For those who feel called...
The American Apostolic Old Catholic Church takes vocations very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that we no longer accept applications from just anyone. Too many people are seeking ordination for the wrong reasons or are the wrong person seeking the priesthood for the right reasons. Until they have contacted us, many lay people who feel called have never done discernment with someone validly trained to do such spiritual direction. This is the first step in any other religious institution: to spend time in deep reflection and discernment with another party who is qualified to offer such companionship on the journey.
This is where many of us who are called to be Bishops fail our clergy. We are worked hard in our stations and, with limited resources, we cannot provide the mentoring that clergy need. Some of us have been blessed with priests who can offer this kind of spiritual counseling; but they do so while juggling their own schedules of family, work, and ministry.
In addition, the ISM suffers from the serious issue of jurisdiction-hopping: moving from one group to another, never remaining in one jurisdiction for more than 2 years (and often for a significantly lesser period of time). While this phenomenon is being addressed by a joint-jurisdictional episcopal study, its result needs no study. It is destabilizing, to the individual community and to the movement in general.
It is clear that clergy need more time to discern and more contact with their jurisdictional leadership and family in order to feel connected, loved, and truly prepared for priesthood.
For these reasons, the AAOCC has implemented some new vocations policies:
1. A longer discernment process. Anyone who comes to us feeling called to priesthood in our community will undergo a guided discernment process of no less than 6 months. They will be assigned spiritual exercises and readings; sample a few of our seminary classes; have conversations with all of our other clergy and seminarians; and meet weekly with either the Bishop or an appointed spiritual director. This process will take the applicant through a personal experience of their calling, while also introducing them to the joys and difficulties of being an Independent Catholic Clergy-person. At the end of the discernment period, they will meet with their bishop and spiritual director to discuss their own thoughts and reflections about the process. If they still feel called to apply to the AAOCC, and the AAOCC agrees they are called, they will receive the application for enrollment into our seminary and priestly formation program.
2. Smaller formation classes and stricter entry policies. The AAOCC is not interested in quantity; it is interested in quality. While having 15 candidates in formation is surely wonderful, it is not necessarily the sign of a healthy jurisdiction; especially when, from month-to-month, they are not the same 15 candidates. We prefer to form a handful of candidates to the Diaconate and a handful to the Priesthood at a time. This enables us to truly get to know the clergy, spend time with them one-on-one, and give them personalized attention during the formation process (which does not end at ordination). From their first class to the incorporation of their first parish or ministry, it is vital that we incorporate them into a true family rather than a loose association of priests all doing what they wish on their own. To collect clergy by simply admitting all who ask is dangerous to both the church and the people; yet, it is all too common among Independent and Old Catholic jurisdictions who believe numbers make the church appear legitimate. The AAOCC rejects this climate of personal entitlement to ordination and "free-agent" mentality among priests. We believe the family atmosphere of this jurisdiction is greatly enhanced by limiting our numbers both geographically and educationally to a few candidates at a time. We are proud of our reputation of being very difficult to be accepted into. That is the true sign of health: to foster a priesthood that is truly and fiercely committed to its vocation and its church.
3. Seminary Tuition. St. Aelred's Seminary charges tuition in order to pay our instructors and cover our expenses as we seek accreditation. AAOCC seminarians must also pay to take their courses. However, their tuition is reduced greatly by deferment (not by waiver). In other words, seminarians pay a minimum for their courses that is lower than what outside students must pay. The amount by which their tuition is reduced is not forgiven, though. It is accrued and deferred. All seminarians sign a contract when they are accepted into the AAOCC priestly formation program agreeing that, if they leave the AAOCC after ordination, the accrued amount by which their course payments were reduced will come due in total and they will have to reimburse us for the full cost of the education they have received. This is the same practice used by the Roman Catholic Church for the education of their priests.
We hope these policies, especially the longer discernment period, will help candidates truly learn what it is that drives their vocation and Whom it is that they will serve.
If you feel called to the priesthood and feel that the American Apostolic Old Catholic Church is your home, then contact Bishop Kristina Rake at: bishoprake@americanoldcatholic.org and she will assist you. You are welcome to speak to one of our current seminarians to learn more from someone who is experiencing it.
God bless your search! Be sure to read the Bishop's Letter under the Vocations tab.
This is where many of us who are called to be Bishops fail our clergy. We are worked hard in our stations and, with limited resources, we cannot provide the mentoring that clergy need. Some of us have been blessed with priests who can offer this kind of spiritual counseling; but they do so while juggling their own schedules of family, work, and ministry.
In addition, the ISM suffers from the serious issue of jurisdiction-hopping: moving from one group to another, never remaining in one jurisdiction for more than 2 years (and often for a significantly lesser period of time). While this phenomenon is being addressed by a joint-jurisdictional episcopal study, its result needs no study. It is destabilizing, to the individual community and to the movement in general.
It is clear that clergy need more time to discern and more contact with their jurisdictional leadership and family in order to feel connected, loved, and truly prepared for priesthood.
For these reasons, the AAOCC has implemented some new vocations policies:
1. A longer discernment process. Anyone who comes to us feeling called to priesthood in our community will undergo a guided discernment process of no less than 6 months. They will be assigned spiritual exercises and readings; sample a few of our seminary classes; have conversations with all of our other clergy and seminarians; and meet weekly with either the Bishop or an appointed spiritual director. This process will take the applicant through a personal experience of their calling, while also introducing them to the joys and difficulties of being an Independent Catholic Clergy-person. At the end of the discernment period, they will meet with their bishop and spiritual director to discuss their own thoughts and reflections about the process. If they still feel called to apply to the AAOCC, and the AAOCC agrees they are called, they will receive the application for enrollment into our seminary and priestly formation program.
2. Smaller formation classes and stricter entry policies. The AAOCC is not interested in quantity; it is interested in quality. While having 15 candidates in formation is surely wonderful, it is not necessarily the sign of a healthy jurisdiction; especially when, from month-to-month, they are not the same 15 candidates. We prefer to form a handful of candidates to the Diaconate and a handful to the Priesthood at a time. This enables us to truly get to know the clergy, spend time with them one-on-one, and give them personalized attention during the formation process (which does not end at ordination). From their first class to the incorporation of their first parish or ministry, it is vital that we incorporate them into a true family rather than a loose association of priests all doing what they wish on their own. To collect clergy by simply admitting all who ask is dangerous to both the church and the people; yet, it is all too common among Independent and Old Catholic jurisdictions who believe numbers make the church appear legitimate. The AAOCC rejects this climate of personal entitlement to ordination and "free-agent" mentality among priests. We believe the family atmosphere of this jurisdiction is greatly enhanced by limiting our numbers both geographically and educationally to a few candidates at a time. We are proud of our reputation of being very difficult to be accepted into. That is the true sign of health: to foster a priesthood that is truly and fiercely committed to its vocation and its church.
3. Seminary Tuition. St. Aelred's Seminary charges tuition in order to pay our instructors and cover our expenses as we seek accreditation. AAOCC seminarians must also pay to take their courses. However, their tuition is reduced greatly by deferment (not by waiver). In other words, seminarians pay a minimum for their courses that is lower than what outside students must pay. The amount by which their tuition is reduced is not forgiven, though. It is accrued and deferred. All seminarians sign a contract when they are accepted into the AAOCC priestly formation program agreeing that, if they leave the AAOCC after ordination, the accrued amount by which their course payments were reduced will come due in total and they will have to reimburse us for the full cost of the education they have received. This is the same practice used by the Roman Catholic Church for the education of their priests.
We hope these policies, especially the longer discernment period, will help candidates truly learn what it is that drives their vocation and Whom it is that they will serve.
If you feel called to the priesthood and feel that the American Apostolic Old Catholic Church is your home, then contact Bishop Kristina Rake at: bishoprake@americanoldcatholic.org and she will assist you. You are welcome to speak to one of our current seminarians to learn more from someone who is experiencing it.
God bless your search! Be sure to read the Bishop's Letter under the Vocations tab.
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