Permanent Incardination of Clergy
Regarding requests for incardination of clergy, each case is treated as a unique movement of the Spirit and a unique series of conversations between the person seeking incardination and the current bishop.
While depending on the inquirer's unique set of circumstances, the conversations will involve questions regarding "why the inquirer is leaving the jurisdiction in which they are currently canonically resident" (or "why the inquirer left the jurisdiction in which they were last canonically resident") as well as questions about inquirer's formation, theological education, spiritual growth, etc. (as taught/guided within the last jurisdiction) as well as a review of all plans for ongoing education, spiritual growth, etc., once admitted to the Diocese of Rumney Marsh. Another big question is "given the multitude of INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC/OLD CATHOLIC jurisdictions out there to choose from, why do you want to come into the Diocese of Rumney Marsh?"
Our attempt in the Process of "training" a candidate for priesthood is the building up of a solid relationship between the future priest and his/her bishop. Our desire is similar with incardination -- but, the "already ordained" may not need the extended time training that would normally provide a long enough period in which the Process of ongoing conversations and relationship building would more naturally take place. So the "match" has to be more evident up front and needs a bit more negotiation in a shorter period of time. If the potential incardinand were in a committed relationship (married, engaged, etc.) we would also want to enter into conversation with the appropriate life partner.
Bishop David uses the contrasting metaphors of "first love" and "remarriage" to explain his approach to the two distinct Processes of vocational discernment: The potential seminarian is entering into the relationship fresh and new and, hopefully, experiences it as a wonder. It is a courtship and preparation of life together – perhaps with one's first love -- but it is most definitely a "first experience." For the person seeking incardination, it is more like the experience of "remarrying" after a [sometimes-messy] divorce or even the death of the partner. If it was a "divorce," there is a necessary period of healing and Processing that must be done so as not to make the same mistakes over [and over] again; if it was a "death," there is a necessary period of mourning the loss and regrouping before moving on. For these reasons we require a period of at least six months between initial request and formal incardination. In some circumstances the period may be longer – and most likely, it will never be shorter.
Temporary Incardination of Clergy
When a deacon or priest finds himself or herself without episcopal oversight -- and if the deacon or priest is ministering in a parish, ministry or mission that likewise finds itself without episcopal oversight -- that deacon or priest may apply for a "Temporary Incardination" with "Temporary Faculties" within the Diocese of Rumney Marsh. The status of "Temporary Incardination" is granted at the sole discretion of the diocesan bishop.
Our concept of "Temporary Incardination" is based on the understanding that most Catholics hold: "all ministry is dependent upon the oversight of a bishop." In other words, while a deacon or priest receives the "power" to do certain things in ordination, they only have the authority to do these things by license ("faculties") from their bishop.
For example, consider the priest who has been "laicized." The laicized priest is not actually "un-priested" or "un-ordained" because the sacrament of Holy Orders leaves an indelible mark on the soul -- like baptism and confirmation. However, without the bishop's authorization -- i.e., license or faculties -- the laicized priest cannot function as a priest other than to absolve and anoint those in proximate danger of death.
The concept of "Temporary Incardination" within the Diocese of Rumney Marsh develops out of an episode in the life of our founding bishop. At a rather inopportune moment, Father David found himself without episcopal oversight while nevertheless having a small flock in his care. Two dear friends in Independent / Old Catholic movement offered him a great gift -- the gift of "temporary faculties." This gift allowed him to continue his priestly ministry without fear that what he was doing was somehow "invalid" because it was without the required episcopal oversight.
For Father David, with a small parish depending on him, the granting of "temporary faculties" while he "sorted things out" was a blessing. His ministry could continue and his people didn't have to suffer because of his particular predicament. Eventually Father David accepted incardination with the bishop whose temporary faculties he had accepted, but the faculties had been granted in a no-strings-attached spirit. Father David was always free to return the faculties "with no hard feelings" if he decided to incardinate elsewhere. The understanding was that it was a temporary permission to perform ministry that bought some time so that David didn't feel like he had to "rush in to another relationship" without suitably mourning the loss of the previous relationship and without suitably discerning the call to a new relationship. OF COURSE THE ULTIMATE BENEFICIARES OF THE "TEMPORARY FACULTIES" WERE THE PEOPLE FATHER DAVID SERVED.
In our humble opinion, choosing the bishop that a deacon or priest wants to serve under is as important a step as picking one's life-partner. Much too often in the Independent / Old Catholic movement, people jump into things too quickly because of a sense of desperation. Our bishop's gift of "temporary faculties" means that you will have time to prayerfully consider your options without your ministry dissolving. Moreover, it is a gift to the people of your parish, mission or ministry so that they may experience a normalcy that would immediately cease upon their pastor's excardination from a Catholic jurisdiction.
While "Temporary Incardination" may not be exactly what you have in mind, we prefer allowing more time for our relationships to grow. We feel that "Temporary Incardination" allows all the parties involved – i.e., the deacon or priest and the bishop – ample time to work through "the details" as well as "get to know what may be problem areas in the future." It allows a chance to really think things through and make sure that we don't miss something important. In relationship terms, it allows us to get beyond the infatuation phase and into the business of real relationship building.
In the Independent / Old Catholic movement there has been an awful lot of what some might call "just jumping in and trusting the Lord." In our experience, this hasn't really been a "trusting in the Lord" at all; rather, it has been a capitulation to our society's modern day need for instant gratification. More often than not – we dare say 99% of the time -- these relationships have crumbled at the first testing. With this history in our movement, we prefer the more cautious approach.
Temporary Incardination results in the issuance of a temporary license to minister within the Diocese and all necessary faculties to maintain one’s current ministry. Temporary licenses and faculties are issued with an expiration date, but may be renewed as needed. The Bishop of Rumney Marsh will review all applications for temporary incardination on a case by case basis.
Temporary licenses and faculties will be issued solely at the Bishop’s discretion after an appropriate application process. Temporary licenses and faculties will not be issued in circumstances where criminal charges are pending.
To date, eight pastors and their Parishes, Missions, and/or Ministries have taken advantage of this temporary incardination. One permanently incardinated into the Diocese of Rumney Marsh, three are currently in temporary incardination, one retired from active ministry, and the others have incardinated elsewhere.
NOTE WELL: A criminal record background check and a psychological evaluation are required components of the application process.
