Frequently Asked Questions

Yes we do. We accept women and LGBTQIA+ to the priesthood. We believe that all people are created in the image of God and therefore we do not deny them the opportunities to serve God as clergy. For more information about our views of LGBTQIA+ please click here and for more on Female Clergy please click here.

We are a young and growing church. That means you have the opportunity to define your ministry, whether parish priest or hospital chaplain. We have both in our organization, and there is room for more. If you feel inclined to “grow” a parish where you are currently living, we offer you all the support and training you will need, spiritually and personally. The sky’s the limit and your abilities and desires will be the determining factor in the type of ministry you choose.

A vocation is God’s invitation or calling to each individual to love and serve Him and His Church in a particular state or way of life. That state or way of life may be a call to be a doctor, lawyer or even a priest.

The following outlines the procedures and steps required by potential candidates for Ordination to the Priesthood and Diaconate and also for Candidates for Secular Incardination:

1. Consultation with the bishop or director of Vocations.
2. Completion of application and all required documentation.
   1. Certificates of:
      1. Baptism
      2. Confirmation
      3. Marriage(s), (if applicable)
   2. Copies of civil divorce decrees and annulments or grants of dissolution (if applicable)
   3. Married candidates must also provide the written consent of their spouse prior to beginning the formation program
   4. Completion of required criminal background check
   5. Completion of required psychological examination
   6. Completion of the Stewards of Children program
3. The Candidate goes through a six (6) month discernment process during which they work with us. This is to make sure they are a good fit for the OCCI and that they feel the OCCI is a good fit for them.
4. Evaluation and recommendation of the candidate by a clerical review panel assembled by vocations director who then makes a recommendation to the Diocesan bishop.
5. Diocesan bishop then accepts or rejects the candidate. (Note: this acceptance is provisional only. The Diocesan bishop reserves the right to dismiss any candidate from the program for a canonical reason.).
6. Reception of Minor Order of Cleric at the beginning of graduate studies
7. Reception of Minor Order of Subdeacon mid-way in the academic program
8. Candidacy will be celebrated at the discretion of the Diocesan bishop (Note: reception of the Minor Orders will be at the discretion of the Diocesan bishop if the candidate has completed the required academic studies prior to entering our formation program).
9. After all required academic studies have been certified as completed and prior to beginning the internship, the candidate shall be ordained to the Order of Deacon.
10. Completion of the required internship program and education program.
11. Ordination to the Presbyterate.

(The requirements for clerical Incardination are very identical up to step 8. A cleric seeking Incardination normally has already completed the required studies and received all the Minor Orders. After the Diocesan bishop accepts the candidate for Incardination, the bishop will grant the candidate temporary faculties as a “cleric-in-residence.” The length of time of this required “probationary” period is at the discretion of the Diocesan bishop after consultation with the clergy of the Diocese.)

The application of any candidate for Orders, Religious Life or Incardination will be considered for approval only after ALL required materials and documentations are submitted.

Yes, as in the ancient church, its clergy are free to marry should they wish. We totally and completely reject the doctrine of forced clerical celibacy.

Yes, we do. The Old Catholic Churches International does not choose its clergy on the basis of gender but rather their individual suitability for ministry.

Homosexuality is part of the human condition and our friends and family in the LGBTQIA+ community are encouraged, along with their heterosexual brothers and sisters, to live full creative lives under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We therefore place no prohibition on our LGBTQIA+ friends and family that would bar them from the priesthood or religious life.

We recognize divorce as a reality, and we allow divorced persons seek admittance as clergy in our church.

Yes, all the Old Catholic Churches International’s clergy are validly ordained within the Apostolic Succession, passed on to it directly through the Roman and Old Catholic traditions and many more.