Canon 16 Of Postulants
Section 1.
An adult male communicant member of this Church who believes himself called to the Sacred Ministry shall consult the Rector or Priest in Charge of his parish or, if there is none where he lives, some other priest. If encouraged to persevere, he should apply to the Bishop for admission as a postulant. The application for postulancy shall state:
1) Name;
2) Date and place of birth;
3) Date and place of Baptism;
4) Date and place of Confirmation with the name of the confirming bishop;
5) Date and place of admission to Communion;
6) Whether he has applied previously to any bishop for admission as a postulant, with full details;
7) The grounds on which he believes himself to be called to the Sacred Ministry. In addition, the Bishop shall require an extensive background check of the applicants financial and criminal history.
Section 2.
Within sixty days of the receipt of the application, the Bishop shall notify the applicant of the acceptance or rejection of his application. If the applicant is accepted, this fact is to be recorded in the records of the diocese and the Board of Examining Chaplains is to be notified.
Section 3.
The life, preparation and study of a postulant shall be directed by the Bishop and the Board of Examining Chaplains.
Section 4.
The postulant shall report to the Bishop personally or by letter four times a year during the Ember seasons regarding his manner of life, his spiritual state and the progress of his studies.
Section 5.
Before entering into his course of theological studies, the postulant shall lay before the Bishop and the Board of Examining Chaplains satisfactory evidence that he possesses a satisfactory diploma from a college or university together with a full statement of the work done by him. If this work is deemed sufficient, no other examination shall be required. If it is not, the postulant shall pass examinations in the following subjects:
1) English, grammar and rhetoric;
2) a reading knowledge of an ancient or modem language other than English;
3) History, ancient and modem;
4) Mathematics;
5) at least one of the natural sciences;
6) the Literature commonly associated with the great works of Western Civilization;
7) Philosophy and Religion;
8) at least one of the Social Sciences.
Section 6.
If the Postulant has attained the age of forty years, and has shown such proficiency in business or professional life as gives promise of usefulness in the ministry, the Bishop, upon recommendation of the Board of Examining Chaplains, may at his discretion, dispense him from the examination in all but the following subjects:
(1) English:
(a) Language, grammar and rhetoric; and
(b) Literature, English and American;
(2) History, ancient and modern;
(3) One of the following subjects:
(a) Mathematics,
(b) A Natural or Social Science,
(c) Philosophy,
(d) Psychology.
Section 7.
The Bishop may remove any postulant who fails to be accepted as a candidate after the lapse of two years from the date of his acceptance as a postulant, noting this fact in the Diocesan Records and notifying the postulant so removed.