PRIEST ORDINATON
- What is discernment of Holy Orders?
- What is spiritual direction? How do I find a spiritual director?
- What is the Commission on Ministry?
- What are the different stages of the process of ordination to the priesthood?
- How do I become an aspirant?
- How do I become a nominee?
- What is a parish discernment committee?
- How do I become a postulant?
- If I am ordained in another Christian denomination, what steps should I follow?
- What are the coursework and degree requirements for a seminary education?
- What is CPE?
- What if I have already attended seminary, and/or received a degree?
- What financial support is available to seminarians for seminary expenses?
- How do I become a candidate?
- What is the Standing Committee?
- What are the GOEs?
- When am I able to look for jobs outside the diocese of North Carolina?
- How do I look for jobs as a priest in the Episcopal Church?
- How do I apply for the transitional diaconate?
- When does the diocesan ordination to the diaconate take place?
- How do I apply for the priesthood?
- When does the diocesan ordination to the priesthood take place?
- What is the diocesan residency program?
- How do the North Carolina diocesan priorities relate to the recruitment of persons to the ordained ministry, regarding anti-racism, bi-vocational ministry, rural and vulnerable congregations, and lifelong Christian formation?
CONTACTS & LEADERSHIP
The Rev. Canon Marion Sprott
The Rev. Canon Marion Sprott
Tranisition Ministry Officer
919-600-5319
EMAIL
A native of South Carolina, Marion earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music degree from the University of South Carolina. She worked as a collaborative pianist with regional opera and theater companies prior to pursuing a call to ordained ministry.
She answered that call, graduating from The School of Theology at the University of the South, Sewanee, in 2019. Following her ordination that same year, she served as associate rector at St. Martin’s, Charlotte. From there, Marion became the second vicar of Church of the Advocate, Chapel Hill, before becoming its first rector when the Advocate moved from mission to parish status at the diocese’s 208th Annual Convention in November 2023.
Marion is married to the Rev. Sara Arnette, who is the associate rector at Emmanuel Church in Southern Pines, where the two make their home with a boisterous Labrador named Abraham.
The Rev. Karen Connor McGugan
Co-chair, Commission on Ministry for the Priesthood
Lois Sauer
Co-chair, Commission on Ministry-Priesthood
Lois Sauer
Co-chair, Commission on Ministry-Priesthood
EMAIL
What is discernment of Holy Orders?
What is spiritual direction? How do I find a spiritual director?
What is the Commission on Ministry?
What are the different stages of the process of ordination to the priesthood?
- Aspirant
- Nominee
- Intern
- Postulant
- Seminarian
- Candidate
- Transitional deacon
- Priest
How do I become an aspirant?
- Be confirmed as an Episcopalian and a member of good standing in a church in the diocese of North Carolina for a minimum of one year. It is highly recommended that you become involved in the ministries of your parish.
- Meet with a priest in your parish and have conversations about the process of discernment and the call to the priesthood. If your priest feels you are experiencing a calling and wishes for you to explore further discernment, you may be nominated by your sponsoring parish.
How do I become a nominee?
- Have your sponsoring presbyter submit your nomination to the diocesan office by Advent I. The form must be signed by your priest and the members of your parish vestry. Your priest will also write a letter to the bishop recommending you to explore further discernment.
- At this stage, your priest will also organize a parish discernment committee and begin the process of group discernment with you.
What is a parish discernment committee?
Parish discernment committees are made up of members of your parish church. Some of the people will know you well, and others might not. The sponsoring presbyter selects the persons who will serve on this committee for you. The committee will meet a minimum of six sessions with you to determine whether or not they believe you are experiencing a call to the priesthood, and will submit their report to your vestry and to the diocese on your behalf. The aspirant will write a spiritual autobiography essay for use in these discernment sessions. A description of the assignment can be found here. Information to guide the sessions for parish discernment committees can be found here. Parish discernment committees must meet with a member of the Commission on Ministry for an orientation before beginning their work. Please contact the Rev. Marion Sprott to set up a meeting prior to the first session with the aspirant.
How do I become a postulant?
- Shortly following your nomination by your sponsoring presbyter on or before the first Sunday in Advent, you will receive assignments from the chair of the Commission on Ministry. They will include an application form, a spiritual autobiography, several essay questions, a life history and other documents. You will be asked to complete a physical examination from your doctor, as well as a psychological evaluation from a diocesan counselor. You will also complete your sessions with your parish discernment committee. All materials and evaluations are due by March 15 to the diocesan office.
- After your materials are reviewed, you will meet with our diocesan bishop for a one-on-one interview. He will ask you about the calling you are experiencing, and your readiness to serve in a diocesan internship. With the bishop’s approval, you will be assigned a part-time diocesan internship at a congregation in your area. This internship will take place from June-December, and upon completion, you and your supervisor will submit an evaluation of your time in this congregation in leadership.
- In January, interns will interview for postulancy with the Commission on Ministry at a two day conference in Raleigh or another location. These interviews are focused on your prayer life, your theology and faith in Jesus Christ, your gifts for congregational leadership, and your personal life, including your family’s needs, your finances and your support systems. The Commission, in consult with the bishop, determines whether a calling to the priesthood is apparent, or not, or if more discernment is needed before a calling can be identified. Applicants are notified by the bishop if they are to be made postulants. From that time they will begin the process of applying to seminary, or determining what kind of additional formation is needed in the months to come.
If I am ordained in another Christian denomination, what steps should I follow?
Under Canon II.10.3, you will enter the process of discernment with the Diocese of North Carolina by beginning at the stage of aspirant, following your confirmation/membership into the Episcopal Church. You will be nominated by your sponsoring parish, meet with your parish discernment committee, and complete all paperwork and essays for postulancy, but you will interview with the Commission on Ministry for both postulancy and candidacy at the same time at the overnight retreat. Additional formational work or an Anglican year at an Episcopal seminary may be required, as well as evaluation in the form of the GOEs.
What are the coursework and degree requirements for a seminary education?
A three-year Masters of Divinity at an approved, accredited Episcopal seminary is required. Decisions about choosing a seminary are made with the approval of the bishop. Specific coursework requirements will vary from person to person and will depend on the recommendations of the bishop and the Commission on Ministry. A unit of CPE is required by the time the postulant applies for candidacy in the second year of seminary.
What is CPE?
CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) is a placement in a hospital or intensive care facility for a seminarian to learn skills in chaplaincy, crisis and pastoral care. Information about accredited CPE centers can be found at acpe.edu. CPE is usually completed during the summer following the first year of seminary.
What if I have already attended seminary and/or received a degree?
The discernment process begins at the stage of aspirant regardless of previous educational experience. Additional educational formation may still be required following acceptance to postulancy, whether it includes a residential Anglican year, a unit of CPE or an M.Div. at an Episcopal seminary. While the Diocese of North Carolina accepts all applicants to the process of discernment, it is not advised to begin seminary independent of the ordination process.
What financial support is available to seminarians for seminary expenses?
The Diocese of North Carolina offers an annual grant toward tuition for postulants. For specific amounts, contact the Rev. Marion Sprott. Sponsoring parishes are encouraged to financially support their seminarians as well. The cost of the GOEs is also fully funded for postulants.
How do I become a candidate?
Candidacy interviews take place in March of the second year of seminary. These interviews are with two groups, the Commission on Ministry and the Standing Committee, usually in the same weekend (Saturday and Monday).You will submit a pre-candidacy reflection essay, an application and certificate of minister and vestry from your sponsoring priest and vestry, your seminary Middler evaluation and your CPE evaluations. Your interviews with both committees will focus on your formation and readiness for ministry, your prayer life and relationship with God, and your leadership skills gained in seminary. The Commission or bishop may make recommendations for continued education in specific areas based on these interviews.
What is the Standing Committee?
The Standing Committee is an elected body of clergy and lay persons from the Diocese of North Carolina, charged with the responsibility of counsel of advice to the bishop as well as oversight of many areas of ministry, including ordination of priests. In the Diocese of North Carolina, the Standing Committee interviews postulants for candidacy and interviews candidates for the transitional diaconate.
What are the GOEs?
The GOEs, or General Ordination Exams, are a series of exams taken in the third year of seminary. They evaluate six canonical areas of education: the Holy Scriptures, Church history, Christian theology, worship, the practice of ministry, and Christian ethics and moral theology. If someone does not demonstrate proficiency in one or more of these areas, the diocesan Board of Examining Chaplains will assign additional work as they deem necessary until the Candidate does demonstrate proficiency. It is not advised for a person to take the GOEs before postulancy.
When am I able to look for jobs outside the diocese of North Carolina?
The bishop and Canon Catherine Massey will confer with you about the right time to look for jobs in ordained ministry and offer advice about what parishes might be a good fit for you as you interview for positions.
How do I look for jobs as a priest in the Episcopal Church?
The diocesan transitions officer, the Rev. Marion Sprott, will be available for consultation and exploration of available jobs not only in North Carolina but throughout the Episcopal Church.
What is the transitional diaconate? How do I apply for it?
Ordination to the Priesthood is preceded by ordination to a Transitional Diaconate of no less than six months, appointment to a cure (ministry assignment), recommendation from the deacon’s supervising clergy and vestry, recommendation from the COM and the certification of the Standing Committee. Candidates for the transitional diaconate are interviewed by the Standing Committee and the Commission on Ministry in April. GOEs and CPE must be completed by this time. You will submit both an application completed by you and an endorsement from your sponsoring presbyter and vestry, and complete Title IV training, an updated physical exam and a background check.
When does the diocesan ordination to the diaconate take place?
Generally in June every year, in consult with the bishop and the diocesan calendar. In no case may a date or announcement of ordination be set or made without the consent of the bishop.
How do I apply for the priesthood?
Priesthood interviews with the Commission on Ministry take place in October. You will submit an application completed by you and an endorsement from your sponsoring presbyter and vestry prior to your interview.
