Sample Application for
Admission
to the Formation Program for the Evangelical Catholic Church
The following is a sample of the application used by the
Church for candidates to our formation program.
Part 1: Personal Information
Attach official copies of baptismal and
confirmation certificates and official copies of marriage certificates, divorce
decrees or death certificates.
Candidates for Incardination must provide
official certificates of ordinations and official copies of letters of
resignation.
Candidates are also required to attach
a current photograph.
1. Full Baptismal Name:
2. Present Name:
3. Legal Address:
Previous Addresses:
4. Home Phone:
Work Phone:
Fax:
Email:
5. Date and Place of
Birth:
6: Names of Parents:
7. Date of Baptism:
Baptismal Rite:
Location:
8. Parish Membership and
Date of Reception:
9. Marital Status:
Name of Spouse:
Date of Marriage:
Children:
10. Previous Marriages and
Terminations:
11. Social Security Number:
Driver's License or State ID:
State Issued:
Passport:
Part 2: Previous Formation Experience
Candidates applying for admission into the
formation program
of the Evangelical Catholic Church who had been part of a program
for priestly or religious formation are required to provide the following:
1. Names of all previous formation
programs and dates of enrollment.
2. Copies of past formational evaluations and psychological evaluations.
3. For those who did not complete their formation program, a detailed narrative
for the reason(s) why program was not completed.
The previous formation programs for all candidates will be contacted for inquiry
regarding any past documented cases
of physical or sexual abuse.
Part 3: Academic Background
Attach official copies of all academic
transcripts.
Please provide your current curriculum vitae.
Part 4: Employment History
Please provide current resume including names of previous work supervisors.
Part 5: Physical and
Psychological Health History
Candidates are required to submit a current physical and
psychological examination report.
12. Do you
have any past or current substance abuse issues?
13. Have
you received treatment for any form of substance abuse?
14.
Have you ever been asked to seek evaluation for substance abuse?
15. Have
you ever been confronted about any passive / aggressive behaviors or any form of
emotional abuse?
16. Have
you ever been under the care of psychologist/psychiatrist/therapist?
17. Have
you ever been encouraged or requested to enter into therapy? If so, for
what reasons?
18. Do you
current take any prescribed medications which may prevent you from fulfilling
your duties?
19. Do you
have any chronic physical conditions?
Part 6: Criminal History
Candidates are required to
undergo criminal background checks.
20. Have
you ever been convicted of a felony?
21. Have
you been convicted of any sexual abuse crimes?
If your
answer is Yes, please stop here.
The Code of Canon Law for the Evangelical Catholic Church and
its Formation Policies renders anyone who has been convicted of any sexual abuse
crimes ineligible for admittance into any of our secular or religious programs
of formation or Incardination.
We cannot accept your application.
Part 7: Personal
References
Five letters of References
are required. One must be from current employer or supervisor and one must
be from a member of the pastoral community. The remaining three can come
from those of the candidate's choosing.
Part 8: Personal
Reflection Statements
Candidates are required to
provide written responses to each of the following questions. We ask that
responses are thorough and succinct.
1.
Describe your religious history?
2.
Describe your beliefs and theology?
3. What
does ordination or incardination mean to you?
4. Why do
you feel called to ordained ministry or wish to continue with ordained ministry?
5.
Describe the relationship and interactions between Church, society, theology,
morality, sin and grace?
6. How
will the following relate to your life as a ordained person: dedication,
study, servanthood, social activism, witnessing, chastity, poverty, obedience,
work, marriage, family, community, faith and love?
7. When do
you plan to be ordained or incardinated?
8. Where
do you see yourself and your ministry within five years? Do you plan on
using the valid orders of the Evangelical Catholic Church as a stepping stone to
enter into another jurisdiction?
9. What
are your current objectives in life?
10. How
will you combine ministry with your other desire, commitments, work and
relationships?
11. Why do
you wish to be a cleric within the Evangelical Catholic Church?
12. How do
you relate to authority and structure within an organization? Are you
prepared to fully support our Church, its vision, its hierarchy and its
liturgical traditions?
13. If you
are currently in a relationship how will your spouse/partner support your desire
to enter/reenter ministry?
14. Within the
mission of this Church is a commitment to provide unconditional pastoral and
sacramental care to all persons. Will this pose a problem for you?
15. Have
you been canonically received into the Church?
16. Do you
have an active ministry at this time?
17. Which
liturgical rite do you desire celebrate within the Evangelical Catholic Church?
18. What
is your understanding of the promise of respect and obedience to one's bishop or
religious superior?
19. Do you
engage in passive/aggressive behavior?
20. What
forms of support do you desire from your bishop and pastoral colleagues?
21. Canon 27 of
the Code of Canon Law dictates our Sexual Ethics. Do you agree or disagree
with this?
22. Are you a
theocentric person?
23. Do you
have a spiritual director at this time in your life?
24. Have
you had problems maintaining and fulfilling commitments?
25. How do
you address matters of anger and frustration?
Part 10: Verification and
Authorization
I certify that all information contained within this application and
its supplemental materials are true and correct.
I understand that ANY misrepresentations or false information will
result in my ineligibility from any secular or
religious formation program. I further understand that should I attain Orders or
Religious Profession from the use of fraud or misrepresentation, the Church will
exercise its Canonical obligations to declare either my Orders or Religious
Profession null and void.
I understand that should my application failed to include any of the
above required documents or reports, it will be not be considered by the Church.
I authorize the Bishop to investigate my personal background, criminal
history, employment history, formation history and all other appropriate records.
I also consent and permit those who are contacted by the Bishop to
answer any and all inquiries made.
_________________________________________________
Signature of Applicant
__________________________
Date
†
Understanding of Application Requirements
1. Consultation with
the bishop or director of Vocations.
2. Completion of
application and all required documentation.
Certificates of:
A. Baptism
B. Confirmation
C. Marriage(s), (if applicable)
D. Copies of civil divorce decrees and annulments or grants of dissolution
(if applicable)
E. Married candidates must also provide the written consent of their spouse
prior to beginning the formation program
3. Completion of required criminal background check
4. Completion of required psychological examination
5. Evaluation and recommendation of the candidate by a clerical review panel
assembled by vocations director who then makes a recommendation to the
Diocesan bishop.
6. Diocesan bishop then accepts or rejects the candidate. (Note: this
acceptance is provisional only. The Diocesan bishop reserves the right to
dismiss any candidate from the program for a canonical reason, even if
occult. Cf. Can. 10.18 & 10.19).
7. Reception of Minor Order of Lector at the beginning of graduate studies
8. Reception of Minor Order of Acolyte mid-way in the academic program
9. Candidacy will be
celebrated at the discretion of the Diocesan bishop (note: reception of the
Minor Orders will be at the discretion of the Diocesan bishop if the
candidate has completed the required academic studies prior to entering our
formation program).
10. After all required academic studies have been certified as completed and
prior to beginning the internship, the candidate shall be ordained to the
Order of Deacon.
11. Completion of the required internship program.
12. Ordination to the Presbyterate.
The requirements for clerical Incardination are very identical up to
step 7. A cleric seeking Incardination normally has already completed the
required studies and received all the Minor Orders. After the Diocesan
bishop accepts the candidate for Incardination, the bishop will grant the
candidate temporary faculties as a "cleric-in-residence." The length of time
of this required "probationary" period is at the discretion of the Diocesan
bishop after consultation with he clergy of the Diocese.
13. The application of any candidate for Orders, Religious Life or
Incardination will be considered for approval only after ALL required
materials and documentations are submitted.
_________________________________________________
Signature of Applicant
__________________________
Date
†
Application
Check List:
Please make
sure the following items are included with your application. Otherwise,
your application will be considered incomplete and will not be considered by the
Church.
Birth Certificate
Baptismal Certificate
Confirmation Certificate
Church Reception Certificate
Any and all Marriage Certificates
Any and all Divorce Certificates
Any and all Death Certificates
Any and all post high school Academic Transcripts
Copy of Current Drivers License or State ID
Copy of Social Security Card
Copy of Passport and/or Residency Documents
Professional Resume
Any and all court records of felony convictions
Fingerprint Card
Documentation from previous formation programs
Five Letters of Reference
Medical and Psychological Reports
Current Picture
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Canon Law and Formation Policies
of the ECC
The
Diocesan Deaconate
The
Diocesan Priesthood
Process for
Clerical Incardination
Religious Orders and Religious
Societies
Welcoming Women to
the Deaconate and Priesthood
Welcoming Back Inactive Deacon, Priests, Religious and Bishops
Sample Application for the ECC
Secular Formation Program
and
Saint John the
Evangelist Seminary