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THE HOLY BYZANTINE CATHOLIC ORTHODOX CHURCH
A TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY

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, Liturgical 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 in our website, 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.

      C) You do not need to be an American Citizen to apply, but will need to
           speak with the Bishop in charge of your Province.

        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).

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.

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 Incardination 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 incardinated in your church?

No fee or charge is ever paid for Incardination 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 Seminar 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 Incardination or ordination. Our
Church Law does require that Reception (Incardination) 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 incardinated?

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
Incardination 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.

THBCOC