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• Discrenment Glossary

These may prove useful as you participate in the ordination process of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of California, Please bear in mind that this list is not exhaustive.

• "In the Process" — An individual who is formally beginning to work toward ordination (as a deacon or priest) under the sponsorship of a parish/mission, a diocese, and a bishop. At all times in the Process an individual is examining and discerning his/her vocation.
• Aspirant — One who is working toward entering the Process.
• Postulant — One who has formally begun the Process with the approval of his/her bishop.
• Candidate — One who has moved into the last step of the Process toward ordination with the approval of the bishop.
• Transitional Deacon — The ordination preceding that of Priest. Transitional deacons serve in the manner of all deacons, but only for six months or a year before being ordained Priest.
• C.V.C. — Congregational Vocations Commission —The group of laypersons appointed from a congregation to journey with the aspirant/postulant/candidate, to help in discernment of his/her vocation.
• C.O.M. — The Commission on Ministry. A group of twelve appointees, six clergy, six laypersons, who coordinate the Process and advise the bishop.
• Standing Committee — A group of eight elected individuals, four lay and four clergy, who represent the diocese and act, in some ways, as the bishop's vestry.
• Vocations Conference — Normally held once a year, a daylong series of interviews with an aspirant conducted by members of the C.O.M., and usually, of the Standing Committee. At a meeting of the C.O.M. following the conference, the interviewing team presents its evaluation and recommendation to the bishop and the full commission along with the other information in the aspirant's file. Shortly after this meeting, the aspirant will receive a letter from the bishop stating whether or not the bishop grants permission for the aspirant's advancement to postulancy.
• C.O.M. Liaison — A member of the C.O.M. who meets with a postulant or candidate at least four times each year, and, particularly, before each time a postulant or candidate meets with the C.O.M.. This person is available to provide advice and answer questions about the process. Sometimes called a "shepherd."
• M.Div. — The Masters of Divinity degree, granted (usually) after a three-year course of study at a school of theology. The M.Div. is the normative educational requirement for priesthood.
• M.T.S. — The Masters of Theological Studies, granted (usually) after one year of graduate study at a school of theology.
• S.F.D. — School For Deacons. The Diocese of California school which provides a three-year course of study for those aspiring to the diaconate. A requirement for ordination to the diaconate.
• G.T.U. — Graduate Theological Union, located in Berkeley. The nine member schools of the GTU are:
• • ABSW - American Baptist Seminary of the West
  • CDSP - Church Divinity School of the Pacific (this is ours!)
  • DSPT - Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology
  • FST - Franciscan School of Theology
  • JSTB - Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley
  • PLTS - Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
  • PSR - Pacific School of Religion .
  • SFTS - San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo (Presbyterian)
  • SKSM - Starr King School for the Ministry (Unitarian)
  • There are an additional twelve affiliated centers of the GTU.
• Canonical Examinations — Those exams required by canon law to be successfully passed by candidates for the diaconate.
• GOE's - General Ordination Examination — Those exams required by canon law to be successfully passed by candidates for the priesthood.
• Field Education — A supervised practicum in ministry, based in a site, usually a parish but also an agency or chaplaincy, in which the student learns hands-on ministry.
• Intern Year — A year during which a student takes a leave of absence from seminary to work full-time in a parish or similar setting. A full intern year may substituted for the required year of concurrent seminary.
• C.P.E.- Clinical Pastoral Experience — Required in-hospital supervised chaplaincy experience for those on the priesthood track.
• Scriptural Languages requirement — Required (by the Diocese of California, regardless of seminary requirements) study of Hebrew and/or Greek for those on the priesthood track
• S.M.L - Social Ministries Intensive — Required on-site practical experience of diaconal ministry, including dements of chaplaincy.
• Psychological/Psychiatric Examination — Required examination by a psychologist or psychiatrist appointed by the COM prior to Vocations Conference, at the aspirant's expense. A further psychiatric evaluation is required prior to a candidate's seeking ordination, this evaluation paid for by the diocese.
• Physical Examination — Required examination by a by a physician of the aspirant's choice, at the aspirant's expense. A further examination is required prior to a candidate's seeking ordination, and in this case free examinations available at St Luke's Hospital in San Francisco.
• Prayer Book Examination — Required examination of a postulants knowledge of the Book of Common Prayer. Administered by the priest in charge of a postulants congregation.
• Bible Content Examination — Required examination of a postulants biblical knowledge, administered by the C.O.M.
• Ember Letters — Letters written to the bishop four times a year reflecting on personal development as well as academic and field experience. Required of all postulants transitional deacons by the national canons.