Bishops' Selection Conference
Encyclopedia
In the Church of Ireland
, the Bishops' Selection Conference is an annual panel of church members, representing both clergy
and laity
, who assess candidates offering themselves for consideration for training for the ordained ministry.
The Selection Panel is composed of a Bishop
, a Priest
, two members of the laity, and a representative of the Church of Ireland Theological College.
Candidates can be men or women from any of the dioceses in the Church of Ireland, seeking either to enter stipend
iary ministry or non-stipendary ministry (NSM).
Prospective candidates generally must be a member of their diocese's Fellowship of Vocation
for at least one year before their Bishop will consider putting them forward for the Selection Conference, who does so on the recommendation of their Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) and after satisfactory performance at pychological and academic testing at a Pre-Selection Conference, usually held in January.
Interview questions are tailored for each candidate but follow general themes: spirituality, understanding of vocation, vision and leadership, etc.
After interviewing each candidate, the Selection Panel can make one of four recommendations to his or her Bishop:
1. Recommended for training
2. Conditional recommendation for training
3. Not recommended for training
4. Defer the decision until the following year
The Bishops are not bound by the recommendations of the Selection Conference.
Candidates recommended for training may commence theological study within three years of their acceptance. Candidates not recommended for training generally must wait for two years before re-applying (in which case the new Selection Panel is not informed of their previous application).
The current Chairman of the Selection Conference is the Right Reverend Ken Clarke (Bishop of Kilmore), and its Secretary is Karen Seaman.
http://ireland.anglican.org/index.php?do=news&newsid=766 Annual Report 2004
http://ireland.anglican.org/index.php?do=news&newsid=765 Annual Report 2002
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
, the Bishops' Selection Conference is an annual panel of church members, representing both clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
and laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
, who assess candidates offering themselves for consideration for training for the ordained ministry.
The Selection Panel is composed of a Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, a Priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, two members of the laity, and a representative of the Church of Ireland Theological College.
Candidates can be men or women from any of the dioceses in the Church of Ireland, seeking either to enter stipend
Stipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
iary ministry or non-stipendary ministry (NSM).
Prospective candidates generally must be a member of their diocese's Fellowship of Vocation
Fellowship Of Vocation
In the Church of Ireland, individuals who feel called to the ministry in its widest sense are asked to meet together regularly in what is known as a Fellowship of Vocation in order to:...
for at least one year before their Bishop will consider putting them forward for the Selection Conference, who does so on the recommendation of their Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) and after satisfactory performance at pychological and academic testing at a Pre-Selection Conference, usually held in January.
Interview questions are tailored for each candidate but follow general themes: spirituality, understanding of vocation, vision and leadership, etc.
After interviewing each candidate, the Selection Panel can make one of four recommendations to his or her Bishop:
1. Recommended for training
2. Conditional recommendation for training
3. Not recommended for training
4. Defer the decision until the following year
The Bishops are not bound by the recommendations of the Selection Conference.
Candidates recommended for training may commence theological study within three years of their acceptance. Candidates not recommended for training generally must wait for two years before re-applying (in which case the new Selection Panel is not informed of their previous application).
The current Chairman of the Selection Conference is the Right Reverend Ken Clarke (Bishop of Kilmore), and its Secretary is Karen Seaman.
Sources
http://ireland.anglican.org/cmsfiles/files/aboutus/theologicalcollege/selconf.pdf Guide to Selection Conferenceshttp://ireland.anglican.org/index.php?do=news&newsid=766 Annual Report 2004
http://ireland.anglican.org/index.php?do=news&newsid=765 Annual Report 2002