sins, and to feed
the flock of Christ.
Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament in
which the voluntary union of husband and wife is sanctified to become an image
of the union between Christ and His Church; and grace is imparted to them to
fulfill the duties of their estate and its great responsibilities, both to each
other and to their children.
Holy Penance is a Sacrament in which
the Holy Spirit bestows the forgiveness of sins, by the ministry of the priest,
upon those who, having sinned after Baptism, confess their sins with true
repentance, and grace is given to amend their lives thereafter.
Holy Unction is a Sacrament in which
the priests of the Church anoint the sick with oil, for the healing of the
infirmities of their souls, and if it should please God, those of their bodies
also.
The efficacy of the Sacraments
depends upon the promise and appointment of God; nevertheless, they benefit
only those who receive them worthily with faith, and with due preparation and
disposition of mind.
6. Holy Scripture. The Scriptures are
writings inspired by God, and given to the Church for her instruction and
edification. The Church is therefore the custodian and the only Divinely
appointed interpreter of Holy Scripture.
7. Tradition. The Apostolic and Ecclesiastical Traditions received from the
seven General Councils and the early Fathers of the Church may not be rejected;
but are to be received and obeyed as being both agreeable to Holy Scripture and
to that Authority with which Christ endowed His Church. Matters of discipline
and ceremonial do not rank on the same level with matters of Faith and Morals,
but may be altered from time to time and from place to place by the Authority
of the Church according as the welfare and greater devotion of the faithful may
be furthered thereby.
8. The Communion of the Saints. There is a Communion of Saints in the
Providence of God, wherein the souls of the righteous men of all ages are
united with Christ in the bond of faith and love. Wherefore it is pleasing to
God, and profitable to men, to honor the Saints and to invoke them in prayer;
and also to pray for the faithful departed.
9. Religious Symbols. The relics and representations of the Saints
are worthy of honor, as are also all other religious emblems; that our minds
may be encouraged to devotion and to imitation of the deeds of the just. Honor
shown to such objects is purely relative, and in no way implies a confusion of
the symbols with the thing signified.
10. Rites and Ceremonies. It is the duty of all Christians to join in
the worship of the Church, especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in
accordance with our Lord’s express command; and to conform to the ceremonies
prescribed by holy Tradition for the greater dignity of that Sacrifice and for
the edification of the faithful.
11. The Moral Law. All Christians are bound to observe the
moral law contained in the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament, developed
with greater strictness in the New, founded upon the law of nature and charity,
and defining our duty to God and to man.
The laws of the Church are also to be obeyed, as proceeding from that
Authority which Christ has committed to her for the instruction and salvation
of His people.
12. The Monastic Estate. The monastic life, duly regulated according
to the laws of the Church, is a salutary institution in strict accord with the
Holy Scriptures; and is full of profit to them who, after being carefully tried
and examined, make full proof of their calling thereto.
Organic Articles
1. Head of the Church. The Foundation Head and Supreme Pastor and Bishop of the Church is
our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, from Whom all Bishops and Pastors derive their
spiritual powers and jurisdiction.
2. Obedience.
By the laws and institution of our Lord Jesus Christ in the
Gospel, all Christians owe obedience and submission in spiritual things to them
who have rule and authority within the Church.
3. Ministerial Authority. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not commit rule
and authority within the Church to all the faithful indiscriminately, but only
to the Apostles and to their lawful successors in due order.
4. Apostolic Succession. The only lawful successors of the Apostles
are the Orthodox and Catholic Bishops, united by profession of the self-same
Belief, participation in the same Sacraments, and mutual recognition and
Intercommunion. The Bishops of the
Church, being true successors of the Apostles, are by Divine Right and
appointment the rulers of the Church.
In virtue of this appointment,
each individual Bishop is supreme and independent in that part of the Church
which has been committed to his care, so long as he remains in Faith and
Communion with the united company of Catholic Bishops, who cannot exclude any
from the Church, save only them who stray from the path of virtue or err in
Faith.
By virtue of this same
Divine appointment, the supreme Authority over the whole Church on earth
belongs to the collective Orthodox and Catholic Episcopate. They alone from the
highest tribunal in spiritual matters, from whose united judgment there can be
no appeal; so that it is unlawful for any single Bishop, or any smaller group
of Bishops apart from them, or for any secular power or state, to usurp this
authority, or for any individual Christian to substitute his own private
judgment for that interpretation of Scripture or Authority which is approved by
the Church.
5. Church Authority. The collective body of the Orthodox and Catholic
Episcopate, united by profession of the Faith, by the Sacraments, and by mutual
recognition and actual Intercommunion, is the source and depository of all
order, authority and jurisdiction in the Church, and is the center of visible Catholic Unity; so that no Pope, Patriarch or Bishop, or any number of Bishops
separated from this united body can possess any authority or jurisdiction
whatsoever.
The authority of this
collective body is equally binding, however it may be expressed: whether by a
General Council or by the regular and ordinary consultation and agreement of
the Bishops themselves.
It is an act of schism
to appeal from the known judgment of the Orthodox and Catholic Episcopate,
however it may have been ascertained; or to appeal from any dogmatic decree of
any General Council even though such appeal be to a future Council. For the
Episcopate, being a continuation of the Apostolate, is clearly a Divine
institution, and its authority is founded in Divine Right. But General Councils are not of Scriptural
promise of Divine appointment; and so the Episcopate having clearly the
Scriptural promise of Divine guidance into all Truth, cannot be hampered in the
exercise of its authority by the necessity of assembling a General Council
which may obviously be rendered impossible through natural circumstances.
There have been seven
General Councils only, which are recognized by the whole of Christendom, held
respective in Nicea (AD-325), Constantinople (381), Ephesus (431), Chalcedon
(451), Constantinople (553), Constantinople (680), and Nicea (787). At no other Councils was the entire body of
the Orthodox and Catholic Episcopate representatively assembled; and the
decrees and pronouncements of no others must of themselves be accepted as
binding upon the conscience of the faithful.
The Authority of the Church
can never be in abeyance, even though a General Council cannot be
assembled. It is equally to be
submitted to and obeyed in whatever way it may be exercised, and although it
may be exercised only through the ordinary administration of their respective
jurisdictions by individual Bishops.
6. Hierarchy. All patriarchs, archbishops, and
metropolitans (that is to say, all
Bishops who exercise any authority over other Bishops owe that authority solely
to the appointment or general consent of the Orthodox and Catholic Episcopate;
nor
can they ever cease from owing obedience to the collective body of the
Episcopate in all matters concerning Faith and Morals.
7. The
Five Patriarchates. There are
five Patriatchates, which ought to be united and form the supreme authority in
the administration and government of the Holy Catholic Church. There are
Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople. Unfortunately, owing
to disputes and differences on the one hand, and to the lust for power and supremacy
and domination on the other, the Patriarchs are not at present in Communion;
and the welfare of Christendom is jeopardized by their unedifying quarrels,
which, we pray, may soon have an end.
Statement
of Faith of the Old Catholic Church of America
Adapted
and Ratified by the Fifth General Synod of the Old Catholic Church of America,
held on August 23, 1978.
The
Statement of Faith contained herein is to be considered a Primary Summary of
the Faith of the Old Catholic Church of America, Old Catholic Church United.
All Clergy, Religious, and Seminarians are bound in conscience to uphold and
teach the Faith as contained herein. Any future act of intercommunion with
another Jurisdiction must be based on a mutual agreement with this Statement of
Union. Any other arrangement would be tantamount to heresy.
I,
______________________________________, do solemnly swear to uphold and teach
this Statement of Faith with utmost conviction, aided by Divine Grace, with God
as my Judge.
Signature: ______________________________________________________
Date: ________________________
This
_________ day of ______________________ , 200____
I,
_________________________________ , having first duly sworn and deposed the
above individual under oath, set my seal upon this document. My commission end
on:
_________________________________
, 200_____
[NOTARY SEAL]
______________________________________________________
Notary
Signature
(PLEASE READ AND SIGN)
Official Policy On
Misconduct By The Clergy
Within |
|
Recent events in our country and
society here in the United States and other parts of the world have made it
necessary to publish and provide a clear understanding within the ranks of all
of the clergy and the faithful, (and prayerfully we pray, eventually within
each and every jurisdiction of the Church), that ZERO tolerance will and must
be the standard operating guideline for issues of inappropriate misconduct by the
clergy. This will also be the standard operating understanding and procedure
for the clergy of The Old Catholic Church of America.
We have adopted, herewith, a
working and official policy of, and for, The
Old Catholic Church of America regarding the sexual misconduct of clergy,
employees, regular volunteers, seminarians, and candidates for ordination
and/or incardination.
While a more permanent Canon will be added to our own local Church canons and
is being studied and worked on, the following articles and points of concern will be our working policy.
- The Old Catholic Church
of America has zero tolerance for any physical misconduct by its clergy
and or any one employed by, or working for, or even volunteering to work
for, or with this Church.
- This includes unwanted,
inappropriate physical contact with parishioners, those being counseled,
those going to confession or receiving any of the Holy Mysteries /
Sacraments, and, of course, minors/disabled/geriatric or anyone that is
considered as vulnerable.
- Inappropriate and
unwanted physical activity with minors/disabled or geriatrically
vulnerable people will be immediately reported to law enforcement entities
and investigated by them.
- Further, inappropriate
and unwanted physical activity with anyone else with whom a clergyman has
a pastoral care relationship of any kind, will result in immediate
suspension of ecclesiastical faculties. This means that faculties and the
authority to celebrate the Holy Mysteries will be removed immediately with
a referral to treatment if found guilty. If cleared of all charges by both
church and law enforcement entities, all faculties and authorities to
celebrate the Holy Mysteries / Sacraments of the Church will, of course,
be restored and all records marked as "cleared." If the
clergy person is found and proven guilty their suspension will become
permanent and they will be deposed from the ministry of the Church.
- Finally, (and very sadly
there are cases both in the United States and other countries) - anyone
found, after investigation by Church authorities and law enforcement, to
have deliberately and inaccurately accused one of the clergy for the
purposes of obtaining financial reward. To punish, humiliate, address or
redress issues unrelated to inappropriate and unwanted physical contact
via these kinds of inappropriate physical accusations and humiliation
whether publicly and/or privately, will also be held responsible for such
allegations and accusations. In that unfortunate circumstance, the
clergy are herewith advised to seek personal and public redress for the
injury to their reputations and good standing within the Church. Most of
all, forgiveness and healing MUST BE the guiding light through forgiveness
in these cases and all parties are encouraged to seek counseling and help
in rebuilding their lives.
This
statement is approved and confirmed for immediate use and distribution within:
The Old Catholic Church of America.
Given under our hand and seal, this 31st day of July, in the year of our Lord
Jesus Christ 2003, from our See City in DeForest, Wisconsin - this being the
10th year of our episcopate.
The Most
Reverend James Edward Bostwick, D.D.
Archbishop Metropolitan
Signature:
______________________________________________________ Date:
________________________
This
_________ day of ______________________ , 200____
I,
_________________________________ , having first duly sworn and deposed the
above individual under oath, set my seal upon this document. My commission end
on:
_________________________________
, 200_____
[NOTARY SEAL]
______________________________________________________
Notary
Signature