Ordination Process
The Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer teaches that: “The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests and deacons.” While all are called to follow Christ in worship, work, prayer and outreach for the spread of God’s kingdom, some are called in particular to ordained ministry in the Church.
The call to ordained ministry is experienced by different people in different ways. It is vitally important to understand that discernment regarding the calling to ordained ministry is not merely between an individual and God. The Church too must hear and affirm a person’s call to ministry. Thus the process of formation around clarifying and responding to a call begins in your local parish.
To enter the ordination process in the Diocese of Nebraska (all of the Episcopal churches in the state of Nebraska), you must be a Baptized Christian, and have been a member in good standing in one of our parishes for at least a year, and must have been a member of the Episcopal Church for at least two years.
The Vocational Inventory Retreat (VIR) will be held November 18-20, 2026
Applications to attend the VIR are due no later than October 23, 2026.
Read more about the Bishop's expectations and the Theological Education Requirements for persons entering the discernment process.
| The first step is: Parish Level Discernment | |
|
The Diaconate |
The Priesthood |
|---|---|
| Nomination to Postulancy | |
| Postulancy to Candidacy | |
| Candidacy to Ordination | |
|
Contact Information |
|
|
Diocesan Office: |
The Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska |
|
Bishop: |
The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Barker, Bishop of Nebraska |
|
Ordination Officer: |
The Rev. Canon Elizabeth Easton, Canon to the Ordinary |
|
Commission on Ministry: |
The Rev. Emily Schnabl, COM Chair |
|
Standing Committee: |
The Rev. Toni Anderson, Chair |
