Bishop's Expectations

for Persons Entering the Ordination Process

I am looking for persons who:

• have a lively and healthy relationship with Jesus;
• are committed to the Episcopal Church, and can serve its ministries with enthusiasm and pride;
• are active and involved in their local parish church;
• are committed to life-long learning and continuing education;
• are able to work, study, and minister in collaboration and community with others;
• are willing to submit to the community's discernment and guidance regarding their vocation and call;
• are joyfully living into their baptismal covenant;
• are conscientiously living out a theology of stewardship of time, talent, and treasure;
• are in healthy relationships with spouse (if applicable), family, and friends;
• are affirming of the ministries and gifts of all persons, including women and minorities;
• are engaged in an intentional pattern of self-care and spiritual discipline;
• are enthused about making a real home in the Diocese of Nebraska.

Prerequisites for Entering into parish level discernment:

(Parish level discernment committees meet for approximately one year)

• two years as a communicant member of the Episcopal Church
• one year as a member of a sponsoring congregation
• one year residence in the Diocese of Nebraska
• successful completion of Anti-Racism and Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training

Parish Support:

• Aspirants must certify to their priests that they are pledging at least 5% of their personal income to their parish.
• Parishes must provide meaningful financial support to their parishioners throughout the process for ordination.

Miscellaneous:

• Persons exploring and/or in discernment for the vocational diaconate are expected to have a clearly defined ministry outside the church. They should be able to articulate clearly how ordination will enable that service and at the same time further the encouragement of the ministry of the baptized in their congregation.
• Persons must indicate if they have ever applied for or been admitted to the ordination process in another diocese or another parish, or if they have ever been ordained in this or some other church.
• Persons must be 24 years of age at time of ordination.

Read more about the Bishop's expectations and the Theological Education Requirements for persons entering the discernment process.