Amended 05.03.15
SECTION 2 — BEFORE THE BISHOPS’ ADVISORY PANEL
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Discernment and Sponsorship
The assessment and preparation of candidates within the diocese prior to sponsorship to a
Bishops’ Advisory Panel is the concern and responsibility of the diocesan Bishop and
those appointed by him to share this particular concern. If selection is best to be
understood as a process of discerning, with others, the will of God for an individual with
regard to the exercising of an appropriate ministry within the Church, then selection is
more like a pilgrimage of discovery than an examination. But this does not preclude a
wise and careful appraisal of a candidate and the gathering and assessment of information
concerning each individual. Thoroughness of approach at this early stage may well save a
candidate and a diocese unnecessary disappointment. DDOs will be constantly aware of
the need to encourage candidates and foster development on one hand and on the other
form clear judgements about suitability for sponsorship. The question of criteria for
selection is discussed very fully in the Criteria for Selection for Ordained Ministry in the
Church of England and the Bishops’ Advisers’ Handbook. Copies of these documents
are essential reading for DDOs. Guidelines on the Care of Candidates may be found at
Appendix 2A.
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Diocesan procedure
Pre-Bishops’ Advisory Panel procedures vary from diocese to diocese but should be
coherent, rigorous and appropriate for the purpose of enabling the Bishop to make wellinformed decisions about sponsoring candidates to the Bishops’ Advisory Panel. The
advice of Examining Chaplains, Vocations Advisers and the DDO will need to be offered
to the diocesan Panel (where applicable) and the Bishop in a way that enables the process
of evaluation and which aids the making of the major decision of whether or not to
sponsor the candidate.
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An overview of procedure
The following outline of procedure is offered as a guide:
Initial approach by candidate:
This should usually be through the candidate’s incumbent or
chaplain.
Initial interview:
This will normally be with the DDO or Assistant DDO though
some dioceses prefer this to be by a Vocations Adviser so that
possibilities of various ministries are kept open.
Candidate’s form:
Basic information should be gathered, for example by a diocesan
form. Detailed information will become available through
interviews. A piece of written work of a more extended kind is
often found to be useful.
References:
Dioceses who wish to take up their own references will need to
ensure that they reflect the main areas of a candidate’s life and
experience, the world of work, family, friends and church
tradition. Normally this will mean that references are required
from the incumbent and or chaplain, a lay member of the church,
an educationalist and someone who knows the candidate in the
work situation. However, sensitivity needs to be exercised about
the advisability of requesting a reference from a candidate’s
employer where such a request could prejudice the candidate’s
career prospects. If, however, the candidate sees his/her
employment as the focus of ministry, then another kind of
enquiry needs to be undertaken between the diocese and the
employer. Referees should not be related to the candidate, related
to each other or to be in close personal relationships with each
other, and should be from both genders. DDOs will be asked to
raise references and other papers for candidates, to be received in
the Ministry Division no later than six weeks before the
candidate goes to a Bishops’ Advisory Panel. Or DDOs may
choose to use the same set of papers. Referees should be made
aware that they may well be asked for a further reference or
an update of their initial reference. If there are any
difficulties in determining suitable referees, please be in
contact with the Panel Secretary early on. References for
BAPs should be signed (electronically is fine) and dated and
should be no more than 6 months old.
Further interviews:
The importance of careful interviewing of the candidate cannot
be over-emphasised and the need to interview the candidate and
spouse at home by at least one member of the discernment team
is essential. When the DDO has made sufficient enquiry, the
candidate may also be interviewed by an Examining Chaplain
and/or a Panel of diocesan assessors.
Decision to sponsor:
Bishops have their own policy as to the timing of their interview
with the candidates. Most wish to see candidates before a
Bishops’ Advisory Panel. If the Bishop has not interviewed the
candidate himself, it is particularly important that he be fully
briefed by the DDO and have all reports available to assist him in
the decision to sponsor or not.
Sponsoring Papers:
Post-Advisory Panel
follow-up:
If more testing of a candidate is felt necessary at any stage further work or parochial experience or a period of study - then
another interview will be necessary.
These should be sent to the Ministry Division and should
summarise the views of others (for example, a diocesan Panel)
who have seen the candidate where these will be useful to
Bishops’ Advisers. Above all they should reflect the views of
the DDO.
It is important that the diocesan procedure for a Bishops’
Advisory Panel is explained to the candidate before he or she
attends a Bishops’ Advisory Panel.
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4
Assembling a picture of the candidate
Finding out about a person is not merely a matter of assembling personal histories and
achievements. A reasonably systematic method can help to ensure that the main areas are
covered so that as full a picture as possible is available. The main areas include:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
ix)
xi)
xi)
xii)
xiiii)
xiv)
Personal history and family background
Educational history, qualifications, etc.
Occupational history - including jobs in vacations if recent
State of general health, including any special needs
Pilgrimage of faith and commitment, including understanding and experience of
the breadth of the Anglican Church
Understanding of Christian faith and ability to communicate it
Spirituality and how it is nourished by private and corporate prayer life
Sense of call and its working out in mission and ministry
Responsibility and sense of vocation in secular areas
Experience of sharing in mission and ministry in a local church
Interests
Personal maturity and ability in relationships
Marriage and family commitments
Financial situation
The gathering of such information can be achieved in a number of ways, including a
diocesan form, references and personal interviews. If dioceses wish to create new forms,
they may find it useful to base these on the criteria for selection. DDOs may wish to use
their own forms for the discernment process in the diocese but we ask that they use the
Ministry Division forms for the final stages of the process prior to a candidate going to a
Bishops’ Advisory Panel. The following are some points which should be considered at an
early stage.
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Timescale for the preparation of candidates
Concerns have been raised that there is a lack of clarity in some dioceses about the
discernment process and that some candidates take an inordinately long time between the
initial contact with the DDO and sponsorship to a Bishops’ Advisory Panel. To this end
the advice is that candidates should be given clear written guidelines explaining the
diocesan process, including some indication of the timescale involved.
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Category of sponsorship
The House of Bishops has agreed the following categories for sponsorship:
i)
Ordained Ministry – Priest
This category is intended for candidates who are offering for the priesthood,
including candidates from dioceses where there is an Ordained Local Ministry
scheme recognised by the House of Bishops.
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ii)
Ordained Ministry – Deacon (Distinctive)
This category is intended for candidates who wish to offer for a lifelong
distinctive diaconate and who see their ministry as servants, both within the
Church and in the wider community. Their ministry encapsulates the servant
nature of all Christian ministry as spelt out in the Common Worship
Ordination Services as follows:
Deacons are called to work with the Bishop and the priests with whom they
serve as heralds of Christ’s kingdom. They are to proclaim the gospel in word
and deed, as agents of God’s purposes of love. They are to serve the
community in which they are set, bringing to the Church the needs and hopes
of all the people. They are to work with their fellow members in searching out
the poor and weak, the sick and lonely and those who are oppressed and
powerless, reaching into the forgotten corners of the world, that the love of
God may be made visible.
Deacons share in the pastoral ministry of the Church and in leading God’s
people in worship. They preach the word, and bring the needs of the world
before the Church in intercession. They accompany those searching for faith
and bring them to baptism. They assist in administering the sacraments; they
distribute communion and minister to the sick and housebound.
In October 1995 the House of Bishops agreed that, given the small number of
stipendiary candidates sponsored for Deacon (Distinctive), Bishops who sponsor
candidates as stipendiary deacons should undertake to provide a post for the
candidate on satisfactory completion of training. Also please see Discerning the
Diaconate Guidelines.
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The intended focus of ministry
It is important that in all cases the sponsoring papers should set out the intended focus of
the candidate’s ministry as an incumbent or assistant minister or ordained local minister, as
well as whether any of the following are envisaged: ordained pioneer minister, minister in
secular employment, or theological educator. Other matters to be investigated (particularly
in the case of candidates who are looking to exercise their ministry in their home parish)
may include confirmation that a candidate has the support of the candidate’s PCC. In the
case of ministers in secular employment, an indication of the attitude of the candidate’s
employer and how their ministry will be received in the secular context should the
candidate be recommended for training.
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Age (lower & upper limits)
The regulations permit candidates to come to Bishops’ Advisory Panels at 18 years of age.
There is now clear and strong encouragement for young men and women to come forward
for selection. Any upper age limit is at the discretion of the Sponsoring Bishop. If an
ordinand will be under 23 at the point of ordination, please be in touch with a Selection
Secretary for clarification of procedures to be followed.
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Education
The formal educational qualifications for entering training are given in Section 6 of the
Handbook.
In the Criteria for Selection for Ordained Ministry in the Church of England Criterion I
(Quality of Mind) refers to the importance of a candidate being able to cope with and
benefit from theological training. Often candidates need to engage in preliminary study in
order to bring them up to the necessary educational qualifications or to give them a basic
grounding in theology, possibly by one of the lay training courses arranged by some
dioceses. Where dioceses have asked a candidate to pursue some course of study, the
DDO is encouraged to include a tutor’s report, or a summary of it, within the Sponsoring
Papers in order to inform the work of Bishops’ Advisers.
One of the recommendations in the Formation for Ministry Within a Learning Church
report under the title Education for Discipleship (GS1574) is that ‘high quality education
should be offered across the church of at least Higher Education Level 1 (year 1 of a
degree course) both to lay Christians and to those considering a call to ministry of various
sorts. With regard to potential ordinands, this learning should be available, but would not
be a mandatory requirement as it is recognised that candidates vary in their needs and
availability for learning’. (p. 4)
Some candidates may be asked to complete further preparatory work as a condition of their
recommendation. It is important that DDOs should inform candidates of the possibility of
such a condition at an early stage. (See Pre-Theological Education Conditions in Section
4).
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Initial exploration of theological training
Advice concerning training will be found in Section 6. It is helpful to have a preliminary
discussion about training at an early stage. DDOs have an important role in helping
candidates make an informed and appropriate choice of training (see Section 6).
It may be useful for candidates to visit one or two colleges (with the agreement of the
diocese) or a part-time course before attending a Bishops’ Advisory Panel. It is
inadvisable for a candidate to make firm arrangements for training before attending a
Panel. The timing of attendance at a Panel (i.e. early or late in the academic year preceding
entry into training) will obviously have an important bearing here. The Bishops’ Advisers
may make recommendations about an individual’s training in their report. They may not
recommend particular colleges or courses to candidates.
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Finance
The whole question of finance is discussed more fully in Section 5 but a careful
assessment of the financial situation of all candidates should be made before
sponsorship and all candidates are expected to complete a Statement of Financial
Position form prior to sponsorship to a Bishops’ Advisory Panel.
As a result of the review published as Preparation for Ordained Ministry, DDOs’
responsibilities in this area are defined as follows:
5





12
To work with candidates on issues about personal finance as an integral part of the
sponsorship process. Whereas in the past principals of training institutions have
formally had to ascertain a candidate’s financial position during training; this is
now a diocesan responsibility.
To this end all candidates should be asked to fill in the Statement of Financial
Position before they are sponsored for the Bishops’ Advisory Panel.
DDOs should begin the task of working with candidates on issues of debt as early
as possible, but certainly once the decision has been made to sponsor the
candidate.
If a candidate has a student loan this is an acceptable form of debt.
Candidates who intend to draw a stipend should be asked by their dioceses to fill
in the Statement of Financial Position for a second time on receipt of the interim
report from the candidate’s training institution.
Views on the ordination of women
Care must be taken to ensure that candidates who hold views for or against the ordination
of women to the priesthood are handled fairly and with the same degree of rigour. Where
the DDO is in favour of the ordination of women, some dioceses have appointed an
assistant DDO who is not in favour and the converse has also been the case. This person
will interview the candidate as part of the diocesan discernment process but in all cases it
is the decision of the DDO as the Bishop’s officer to refer the candidate to the Sponsoring
Bishop, based on the criteria in use for all candidates.
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Engagement and marriage
It is important for candidates to discuss plans for engagement and marriage with the DDO.
When a marriage is intended before or during training, there should be proper consultation
with the Sponsoring Bishop.
When two sponsored candidates wish to marry each other care needs to be taken over the
financial implications of such a move and over difficulties occasioned by different training
times. Ministerial couples should become the responsibility of one DDO only, by
negotiation between the respective dioceses.
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Partners in marriage and ministry
Occasionally a married or engaged couple offer for what is sometimes termed a joint
ministry. More commonly the spouse of an ordained minister may become a candidate
after many years of living and working within the context of parochial or ministerial life.
In these instances, it is important for the DDO to be familiar with, and to discuss fully
with, any such candidates the issues raised in Joint Ministries Consultation and in
Partners in Marriage and Ministry, a practical guide for husbands and wives engaged in
professional ministry together and for their advisers. There is a need for the DDO to help
the couple face the demands that two ministerial appointments can make upon a marriage
and also the restricted financing and availability of such posts.
Should married couples be sponsored for a BAP at the same time, they should be allocated
and attend separate Panels.
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15
Nursing Mothers Attending Bishops’ Advisory Panels
Ministry Division is committed to encouraging and supporting vocations to ordination
amongst young women and recognises that mothers who are breastfeeding may need
to continue to nurse their baby whilst on a BAP. Recognising that the needs of a new
baby and the timetable of the BAP may not be very compatible, we would encourage
mothers to wait until a routine has been established to enable the mother to participate
in all aspects of the Panel fully. Precise details of how this can be made to work
should be discussed with the Selection Secretary at the point of booking onto a BAP.
The Selection Secretary will work with the candidate to ensure that appropriate
support is provided for the candidate as well as maintaining the integrity of the BAP
for all participants.
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Sexual orientation, civil partnerships, marriage breakdown and divorce
There are occasions when a candidate’s personal life, such as their sexual orientation, civil
partnerships, marriage breakdown or divorce, reflects sensitive issues in the life of the
Church and which are a matter of current debate. The House of Bishops’ statement Issues
in Human Sexuality (GS Misc 382, 1991) embodies the criteria which the House would
wish to apply to ordinands and makes clear that all Christians are called to chastity and
fidelity and to respect the will of the Church on matters of sexual morality (see Criterion E
(Relationships). This requirement is even clearer for ministers since they are called not
only to live the Gospel but also be acceptable and accessible as pastors. In relation to the
specific issue of homosexuality this means that: ‘clergy cannot claim the liberty to enter
into sexually active homophile relationships’ (Issues in Human Sexuality para 5.17).
The House of Bishops’ Statement does not claim to be the last word on the subject but it
was commended by Synod for discussion and response by the Church. Nevertheless, it
expresses the theological standpoint and pastoral practice of the House of Bishops and
reflects the position on human sexuality of the Church of England and the Anglican
Communion as a whole as stated in the General Synod motion of November 1987 and
Resolution 1.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference. Some Issues in Human Sexuality (GS
Misc 722, 2003) is a guide to the current debate on matters of human sexuality that
complements rather than replaces Issues in Human Sexuality.
Candidates for ordination who are in civil partnerships or who are intending to enter into
them will be expected to give assurances that their lives are in accordance with the
teaching outlined in Issues in Human Sexuality.
Paragraph 21 of the statement notes that:
…it would be inconsistent with the teaching of the Church for the public
character of the commitment expressed in a civil partnership to be regarded as
of no consequence in relation to someone in - or seeking to enter - the
ordained ministry. Partnerships will be widely seen as being predominantly
between gay and lesbian people in sexually active relationships. Members of
the clergy and candidates for ordination who decide to enter into partnerships
must therefore expect to be asked for assurances that their relationship will be
consistent with the teaching set out in Issues in Human Sexuality.
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For candidates in civil partnerships, the Sponsoring Papers should indicate that this issue
has been addressed with the candidate, that he/she is aware of the House of Bishops’
Guidelines and has agreed to live within them, and that the candidate’s specific situation
has been discussed with the Sponsoring Bishop and he is fully content to sponsor the
candidate.
Bishops’ Advisers would expect the DDO and Sponsoring Bishop to have explored fully
matters to do with sexuality with all candidates before going to a Bishops’ Advisory Panel.
Were any fresh evidence to emerge at the Panel the Bishops’ Advisers would be asked to
assess the candidate against the rest of the criteria and return a ‘No Decision’ verdict to the
Sponsoring Bishop for his final decision. (Please see Appendix 2B for Guidelines on
Candidates in Civil Partnerships.)
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Sponsorship of transgender candidates
In 2002 the House of Bishops agreed that Bishops’ Advisers should not be placed in the
position of having in effect to decide with regard to transgendered candidates on an
essentially doctrinal/ethical question. To that end, any Bishop intending to sponsor a
transgendered person for a Bishops’ Advisory Panel will certify that he has decided that he
would be prepared to ordain and offer a Title to that person if during the course of training
and formation she/he were deemed to have a vocation to ordained ministry. Bishops’
Advisers assigned to the Bishops’ Advisory Panel at which such a candidate was due to be
considered would be given the opportunity of declaring in advance whether or not they
could conscientiously recommend for training a transgender candidate. In such cases,
either they or the candidate would be moved to another Panel.
It is important that the DDO handles such situations sensitively and with integrity and that
both the candidate and the Bishops’ Advisory Panel know the mind of the Diocesan
Bishop in a given situation. Any decision regarding candidates needs to bear in mind the
public nature of the ordained ministry, an understanding of the human condition and the
gospel imperative of holiness and integrity of life for all believers. Criterion D
(Personality and Character) and Criterion E (Relationships) are pertinent here.
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Faculty under Canon C4
If a married candidate has a previous spouse living or is married to a partner with a
previous spouse living, a Faculty under Canon C4.3 should be obtained from the
Archbishops of Canterbury and York before that candidate can be sponsored for a
Bishops’ Advisory Panel. The exact wording of the relevant Canon (C4.3 & 3A) is as
follows:
No person shall be admitted into holy orders who has re-married and, the
other party to that marriage being alive, has a former spouse still living; or
who is married to a person who has been previously married and whose
former spouse is still living.
The archbishop of the province, on an application made to him by the
bishop of a diocese on behalf of a person who by reason (laid out above) of
this Canon could not otherwise be admitted into holy orders, may grant a
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faculty for the removal of the impediment imposed by that paragraph to the
admission of that person into holy orders, and any request made to a
bishop for an application to be made on his behalf under this paragraph
shall be made and considered, and any application made by the bishop to
the archbishop shall be made and determined, in accordance with
directions given from time to time by the Archbishops of Canterbury and
York acting jointly.
DDOs will need to bear in mind the time at which the formal enquiries to referees take
place. Thus, in some dioceses, the DDO speaks to the candidate and spouse, ascertains
whether in principle there is the required ‘distance’ and then proceeds with all the usual
interviews leading up to sponsorship by the Bishop. Only when the Bishop is willing to
sponsor should the detailed enquiries of referees who know the circumstances of the first
marriage take place.
Enquiries concerning the process of obtaining a faculty should be directed to the office of
the Archbishop of the province in which the candidate is to be sponsored. Lately there
have been some applications for faculties under Canon C43A in which the current
marriage is very recent. The Archbishops’ guidelines say that the current marriage should
be stable and well established. The Archbishops have sought to clarify this guideline and
have decided that they will not normally consider an application for a faculty where the
current marriage is less than three years old.
The norm is for the Faculty to have been granted before a candidate attends a Panel. The
Sponsoring Papers should indicate if a Faculty is required and that it has been granted by
the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. If a Faculty is required and for some reason has
not been obtained, for example because of a Vacancy in See, the candidate will be
conditionally recommended with the following wording:
A Faculty in respect of Canon C4.3 is required before Candidate’s (Full Name) may be
ordained. A Faculty has not been granted by the Archbishops. She/He may enter training
but is Conditionally Recommended and may not be ordained without the Faculty.
However, DDOs will need to contact a Selection Secretary and discuss the matter before
such candidates are sponsored for a BAP.
Candidates for the Scottish Episcopal Church do not require a faculty.
Candidates who have been divorced, and who are now in civil partnerships do not require
a faculty.
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Safeguarding
In the light of Promoting a Safe Church (2006), Protecting all God’s Children (4th
Edition 2010) and Safeguarding Guidelines relating to Safer Recruitment (interim)
(2010) and in accordance with the House of Bishops, the current policy now includes
a three-stage process that is operative for clergy and others working with children,
young people and vulnerable adults:
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i)
ii)
iii)
A Confidential Declaration – Protection of Children, Young People and
Vulnerable Adults Form, declaring whether they have committed an
offence in the civil courts;
A full CV, an outline of any work with children, young people and
vulnerable adults, and an explanation of any gaps;
An Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
An Enhanced Disclosure from the DBS should be required for all candidates at two
points: before going to a Bishops’ Advisory Panel and prior to ordination. These
checks should be sufficient for most placement situations but occasionally a
placement agency may (on its own initiative) require an ordinand to acquire a further
disclosure.
It is important that initial checks are made reasonably early in the exploration process
and certainly before a candidate is sponsored to a Bishops’ Advisory Panel. This
would allow for any sensitive issues that emerge to be dealt with much earlier in the
discernment process. It is important that, even if a candidate has a DBS check for
another purpose, a new DBS check needs to be carried out for the purposes of
training for ordained ministry. DDOs should get candidates to show them the DBS
Certificate and take up any issues if necessary. It is usual for an officer, other than the
DDO, to be appointed in the diocese to deal with DBS checks, under the auspices of
the Diocesan Secretary or the Diocesan Bishop.
In view of the seriousness of this matter it was agreed that safeguarding procedures would
be a pre-requisite to a candidate attending a Bishops’ Advisory Panel (as with the Canon
C4 procedure, and the completion of the Statement of Financial Position). Where a
candidate goes to a Bishops’ Advisory Panel without having completed some or all of the
safeguarding requirements, then they would be conditionally recommended subject to all
safeguarding procedures being completed, with the following wording:
…On condition that all safeguarding procedures have been completed.
Safeguarding procedures are the responsibility of dioceses and not the training institutions.
DDOs should inform the Ministry Division in the Sponsoring Papers or subsequently
when safeguarding procedures have been completed.
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Health issues
For health and medical issues, please see the Medical Procedures Booklet.
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Disabilities
Please refer to the Medical Procedures Booklet.
There is a need for the gifts of disabled people to be taken seriously and their
contribution to the life of the Church to be affirmed. The Ministry Division’s Senior
Medical Adviser, the National Adviser for Disabilities and the National Adviser for Deaf
Ministry are always ready to help and advise in specific cases.
Some guidance for particular types of disabilities can be found below:
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i)
Blind or Deaf candidates
DDOs should consult a Selection Secretary at an early stage when they have a
blind or deaf candidate, as special arrangements for their assessment may need to
be made and these are likely to take longer than in the case of a sighted or hearing
candidate.
The Council for the Deaf and RNIB Clergy Group offer specialised support and
advice to DDOs and candidates if required. The Senior Medical Adviser, the
National Adviser for Disabilities and the National Adviser for Deaf Ministry are
available for consultation by DDOs. (Please see Appendix 2C for the policy on
The Selection and Training of Deaf Candidates for Ordination.)
ii)
Dyslexia and related learning difficulties
Candidates who have specific learning difficulties may find the processes of
selection, and theological training itself, a struggle if they are unsupported.
For this reason, it is important that this group of disabilities are correctly
identified prior to a candidate’s attendance at a Bishops’ Advisory Panel.
DDOs are urged to have those candidates for whom reading, writing and/or
spelling are problematic, tested prior to a Bishops’ Advisory Panel. The
weaknesses in many of these candidates may relate to a poor educational
background. However, some may have previously unsuspected problems.
Those with specific learning difficulties can then be assisted in finding
strategies to help them cope with the demands of training. Where a learning
difficulty is identified, the Panel Secretary will need to know so that
adjustments can be made to the administration of the Personal Inventory,
Presentation, Group Discussion and Pastoral Exercise.
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Guidelines for the sponsorship and care of candidates with a disability
a)
b)
c)
d)
23
The DDO is to alert a Selection Secretary when a candidate with a disability is
sponsored (in accordance with current advice).
The Bishops’ Advisory Panel Secretary will discuss with the candidate any
particular needs at the Panel.
The Panel Secretary will discuss the implications of each case with an
appropriate person, such as the National Adviser for Disabilities and/or the
National Adviser for Deaf Ministry, to ensure appropriate care at the Bishops’
Advisory Panel.
The Ministry Division recommends strongly that issues of deployment are
considered by the sponsoring diocese at the time of sponsorship, and that a title
parish is assisted in preparation for receiving a candidate prior to ordination.
Candidates from Local Ecumenical Partnerships
Candidates from Local Ecumenical Partnerships bring with them positive benefits of broad
ecumenical experience. Where a candidate from such a background has joint membership
of another denomination there are no legal requirements which prevent him/her from being
a candidate for selection for training. However, the primary denominational allegiance of
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such a candidate should be to the Church of England. Candidates from such backgrounds
may not have as much experience of Anglicanism as other candidates. This will be borne
in mind in the selection process, and may be highlighted as a training need by the Bishops’
Advisers.
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Ministers of other Churches
For information regarding Ministers of other Churches, please see Candidates Panel and
RDP Booklet.
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Reception into the Church of England
Candidates for ordained ministry in the Church of England who have been baptised but not
episcopally confirmed shall be confirmed prior to ordination. If they have not been
confirmed prior to attendance at a Bishops’ Advisory Panel, they shall have been received
into the Church of England. Candidates who have been episcopally confirmed with
unction or with the laying on of hands shall have been received into the Church of England
prior to attendance at a Bishops’ Advisory Panel (see Canon B28, 2 & 3).
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Members of religious communities
i)
It has been agreed by the Advisory Council on the Relations of Bishops and
Religious Communities that candidates from religious communities will usually be
expected to attend a Bishops’ Advisory Panel in the normal way.
ii)
In some cases special circumstances may apply. The Advisory Council on the
Relations of Bishops and Religious Communities’ A Directory of the Religious
Life refers to these and should be consulted in such cases (see chapter 10, para.
1014). The Directory points out that ‘the most likely exception will be a candidate
who would expect to exercise the ministry wholly within the community’s
houses’. It goes on to say that ‘applications for this special procedure should be
made by the community chapter to the Visitor. On the Visitor’s recommendation,
the ordaining Bishop will then consult the Ministry Division’.
iii)
Where there are grounds for this special procedure to be used, a candidate should
be interviewed by an experienced Bishops’ Adviser instead of attending a Bishops’
Advisory Panel. The Bishops’ Adviser, who should preferably be a person with
knowledge and understanding of the religious life, will provide a report to the
Candidates Panel. Advice will then be sent to the Bishop who has sponsored the
candidate. Alternatively, the Bishop is of course free to request the advice of the
Candidates Panel about the candidate, as in any ordinary case.
iv)
Candidates who are selected in this way are subject to the Bishops’ Regulations for
Training in the same way as all other candidates.
v)
The need for caution in applying this special procedure must be stressed. The
Directory underlines this in advising that ‘Bishops should bear in mind that a lay
religious may be tempted to seek ordination as a precaution against possible
separation from the community or closure of the community’. When candidates
who have been selected by this special procedure leave the community and wish to
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exercise their ministry outside it, the advice of the Candidates Panel should be
sought by the ordaining or licensing Bishop in the same way as for candidates who
wish to change their focus of ministry. This requirement applies both to candidates
in training and those who have already been ordained.
vi)
27
The Sponsoring Papers for a candidate should include a statement from the
community to which the candidate belongs indicating the nature of the proposed
ministry.
Forces candidates
All DDOs dealing with candidates currently serving in Her Majesty’s Forces should
contact the relevant Forces DDO before considering sponsorship of those candidates for a
Bishops’ Advisory Panel. This is because a Forces candidate is subject to specific terms of
engagement. The Forces DDO will be aware of the provisions made for release and will
help to ensure that the candidate is fully aware of the ramifications of seeking sponsorship
for ordination. The contact will also help to establish whether the candidate should be
sponsored by the Forces Bishop or a diocesan Bishop. Also there are sometimes financial
advantages accruing to ordination candidates serving in, or having served in, HM Forces
and it is important that these are not lost.
With regard to those who have recently left the Forces, the relevant Forces DDO may have
information of value in building up an informed and accurate picture of the candidature
and should be consulted in these cases, too.
28
Church Army Officers
Church Army Officers offering for ordained ministry are required to attend a Bishops’
Advisory Panel. At an appropriate point in the dealings with a candidate DDOs should
liaise with the Church Army authorities to alert them of the candidate’s intention. It may
also be appropriate to ask the Church Army to provide a reference.
Candidates subsequently recommended for training will be required to resign their
Commission at ordination.
29
Accredited Lay Ministers and deaconesses
These are usually handled through the Candidates Panel. Please see Candidates Panel and
RDP Booklet.
30
Immigration
For clarification of any issues relating to immigration, please contact the UK Border
Agency.
31
Candidates sponsored by a Bishop of another diocese in the Anglican Communion
seeking training in England
i)
Immigration issues will need to be clarified with the UK Border Agency.
13
ii)
Candidates sponsored by a Bishop of another diocese in the Anglican Communion
seeking training in England may be accepted at a theological college at the request
of their home Bishop without attending a Bishops’ Advisory Panel. However,
principals may ask them to attend a Bishops’ Advisory Panel in order to have
guidance about the most appropriate form and level of training for them.
iii)
These candidates are not eligible for grants from the Central Church Fund for
Ministerial Training which is only for the support of candidates who will work in
the two English Provinces. However, there are funds given to overseas dioceses
by the Church of England through mission agencies societies and other channels
which are often used by these dioceses to support their candidates. These
candidates would not be eligible for public education authority grants until they
had been resident in England for at least three years.
iv)
If such a candidate wished to be ordained/admitted in England then this would be
by Letters Dimissory from the overseas Bishop. The Archbishops of Canterbury
and York and the Bishop of London can give a Commission Dimissory for an
overseas Bishop. The diocesan Bishop must be satisfied about the fitness of the
candidate. The assurance of the overseas Bishop may normally be considered a
sufficient guarantee of this. The Bishop can ordain/admit by Letter Dimissory a
person without the requirement of an Oath of Allegiance.
Following ordination such a candidate would need permission to officiate in this
country from the Archbishop of the relevant English province under the Overseas
and Other Clergy (Ministry and Ordination) Measure of 1967.
32
Candidates from other Anglican Provinces seeking ordination in the Church of
England
i)
This needs to be read alongside the Candidates Panel and RDP Booklet. For
issues of immigration, please contact the UK Borders Agency.
ii)
Such candidates are required to fulfil the Bishops’ Regulations for Training.
iii)
Such candidates must be sponsored either directly by an English diocesan Bishop,
or by an English diocesan Bishop to whom they have been commended by their
home Bishop.
iv)
In order that such a candidate may become acclimatised to the English situation
and have personal experience of English church life, the Bishop would normally
expect him/her to have lived here for at least three years before starting
ordination training. After two years’ residence he/she might be sponsored to a
Bishops’ Advisory Panel.
v)
A candidate accepted for ordination/admission in this way would be expected to
serve in post in the English Provinces for at least three years after ordination/
admission. On condition that he/she intends to do so he/she would be eligible for
assistance from Central Funds. A candidate who has established three years’
residence in the United Kingdom may be eligible for a public authority grant.
14
33
vi)
A candidate who intends to return to his/her home Province after serving a first
appointment in England is required to be accepted as a candidate also by his/her
home Church.
vii)
In order to be ordained to a title post in England a candidate from an overseas
province or sponsored by the Bishop of an overseas province, must either have
attended a Bishops’ Advisory Panel, or have had the selection procedures
undergone overseas scrutinised by the Candidates Panel on behalf of the Bishop
offering the title post. In this latter case the Candidates Panel may recommend that
a Bishops’ Advisory Panel is appropriate.
American citizens and the Oath of Allegiance
Questions are often asked concerning citizenship implications for Americans wishing to be
ordained in the Church of England. In February 1996 the Consul at the Embassy of the
USA wrote:
‘The Department of State has held, and continues to hold, that the Oath of Allegiance to
her Majesty The Queen taken by American citizen clergymen solely as a requirement of
their positions as ecclesiastics within the Anglican Church Establishment is not considered
to be an expatriating act.
‘Naturalization as a British Citizen does not place one’s American citizenship in jeopardy
unless one specifically intends to lose one’s US citizenship. The United States
Government presumes that United States citizens intend to retain their citizenship when
they obtain naturalization in a foreign state. Please note that it is no longer necessary to
file an affidavit of intent to retain American citizenship before one naturalizes as a British
Citizen.’
34
Candidates from Wales, Scotland and Ireland
Please see Candidates Panel and RDP Booklet.
Appendix 2A – Guidelines on the Care of Candidates
Appendix 2B – Guidelines for Candidates in Civil Partnerships
Appendix 2C – The Selection and Training of Deaf Candidates for Ordination
Resources
Joint Ministries Consultation, ACCM Occasional Paper No. 16, 1983
Partners in Marriage and Ministry, ABM Ministry Paper No. 11, 1995
Issues in Human Sexuality. A Statement by the House of Bishops, GS Misc. 382, 1991
Some Issues In Human Sexuality, A guide to debate, GS Misc722, 2003
15
Appendix 2A
GUIDELINES ON CARE OF CANDIDATES
The care of all candidates before and after the Advisory Panel is extremely important and
DDOs need to bear the following issues in mind:
Work with the candidate before the Bishops’ Advisory Panel.

The importance of careful discernment and exploration of the vocation, looking at
different kinds of ministry (including involvement of Vocations Advisers and others.

Information about the discernment and selection process, both within the diocese and
nationally (e.g. a diocesan leaflet or booklet outlining the process and giving an
indication of the timescale). It should be made clear that the process might be lengthy
(e.g. 9-24 months from the initial point of seeing the DDO to going to an Advisory
Panel).

Information about and preparation for the possible outcome of the process, including
non-recommendation e.g. CPAS Resource Sheet No.13, On Being Not Recommended
for Training and When the Church says No, by Helen Thorp, Grove Booklet No.98).

The need to help the candidate to respond maturely to the outcome of the process.

The importance of ensuring that the candidate (and family, where appropriate) has
sufficient and effective support (e.g. spiritual director, good pastoral care, independent
advice).

Offer of help from an independent person not involved in the process.

The value of a meeting with the sponsoring bishop or suffragan bishop before and/or
after the Panel.
In the immediate aftermath of the panel

The importance of debriefing with somebody other than family or friends before the
out come is known.

The manner in which the bishop's decision is communicated should be considered
carefully.

The recognition that the candidate, especially if not recommended, will find it difficult
to absorb detailed information at this initial stage. Therefore, a fortnight after the
panel, careful debriefing with the candidate, which might usefully include some clear
notes about the reasons for the bishop's decision and/or a copy of the panel report.

The importance of reminding the candidate of the help available from a counselor or
listener.
16

After three months another meeting to talk about how the non-recommended
candidates is coping with the decision, what the process will be from now on. This
might involve initial contact with other agencies (e.g. those involved in vocations
advice, lay training, adult education, Reader training, etc.)
In the long term

After six months the opportunity of another meeting with the non-recommended
candidate. The agenda for this meeting may cover issues of redirection, the possibility
of coming back for sponsorship to another Panel, or letting go. In some cases the
DDO will maintain contact with the candidate, in others candidates need to leave the
‘discernment and selection process’ altogether.
17
Appendix 2B
Guidelines for DDOs and Bishops’ Advisers about Candidates in Civil Partnerships
In July 2005, the House of Bishops issued Civil Partnerships: A Pastoral Statement from the
House of Bishops. These Guidelines have been written in response to the Pastoral Statement
as it applies to candidates for ordination who are in civil partnerships at the point of selection.
The section in the Pastoral Statement which applies to clergy and candidates for ordination is
quoted in the Appendix to these Guidelines.
Preliminaries
1. DDO should inform the selection secretary facilitating the candidate’s BAP as soon as
possible.
Advice for Candidates (to be conveyed by DDOs)
2. Candidates in a civil partnership should not complete the married section of the
Registration Form. Rather the civil partnership should be addressed in the significant
events and relationships section of the Registration Form.
3. Candidates must be prepared to discuss the civil partnership at the BAP. Issues
around whether the nature of the relationship is in line with the House of Bishops’
Guidelines Issues in Human Sexuality will not be explored by Bishops’ Advisers at
the BAP. However the Pastoral Adviser is free to ask questions such as:
 How has your relationship with your civil partner helped you to grow and
flourish, and what will be its impact, if any, on your future ministry?

Have you experienced misunderstanding or even hostility to your civil
partnership and how do you manage your response?
(These issues will no doubt have been explored by the DDO prior to a
candidate attending a BAP).
Advice to DDOs completing Sponsoring Papers
4. DDOs need to address the issue of the civil partnership directly in their Sponsoring
Papers.
5. DDOs will need to spell out explicitly:
 How the diocese has addressed the issue of the civil partnership with the
candidate
 That the candidate is aware of the House of Bishops’ Guidelines and has
agreed that he/ she will live within them
 That the candidate and their civil partnership have been discussed fully with
the sponsoring bishop and that he is satisfied that the candidate’s situation is in
line with the House of Bishops’ Guidelines.
Advice to Bishops’ Advisers assessing candidates at a BAP
6. Candidates who are in civil partnerships can be sponsored for a BAP. In such cases
the nature of the civil partnership and in particular whether it is in line with the House
of Bishops’ Guidelines will be explored thoroughly by the sponsoring diocese and
evidence of that investigation will be outlined in the Sponsoring Papers.
18
7. Issues around whether the nature of the relationship is in line with the House of
Bishops’ Guidelines will not be explored by Bishops’ Advisers at the BAP. However,
the Pastoral Adviser is free to ask questions such as:
 How has your relationship with your civil partner helped you to grow and flourish,
and what will be its impact, if any, on your future ministry?

Have you experienced misunderstanding or even hostility to your civil partnership
and how do you manage your response?
8. If evidence emerged at a BAP whereby Bishops’ Advisers have serious concerns and
are persuaded that a candidate is not prepared to live within the House of Bishops’
Guidelines, the Bishops’ Advisers can express their concerns in their report to the
Bishop, which constitutes their advice to him.
January 2010
Appendix
From Civil Partnerships: A Pastoral Statement from the House of Bishops (2005):
Those wishing to be in ordained ministry and to register a civil partnership
19.
The House of Bishops does not regard entering into a civil partnership as intrinsically
incompatible with holy orders, provided the person concerned is willing to give assurances to
his or her bishop that the relationship is consistent with the standards for the clergy set out in
Issues in Human Sexuality. The wording of the Act means that civil partnerships will be
likely to include some whose relationships are faithful to the declared position of the Church
on sexual relationships (see paragraphs 2-7).
20.
The Church should not collude with the present assumptions of society that all close
relationships necessarily include sexual activity. The House of Bishops considers it would be
a matter of social injustice to exclude from ministry those who are faithful to the teaching of
the Church, and who decide to register a civil partnership. There can be no grounds for
terminating the ministry of those who are loyal to the discipline of the Church.
21.
Nevertheless, it would be inconsistent with the teaching of the Church for the public
character of the commitment expressed in a civil partnership to be regarded as of no
consequence in relation to someone in- or seeking to enter- the ordained ministry.
Partnerships will be widely seen as being predominantly between gay and lesbian people in
sexually active relationships. Members of the clergy and candidates for ordination who decide
to enter into partnerships must therefore expect to be asked for assurances that their
19
relationship will be consistent with the teaching set out in Issues in Human Sexuality.
22.
While clergy are fully entitled to argue, in the continuing debate, for a change in that
teaching, they are not entitled to claim the liberty to set it aside, simply because of the passage
of the Civil Partnerships Act. Because of the ambiguities surrounding the character and
public nature of civil partnerships, the House of Bishops would advise clergy to weigh
carefully the perceptions and assumptions which would inevitably accompany a decision to
register such a relationship.
20
Appendix 2C
The Selection and Training of Deaf* Candidates for Ordination
1.
2.
3.
Introduction
1.1.
God’s people who are called to ordained ministry come from a diversity of
backgrounds, bringing richness to the Body of Christ. Selection for ministry seeks to
take account of differing ages, ethnicities, educational backgrounds, worshipping
experience and life skills.
1.2.
The 2012 Annual Report of the Archbishops’ Council states:
The ordained and lay ministers of the Church of England are key to winning and
sustaining disciples for Christ. It is important for the flourishing of the Church and
its people that its ministers are well trained and supported, diverse and reflect the
society in which they minister. (para 30)
1.3.
The Church of England has been ministering among Deaf people for well over
100 years and recognises they may have vocations to lay and ordained ministries that
will need to be encouraged and tested. This document is designed to provide
guidelines to help all those involved in the discernment process.
Background
2.1.
Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users constitute a distinct cultural-linguistic
group within Britain. BSL is the language of everyday communication in Deaf
families and social clubs, but it is also the language of poetry and worship, able to
express the complexity of ideas and beliefs and the subtlety of emotions and feelings.
2.2.
In more recent times, Deaf people have been taking more of an active role in
the structures of the Church of England, through representation on General Synod
Deaf people have been exploring liturgy and worship in BSL that is authentic to their
community. The ordination and subsequent ministry of several Deaf priests has been
instrumental in this development and has also provided role models to encourage
other Deaf people to consider their calling.
2.3.
The Church of England needs to respond well to Deaf people who wish to test
their vocation at every step and this is outlined below.
The selection process
3.1.
Initial discernment
3.1.1. One of the priorities of the Committee for Ministry of and among Deaf and
Disabled People is that there should be provision in each diocese for Deaf people
who use BSL. However, at present, several dioceses have no such provision. In
*
This document employs the convention of using an upper case D when referring to Deaf people. This
indicates reference to Deaf, BSL users. For the purposes of this policy, Deaf people are defined as those whose
identify themselves as members of the Deaf community and who use British Sign Language (BSL) as their first,
or preferred language.
21
dioceses where there is a Chaplain with Deaf people, his or her language skills
may be variable and so there may not be someone who can readily talk with a
Deaf person about a call to ministry. Vocations in dioceses where there is no
active provision may be rare since there is no one to foster and encourage such
vocations. Nevertheless, they may arise, just as in parishes, people may rise to
leadership and discover a vocation during a vacancy.
3.1.2. In order that such vocations should not be overlooked, even where there is an
active provision, the National Adviser for Deaf Ministry should be consulted as
early as possible in the process to ensure that there is someone who is able to
meet with the Deaf person and discuss their calling in BSL as well as guide them
through the process.
3.1.3. Interviews in the diocese should take into account the candidate’s preferred
communication needs and suitably trained, registered BSL/English Interpreters
should be used if needed. Before any interviews take place, the interviewers
should be aware of the role of the interpreter and how using an interpreter
impacts on the dynamics of the interview (appendix I how to use a BSL/English
interpreter)
3.1.4. The use of an interpreter or interpreters is deemed a reasonable adjustment
under the Equality Act 2010 and should be funded by the candidate’s diocese.
3.2.
Bishops’ Advisory Panel
3.2.1. Particular care is needed in assessing candidates from a minority ethnic
background to ensure that ethnic and cultural aspects are taken into proper
consideration. Bishops’ Advisers should be aware of the danger of having
expectations of candidates which are inappropriate to their ethnic or cultural
background.
Particular care is also required in assessing candidates with disabilities to
ensure that their situation is taken into account in a realistic way. (Criteria for
Selection for the Ordained Ministry in the Church of England p. iv)
3.2.2. If the candidate is considered suitable to attend a Bishops’ Advisory Panel,
care needs to be taken that he or she is not disadvantaged either by reason that
their deafness may be viewed as a disability or by reason of their cultural
difference. In some cases, it may be preferable for candidates to be selected
through the Candidates Panel process where they would have three one-off
interviews with members of the Candidates Panel instead of attending a
residential panel. This possibility should be discussed with the candidate.
3.2.3. The Ministry Division may also request that the candidate is interviewed by
one of the Chaplains who is experienced and skilled and may be Deaf
themselves. The reason for this is because several activities used in a residential
BAP may disadvantage a Deaf candidate. For example, taking part in the group
discussion is always difficult when an interpreter is used since the interpreter
may be a few seconds behind the discussion, making it hard for a Deaf person to
contribute. The written personal inventory and pastoral exercise may prove
difficult for some Deaf candidates whose first language is BSL and not English.
22
These tasks should still be carried out, but the candidate may need more time,
support from someone to check their written English or may prefer to do these
tasks in BSL, which could then be translated into written English.
3.2.4. Whether the candidate attends a residential BAP, or sees advisers individually,
suitably trained, registered BSL/English interpreters should be used and all
involved should understand how to use an interpreter and how that impacts on
the dynamics of the interview process.
3.2.5. Interpreters for the BAP or the Candidates Panel will be funded by the
Ministry Division
4.
Training for Ordination
4.1.
Whether the candidate is trained on a full-time or part-time course, the
theological training institution (TEI) needs to take account of the requirements of the
Equality Act 2010 not to discriminate against disabled people. This is also a stated
requirement of Durham University, the validating partner of the TEIs.
4.2.
The TEI needs to make a full assessment, in consultation with the Deaf
candidate, of his or her needs for support, to enable them to access the training. This
may include the use of BSL/English interpreters, notetakers, specialist equipment and
adaptations to living accommodation. Other reasonable adjustments may be made
such as extensions to assignment deadlines in order that written English may be
checked.
4.3.
It is expected that the Deaf candidate will make application for any available
funding such as the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) and further discussions
should take place between the TEI and the Ministry Division regarding the funding of
educational support.
4.4.
The TEI, in consultation with the National Adviser for Deaf Ministry will
ensure that staff will receive Deaf awareness training in order to mitigate
disadvantage to the Deaf candidate.
23