Canon 19 Of Ordination to the Diaconate
Section 1.
A candidate for Holy Orders, having passed the required examinations, shall apply to the Bishop to be ordained deacon, also submitting a recommendation from the priest who endorsed him as a postulant (or another priest who has knowledge of the candidate), a recommendation of the vestry of the parish to which he belongs, and the recommendation of the Council of Advice.
Section 2.
When the requirements of Section 1 have been satisfied, the Bishop shall take order for the ordination of the candidate to the diaconate. The man ordained to the diaconate shall remain a deacon for at least one year before being ordained to the priesthood, provided that the Bishop may shorten this time to not less than six months. In special cases, a candidate may be admitted to the perpetual diaconate with the approval of the Bishop and the Council of Advice, provided that he has passed the examinations required by Canon 17, Section 5.
Section 3.
A deacon ordained under the provisions of this canon shall exercise his ministry as assistant in any parish or parishes to which, at the request or with the consent of the Rector and vestry, he may be assigned by the Bishop. As such, he may execute all functions pertaining to the office of deacon. He may not serve as a Minister in charge of a congregation except under the supervision of a diocesan priest. He may not be transferred to another jurisdiction without the written permission of the Ecclesiastical Authority thereof.
Section 4.
Before his advancement to the priesthood, the deacon shall pass examinations in the following subjects:
1) Holy Scripture: The Old and New Testaments in English, their contents and historical background; a reading knowledge of the New Testament in Greek, together with a special knowledge of one Synoptic Gospel and the Gospel according to John, and of three Epistles, one of which shall be Romans or First Corinthians. If a candidate desires a dispensation from examination in the Greek of the New Testament, he shall make application to the Bishop in writing, stating his reasons for the request. A candidate so dispensed shall be held to the requirements of this section in English.
2) Church History: From the beginning to the present time; together with:
a) Special knowledge of a period or topic elected by the candidate with the approval of the examining Chaplains;
b) The History, extent and methods of Christian Missions;
c) Ecclesiastical Polity;
3) Theology: Historical, philosophical, and systematic;
4) Christian Ethics and Moral Theology;
5) Liturgics: The principles and history of Christian worship;
the contents of the Book of Common Prayer;
6) Practical Theology;
a) The use of the Book of Common Prayer, the administration of the Sacraments, and the conduct of public worship;
b) Homiletics: Principles of sermon composition and delivery.
In connection with the examination in this subject the candidate shall present three sermons of his own composition on texts of Holy Scripture appointed by the Bishop.
c) Pastoral care;
d) Parish organization and administration, including the keeping of records;
e) Principles and methods of Christian education in the parish;
f) Canon Law, including the Constitution and Canons of the Church and of the Diocese to which the candidate belongs;
g) The use of the voice in reading and speaking.
7) He must also offer one of the following elective subjects:
a) Hebrew;
b) The History of Religions;
c) The Philosophy of Religion;
d) Advanced Sociology;
e) Advanced Psychology;
f) Church Music;
g) Advanced Exegesis of the Greek New Testament;
h) Advanced Theology;
i) Advanced pastoral care/counseling.
The Board of Examining Chaplains may, in lieu of examination, accept satisfactory evidence of the fulfillment of the requirements in any of the above mentioned elective subjects.