Day ClassCurrent moon phase Friday, 21-Nov-2008 12:12:24 CST
Ordination Program Outline
Philosophy And Vision Statement
Ozark Avalon seeks growth through ordination of members. This is a serious commitment and is not to be entered into lightly. An ongoing system of ordination is a critical part of a sustainable future for Ozark Avalon, both as a community and as a magical land. We hope to have clergy who can serve our congregation directly as powerful magical practioners, trusted fiduciaries of the church, leaders of adults and children, priestesses and priests, and spiritual counselors. We need clergy who can represent Ozark Avalon both within the Pagan community and in interfaith arenas. We wish to create a voluntary system that is accessible to all serious candidates but which maintains and challenges us all to high standards.
Over-All Criteria
Age. Candidates must be at least 35 years old unless they were OAK Spirits before age 18, in which case they may be eligible for full ordination at age 30. Persons who have met other requirements for ordination but have not reached the age of full ordination may serve as associate clergy until ordinational age is reached.
Post-secondary education. Candidates for full ordination must have a 4-year college degree or equivalent education.
Management. Candidates must have demonstrable positive management experience.
Experiences of Life. Candidates must
- be in a stable living situation that allows them to focus their energies on their clerical responsibilities.
- demonstrate positive inter-generational experience.
- demonstrate current positive relationship-building experience.
Persons needing additional efforts in these areas may also be granted associate clergy status at the discretion of the Board of Directors who reserves final approval of all clerical candidates.
1st Year Requirements for Ordination Candidates
Clerical candidates must complete the Year and a Day class. Participation in this class is recommended for all members of the church. Non-members who start the first year class will most likely have met church membership requirements by completion of the class.
This class is a first step and is very essential to persons who are newcomers to the craft and to Ozark Avalon. Persons who have been Priests or Priestesses for other groups may find it redundant but will still need to fulfill the minimum requirements. Attendance requirements may be met as either student or teacher.
The Year and a Day class completion requirements are:
- Attend four or more classes in person. There must be at least one class attended in each season.
- Read and complete all assignments, which include 4 book reviews. The book reviews can be aimed at finding appropriate teaching materials for future students.
- Attend one or more OA rituals and retreats as well as one or more rituals and gatherings of other groups.
- Demonstrate ability to call directions in a Wiccan circle.
- Participation in one of the community service projects of Ozark Avalon:
- Boonville Correctional Center Outreach
- Columbia Earth Day
- Adopt a Highway clean up
- Pagan Pride events
- St. Louis Pagan Picnic
- Heartland Outreach
- Spiral Scouts
2nd Year Requirements for Ordination Candidates
- Read The Wiccan Mysteries: Ancient Origins & Teachings by Raven Grimassi (ISBN 1567182542) or approved text covering traditional Wiccan concepts and practice. Write an essay discussing the value of tradition in an eclectic Shamanic practice.
- Read and discuss (by essay or orally) Covencraft: Witchcraft for Three or More by Amber K (ISBN 1567180183) or approved text covering small group dynamics and legal and craft organization.
- Discuss the value of tradition and how it relates to the mixed eclectic Shamanic practice of Ozark Avalon in person or in an essay.
- Complete assigned article and discuss how you see the role of clergy in the Pagan movement and at Ozark Avalon.
- Make and dedicate a personal tool to be used in your ongoing personal practice.
- Completely answer the questions raised in Shamanism in 25 Easy Steps (By Oak, Ash and Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism by D. J. Conway, ISBN 1-56718-166-X ).
- Attend a festival of another Pagan organization and participate in ritual and one or more workshops at that event.
- Serve as a leader for at least two Year and a Day classes
- Lead groups in one of the community service projects at least twice.
- Attend at least two Rites of Passage rituals as possible
- Plan and lead a ritual
3rd Year Requirements for Ordination Candidates
- Read and discuss assigned 3rd year books and articles
- Take responsibility for one Ozark Avalon community service project for a year, including all associated paperwork and interactions with community stakeholders
- Serve as Priestess or Priest of a circle at a major event at Ozark Avalon
- Read assigned basic textbooks in World Religions and Counseling.
- Continue to participate in rituals of different groups at least three per year.
- Participate in retreat organization in the areas of registration, fire tending, childcare, kitchen, site coordination, programming, and clean up.
4th Year Requirements for Ordination Candidates
- Design and lead a Rite of Passage circle
- Complete at least 20 contact hours of counseling basics for clergy. This can be a workshop at major festivals or certain types of hotline training if approved by the Board of Directors.
- Continue to participate in public rituals of different groups, at least three per year.
- Serve on Advisory Council of Ozark Avalon for at least one year
- Serve as associate clergy (must have completed all 3rd year requirements)
- Facilitate a major retreat at Ozark Avalon from start to finish (from 1st flyer 6 weeks prior to data entry 1 week after)
5th Year Requirements for Ordination Candidates
- Pass a general information test on world history, the history and practice of Wicca, and the history and philosophy of Ozark Avalon.
- Demonstrate confidence in administration and record keeping necessary to support a church.
- Continue to participate in public rituals of different groups, at least three per year.
- Closely assist the newsletter editor for at least one issue from start to finish (gathering, editing, layout, publishing, mailing)
These tasks need not be completed chronologically in the order listed, decided on a case-by-case basis by the Board of Directors. Specific task requirements may be exempted by the Board of Directors for similar experience in the candidate's life experience.
|
|