The Office of Vocations

Information on the Sacrament of Ordination

​In keeping with the ancient traditions of the early Church, the Reformed Catholic Church International does not impose mandatory celibacy on its clergy.
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Worthy candidates are considered for Holy Orders through ordination regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.

Admission to Holy Orders through Ordination
Each candidate for the Holy Orders through Ordination to the order of Deacon and Presbyter will be required to complete a rigorous program of preparation. This preparation will include required study in Holy Scripture, Sacramental, Moral, and Systematic Theology, Christology, Church history, Pastoral Care, etc.  It will also require extensive supervised ministry and personal spiritual development of the candidate.  The Reformed Catholic Church International through its College of Bishops administers this program of preparation in coordination with the candidate's assigned spiritual director.  This is not a degree program, but serves solely to prepare clergy candidates for ordained ministry in the Reformed Catholic Church International.  The Reformed Catholic Church International does not have a residential seminary program.

Minimum Requirements
·         Candidates for Deacon must be at least 21 years old, and have received the Sacraments of Christian Initiation.
·         Candidates for Presbyter (priest) must be at least 25 years old, have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Order of Deacon and have received the Sacraments of Christian Initiation.
·         Candidates for the Episcopacy (Bishops) must be at least 35 years old, have been a priest for at least 5 years, and have functioned in a valid ministry for at least one year. Bishops must also be elected to the Episcopacy by vote of the clergy and  College of Bishops.  Incardinating bishops require a two year probationary period prior to incardination during which they will minister as presbyters with temporary faculties.  At the conclusion of that probationary period, they must be incardinated by unanimous vote of the College of Bishops.

Duration of Training
Applicants for Holy Orders can expect to spend considerable time in preparation for ordination to facilitate both factual and academic training, and mutual discernment of the true Will of God for the candidate. The actual amount of time of preparation for each candidate is in the discretion of the College of Bishops having jurisdiction and will be influenced by a variety of factors.

Mutual Discernment
While recognizing that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to each according to the Spirit's Will, it is, nevertheless, the duty of the Church to discern the Will of the Spirit for those who may seek service to God through ordination. Thus ordination to the Sacrament of Holy Orders is not a right that one receives by virtue of being a member of the Church, nor is it given to everyone who asks for it. Rather, it is a privileged gift of the Holy Spirit given on an individual basis (1 Corinthians 12).
Please Note: Not everyone who experiences a desire for ordination can, should, or will be ordained .
If interested in pursuing ordination, and desire an application, please contact the Bishops Office.