Formation
A time of formation: Initial Discernment and the Novitiate
After the initial period of conversation and discernment, and the taking of the Promise, the novice enters a period of formation. The process is directed toward the person's growth in the spiritual life and emotional intelligence, a grounding in the life of the Order and a deeper understanding of the Anglican/Episcopal ethos, and the development of competence in the Order's form of parish development that is grounded in Anglican ascetical/pastoral theology and practice. The process is normally three to five years.
The formation process is demanding. Novices need to assume that the process will require a great deal of time and energy. This needs to be the priority for the three to five years of the novitiate.
Please read Stages of Membership
Taking the Promise
After the novitiate (formation period) the member may take the Promise a second time and receive the Cross. This is a lifelong-commitment. Before the novice takes that Promise all existing Professed Members with a life commitment will vote on giving consent, or not, for the Promise to be taken.
Purpose of the formation process
In a process of training, coaching, and implementation the novice moves forward in three broad areas of formation.
- Parish development grounded in a catholic Anglican approach to ascetical/pastoral theology and practice.
- Growth in the spiritual life and emotional intelligence
- Incorporation into the Order’s Life and Ethos
There are two overarching goals.
First, the Order wants to provide the novice with a foundation for a stable and solid future as a Professed Member.
Second, we want this to be a process that allows the novice and the Order the basis for sound vocational discernment.
The Order of the Ascension forms members in alignment with our community’s charism. We seek consistency with our identity and purpose.
A formation plan
The Presiding Sister (or Brother) appoints a guide for the new member. In the initial discernment period (at least 5 months) the guide will assist the new member in a process of self-assessment and gathering of feedback. As part of the initial discernment period the new member will carefully review the standard formation process, make arrangements with family and parish to be able to fully engage that process, and discuss with the formation director needed adjustments. The standard elements of formation are in this PDF (note: this is always in a process of development)
A standard formation plan is available as a PDF below.
The applicant takes action to implement the Order's formation process for novices. Revisions may be made with the permission of the Order. We assume the Formation Plan is a three to five year effort including commitments for formation through: (1) Training - we assume participation in a Church Development Institute (CDI) or comparable program plus a couple of experiential training labs (human interaction, conflict management, group development, etc.) In some cases participation in a CDI may be waved and the number of week long experiential workshops increased. If CDI was completed some years previously it may make sense to do it again; (2) A course of reading; and (3) Completion of specific developmental initiatives in the parish and reflection upon those efforts with the member responsible for formation; and 4) other activities designed to advance the members incorporation. We assume that each year the novices will participate in a week-long Parish Development Clinic sponsored by the Order.
That Formation Plan will include training to develop an awareness of underlying group dynamics, skills in giving and receiving feedback, human interaction training, conflict management, and/or skills for disciplined reflection on group experience. It will also include ways to increase the member's competence in parish development that is grounded in catholic Anglican pastoral/ascetical theology, organization development, and the orientation of the Order. The plan may be modified in light of the person’s prior experience and training and with attention to their particular developmental needs.
If you have completed a parish development program
We will work with you to modify the formation process to take into account previous work. If you have completed a program such as Shaping the Parish, Church Development Institute, or the College for Congregational Development 1) we assume that such training is consistent with your membership and 2) that it probably doesn't fully address the parish development learning we seek in members. We are seeking a result that comes from more coaching, application and disciplined reflection. We want to help members achieve a higher level of integration among theory, skills, and self. We assist members develop a more consistent approach to learning that is grounded in disciplined learning from experience (Action-Research, Action-Learning). If you have completed one of the programs you should expect to do at least two week-long labs to round out your experience plus the yearly Parish Development Clinic.
Our focus is on developing a beginning to moderate level of proficiency. It isn't about jumping through hoops. This is seen as the starting point for continued growth as the person lives as part of the Order.
In all this the member will need to take the initiative in accomplishing the purposes of the formation process.
Your vocation or role in relation to formation
Members need to have and maintain a role in relation to parish life that allows them to express the Order's charism. The roles with the most obvious relationship--parish rector, parish development consultant, bishop, diocesan staff with related responsibilities. Generally speaking, new members will be coming from one of those roles.
Of course other roles are possible--researchers and writers in parish development, assisting clergy, some diocesan staff members. Some roles may be inappropriate in the earlier years of membership but fine later. For example, being a researcher or writer may fit a member after that person has been "in the trenches" for some years. Members retired from active ministry continue as valued members. The same is true of members who can no longer fulfill OA responsibilities due to illness or old age.
Your work in the first year will be twofold. First, if you are the priest-in-charge of a parish you will focus on establishing a basic pattern for you and for your parish. If you are in some other role the focus may be more about your own pattern of learning and spiritual discipline and learning how to do parish development from that role. Second we will help you reflect on the changes you're making so that you increase your ability to manage change and exercise leadership in the parish.
To read and use