August 02, 2004 - What is Clergy - Continued?

I'll comment on the following tomorrow, I think.

(From: http://www.adf.org/about/orgstructure.html)

Priests, Clergy Credentials, and Ordination

Having ordained clergy is important to any religion because such clergy members gain the ability to be officially recognized as clergy by their congregations, and where it matters, to their states also. There is also a benefit to the ADF membership and possibly Neopaganism in general when there are more officially recognized priests available to perform clerical rites and duties. Many people have contacted ADF over the years asking for a priest in their area who could help with marriage, house blessing/warding, with memorial rites, etc. and this is a need we are striving to fulfill.

There are two types of Priest in ADF: Dedicant Priests and Ordained Priests. Temporary clergy credentials are known as Dedicant Priest credentials and Ordained Clergy are permanent credentials.

At the time of this writing, ADF currently has several Ordained Priests. Due to the need for ordained clergy in our congregations, and in Neopaganism in general, our Dedicant and Ordianed Priests are currently in the process of creating a special track for ordination which is separate from the ADF Study Program.

The current policies on ordination and granting of clergy credentials are the following:

Ordained Priest Credentials

1. Only persons who have obtained 3rd circle or higher in the Priest, Liturgist-Priest or Seer-Priest specializations of the ADF Study Program are eligible to apply for ordination.
2. Eligible individuals may request consideration for ordination by the Clergy Council.
3. The Clergy Council will conduct a detailed examination of each candidate for ordination.
4. Following the examination of the candidate the Clergy Council will conduct a vote on ordination of the candidate.
5. Candidates who are approved for ordination by the Clergy Council will be ordained by the Archdruid.
6. If the Clergy Council does not approve the ordination in question the candidate will be given specific reasons for the denial and given clear recommendations to address the Clergy Council's concerns.
7. Ordained individuals are expected to keep their training current through continuing education and active practice. The Clergy Council retains the right to periodically reexamine said individuals and, if necessary, revoke their right to represent themselves as ADF clergy.

Dedicant Priest Credentials

1. Eligible individuals may request Dedicant Priest credentials by written request to the Chief of the Clergy Council.
2. Eligible individuals are defined as those who have completed the ADF Dedicant Training Program as published in the New Member's Guide and who have at least two cumulative years of experience in the position of Senior Druid of an ADF grove composed of at least 9 ADF members.
3. Following the verification of the individual's leadership experience the Clergy Council will approve the request for credentials by a simple majority vote.
4. Upon approval, the Clergy Council will make appropriate ceremonial arrangements and issue a Dedicant Priest Certificate which will be valid for a one year period.
5. Individuals who have been granted Dedicant Priest credentials may request extensions by contacting the Chief of the Clergy Council. In order for extensions to be granted the individual must demonstrate progress in either the Priest/ess, Liturgist, or Seer specialization of the ADF Study Program. Upon verification of said requirements the Clergy Council may grant up to two one-year extensions.
6. Individuals who have acquired second circle in either the Priest/ess, Liturgist, or Seer specializations of the ADF Study Program may be granted two additional one-year extensions for a grand total of four years.
7. Decisions by the Clergy Council to withhold credentials or extensions may be appealed to the Mother Grove by written request to the Members' Advocate.
8. Individuals who feel that they have a justifiable reason to hold lay clergy credentials, but who do not meet the stated requirements outlined in this policy may request credentials directly from the Mother Grove by written request to the Members' Advocate.
9. Dedicant Priest Credentials may be invalidated at any time by vote of the Mother Grove.

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