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                         INCARDIDATION

All Blessings in Christ,

Thanks for your inquiry about being incardinated as a cleric in the Holy
Byzantine Catholic Orthodox Church.

This are some answers to frequently asked questions about ministry in the
our church. Also, carefully read our Church Canons, Tenets, Liturical
Rites and About us in this website.

If you have any specific questions we will answer them via direct mail or
email.

1) What is the process for incardination?

The first step is to read about us on our websites, ask questions, and then if
you would like to be considered for incardination, download and complete
the application.

Incardination is open only to:

A) Lectors and Acolytes in Minor Orders and Deacon,
(18 years or older and open to females also)

B) Priests (1) and Bishops (2) ordained in the Catholic Orthodox tradition by a
church with valid lines of Apostolic Succession.

While our Patriarchal Council makes the final determination on each
applicant, generally speaking we welcome clerics from most mainline
(Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran and
independent Catholic (too numerable to list).

Obviously, conformity to reception of the sacraments of Baptism and
Ordination administered in the traditional Catholic Faith manner, and
faith compatibility to our Statements of Beliefs are significant criteria for
acceptance into our clergy.

1. Married or un-married males.
2. Celibate ( married with ekonomia from the Patriarchal Council
with the understanding that all future bishops consecrated will be
celibate).

The application which you may download or request to forward to you upon
request should be thoroughly and thoughtfully completed. That application
and the requested documentation will need to be submitted before the
incardination decision is made. It is acceptable to send the application first
and then supply the documentation as it is gathered.

2) What training (education) do I need to be incardinated?

Our review of your education as related to ministry should show a strong
correlation to our ordination requirements as presented in our Seminary
Catalog available on our website under Seminary

Significant deficits will be identified by the In-cardination Committee and the
applicant and the Presiding Bishop will develop a plan for making up the
deficits. This may be done through seminary course work or through
directed reading. The amount and depth of ministry experience is also
factored into this decision and can substitute for specific course content.

Clerics from mainline churches enjoy the presumption of having appropriate
and sufficient education and experiences related to ministry.   However,
since the educational background is so varied, we review transcripts and
ministry experience carefully.   The Holy Byzantine Catholic Orthodox
Church is strongly committed to having ministers who are well prepared to
present and live the message of Jesus and His Holy Church.

3) Is there full time paid ministry available?

No. All of our clergy (deacons, priests and bishops) support themselves
through their regular employment and give without monetary compensation
their time and talents to the church and to their congregations. Truly, we
have a tent-maker ministry in the spirit of the apostle Paul and the early
Christian disciples. The only exception is if a parish counsel requests the
clerics to be in the parish full time and are willing to pay a full time salary,
the same is for the bishop if the diocese requests and is willing to pay him a
full time salary this is also acceptable..

4) Are there expenses involved in being in-cardinated in your church?

No fee or charge is ever paid for in-cardination or for ordination! There are,
however, some expenses that are passed on to the applicant.

This is the current total list:

A. There is an application fee of $50.00. That covers printing, mailing,
psychologist review, and follow-up telephone conversations.
It is non-refundable.

B. As part of the application process, the applicant is required to visit in
person with the Presiding Bishop or other clergy more proximate to the
applicant’s home city. Travel expenses related to that visit are the
responsibility of the applicant.

C. If deficits in education need to be made up through seminary course
work, all course-work is paid for by the candidate directly to the
seminary program provider (either our own seminary program or a
mutually agreed upon program).
See our current Saint John the Divine Theological Seminary
Catalog on our website so that you know in advance the cost of course
work through our program.
We award course-work credit toward ordination for ministry related
course-work in other institutions and for ministry related job and life
experiences. There is no charge for transfer and experiential credit.

D. For ordination: There is never a charge for in-cardination or ordination.
Our Church Law does require that Reception (In-cardination) of Clergy
and Ordinations ordinarily take place at our annual Synod/Retreat.

E. Currently our clergy are required to be licence by the church,
please see LICENSURE.

If someone is unable to make the requested donation, he/she simply talks
to the Patriarchal Council to make adjustments.

F. Deacons, priests, and bishops are expected to purchase their own
vestments and altar appointments needed in their ministry. The offerings
of the congregation are used by the pastor for the operational expenses of
the parish or ministry. If parish sponsors a candidate, the cleric does not
need to purchase their own vestments and altar appointments needed in
their ministry.

G. Our Church Law requires that all clerics attend and participate every year
in our Church Synod/Retreat wherever it is held. The travel costs and
registration fee are the annual responsibility of the cleric.

5. How long does it take to be in-cardinated?

Each candidate is led through the process in an individualized and personal
manner. When the application process is complete, the Presiding Bishop
presents the application with his/her recommendation to the House of
Bishops who then send their recommendation to Patriarchal Council. So, the
“how long?” time-line varies.

I hope this information helps you as you look at the possibility of serving in
The Holy Byzantine Catholic Orthodox Church as our clergy. I want to be
totally upfront with you as you look at us and I promise I will be. If you
would like to move on to the next step, please download In -cardination
Application

If you have any questions or would just like to talk with me to see if we can
be partners in the ministry of the Lord contact me at the following:
byzanpater1@aol.com.

Peace and blessings,
Rev. Jim