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Both Ordained and licensed Lay Ministries are recognised in the Free Church of England.
The Preface to the Ordinal in the Book of Common Prayer, states -
"It is evident that from the earliest times there have been these Ministers in Christ's Church: Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons. Which Offices were evermore had in such reverend Estimation, that no man might presume to execute any of them, except he were first called, tried, examined and known to have such qualities as are requisite for the same; and were admitted thereunto by lawful Authority."
The Ordinal provides forms of service for the Making, Ordaining and Consecrating of Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons, which are those hallowed by use in the Established Church since the Reformation, with one or two minor modifications in the services for ordaining Presbyters and consecrating Bishops, to bring them into line with the principals of this Church.
Ordination. To be ordained in the FCE, a man must have first and foremost a calling from God, which will have shown itself in various ways over a period of time. He must be a baptised and confirmed member of the FCE. He must be a man of prayer, knowledgeable in the Scriptures. He must also have a good standard of education, preferably to degree level. He will explore his calling together with the Minister of his parish who may later send him to see the Diocesan Bishop, with whom he will further explore his vocation. It is the Bishop's decision whether or not to send the candidate to a Selection Committee for interview. The examination and training system for Ordained and Lay Ministries is currently undergoing review by the Examination Board. Becoming a Deacon is the first stage of Ordained Ministry. After a period of no less than one year, and further examination, a Deacon may then be ordained Presbyter.
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A Presbyter following his Ordination
Bishops. When an Episcopal vacancy occurs in a diocese, the Synod of that diocese elects one of the Presbyters to be the next Bishop. His election has to be confirmed by the production of a Certificate signed by Convocation, and then by a two-thirds majority in Convocation. At a time and place to be decided by the Bishop Primus, the Bishop-elect is Consecrated according to the form and manner prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer, by at least two other Bishops, one of whom is normally the Bishop Primus. Our current Primus is the Rt Rev'd John D. M. MacLean, elected at Convocation 2010 on the retirement of Bishop Kenneth Powell who was given the title Primus Emeritus in recognition of his long service in that office, and as a diocesan Bishop.
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The late Bishop Cyril Milner, Primus (centre) with Bishop Kenneth Powell (right) and the Rev Dr Sergei Makov in St. Petersburg, Russia
To the Bishop is committed the authority to Consecrate and Ordain other Ministers and to administer the rite of Confirmation. He is the pastor of the pastors in his diocese. He is also the focus of unity and orthodoxy and the ultimate appeal in matters of Church discipline in his diocese.
As with the Established C of E, lay ministry takes the form of Lay Readers, who after a course of study and examination are licensed by the Bishop of the Diocese to lead non-sacramental worship and to preach. Lay Readers are not to be seen as substitutes for Ordained Ministers; rather, the Office of Lay Reader should be understood as a ministry in its own right.
A candidate for Lay Readership should in the first instance approach his Parish Minister. Because a Lay Reader works under the Minister's direction, he must be acceptable to the Minister. It is up to the Minister to recommend the candidate to the Bishop of the Diocese, in writing. The candidate must undergo a course of study, as directed by the Bishop and determined by the Examination Board. If successful, he is then licensed by the Bishop or his Commissary, usually during the course of a Sunday service of Morning or Evening Prayer, in the church where he is to serve. A Lay Reader is licensed for a period of one year; his license is subject thereafter to annual renewal and may be revoked at the absolute discretion of the Bishop at any time.
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A Lay Reader in canonical robes after a service of Baptism
After the Reformation, it was the practice of the Church of England to receive as Ministers, without the necessity of re-ordination, men who had been ordained under Presbyterian administration, always provided that if any such were later elected Bishop, he would receive full Episcopal consecration.
This practice fell into disuse in Victorian times with the rise of the Tractarian doctrine of the 'Apostolical Succession'. The FCE Prayer Book recognises the validity of the Reformation practice by providing, after the Ordinal, a form of service for the reception of a Minister who has already been Ordained in another Church. More often than not, unless a man has already been Episcopally Ordained Presbyter (or "Priest"), he may be received as a Deacon and then raised to the Presbyterate in another service a little later on.
Any Minister seeking reception, must have valid reasons for leaving his former Church; he must be in complete sympathy with FCE doctrines and practices and with our whole ethos. He may therefore be required to undertake certain studies as directed by the Bishop Primus and the Examination Board. He must also show his reasons for wishing to join us and all the Bishops of the FCE must be in agreement as to the validity of those reasons before he can be admitted.
MINISTERIAL VACANCY
Christ Church, Willesborough, in Kent is seeking a man called by God, a talented Minister who can lead this dedicated and active congregation in service and mission.
If you are that man, then contact, in the first instance, the Diocesan Bishop, the Rt Rev. Paul Hunt, M.Sc., 329, Wolverhampton Road West, Willenhall, WV13 2RL Telephone: 01902 607335 Email: church@revpaulhunt.wanadoo.co.uk .