Re: Is it possible for a woman to become an Episcopalian priest?

[Louie Crew <lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu>]

On Dec 7 4:16pm ****  **** wrote:
> Is it possible for a woman to become an Episcopalian Priest?  What is the
> process involved?  I am currently a licensed social worker, having well
> over 6 years of comprehensive experience working in a faith-based mission.


From: Louie Crew [mailto:lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu]
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 5:29 PM
To: ****  ****
Subject: Re: Inquiry

YES!  We even let some men become priests as well (;o')

Our Presiding Bishop is the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, who 
worked as an oceanographer before being ordained.

The process varies from diocese to diocese.  You might call the office of 
your diocese at ******.  Ask them to send you the diocesan guidelines for 
postulancy for priesthood.

The general pattern is:

One must be a member of a parish for at least a year or more.  If the 
rector of that parish is so inclined after meeting with a person, the 
rector appoints a parish discernment committee.

The discernment committee meets with the person several times over many 
months, helping that person to discern whether she or he has a call to 
priesthood.  Then the committee writes to the bishop and the Commission on 
Ministry (COM) a testimonial about the person and, if the committee feels 
so inclined, asks the bishop and COM to consider the person for 
postulancy.

The person then meets with the bishop and the COM, complies with any other 
requests they might have, and if approved for postulancy, undergoes three 
years of training in a seminary and receives a Master of Divinity Degree 
(or an appropriate equivalent).

Usually the person has no financial support for any of this, nor any 
guarantee of approval for ordination until those parts of completed, 
though most dioceses are careful not to admit to postulancy persons who 
they doubt will qualify for priesthood after all of the training.

The person takes the General Ordination Examinations at the end of the 
training.

Then the COM, the Bishop and the Diocesan Standing Committee review the 
experience and determine whether to approve the person for ordination, 
which if approved, occurs shortly thereafter, to a transitional time as a 
deacon for at least 6 months, and then, if approved, to priesthood.

I hope this is helpful.

May God bless you in your own discernment.

Louie Crew