We are glad you have come to this page and are potentially discerning a call to feed and take care of the Lord’s flock with us.
The call to ministry is a wonderful thing and we wish to encourage you in your consideration of what your call means. A call to ministry is also a serious undertaking; ordination is a lifelong commitment, and your felt inward call should therefore not be acted upon hastily but be given time to grow and be fully discerned. If you have done that and possess the conviction that you have an inward call to lifelong ministry, the second step is an outward affirmation. In the United Catholic Church, the outward affirmation has two parts, first an affirmation by people in your local community, and then also by this church on behalf of the whole church and the apostolic tradition. This step involves deliberately testing and assessing your potential for service to the body of Christ.
In our discernment of a candidate’s call, we are looking to affirm that the individual has the capacity to teach and preach Christian Catholic doctrine in good conscience, and with an understanding and personal conviction that is accountable to the faith which has been passed on to us by the apostles.
A psychological profile is done early in the process. Here we are seeking to determine if the applicant possesses the personal gifts for ministry including a realistic self-awareness, the ability to work patiently with others, and the ability to share agape love in service to others. A background check is also performed. The applicant’s theological education is also evaluated. This review is designed to be ensure that the people you will serve as a cleric will be supported by someone who has the educational credentials to be effective in their ministry. A multi-part application is also submitted in which the applicant describes their spiritual journey and felt call to both ministry in general, and in the United Catholic Church in particular, along withe the candidate’s plan for their working ministry. If accepted as a candidate for incardination or ordination, a Clergy Trainer will then be assigned to the candidate, and together with the candidate, will design a study program appropriate for the candidate’s plans and background.
There are some other caveats you should also keep in mind as you consider if the United Catholic Church is the right home for you:
The United Catholic Church holds to local church theology, and therefore our scope of service and ministry is limited to North America.
The United Catholic Church ordains or incardinates a cleric only in relation to an approved ministry; we do not support general ordination. It is therefore very important that you are able to clearly and comprehensively work out what it is that you intend to do in ministry given the ordination you seek. Having a generic or loose idea is not sufficient; as part of your application, you must present a clear and well-defined plan on how you practically are or plan to go about doing this ministry.
The United Catholic Church is a US Department of Defense approved endorser for chaplains serving in all branches of the US Military and for the VA. We have also endorsed chaplains for healthcare and prison chaplaincy positions. If your goal is chaplaincy and you are seeking a chaplaincy endorsement as a United Catholic Church deacon or priest, please note that you must first serve as a working cleric in the United Catholic Church at the level of ordination that will be required by your goal position, before the endorsement you seek will be given.
Lastly, we believe that ordination to the ministry is a lifelong call and not just for a season. Clergy people in this church are therefore also expected to maintain an active approved ministry going forward and to participate in continuing education.
May God guide you and bless you on your journey to serve Him and His people!