Ordination Training
Community of Friends of God
PROGRAM OF TRAINING AND STUDIES FOR ORDINATION
INTO A VALID APOSTOLIC MINISTRY
THE COMMUNITY OF FRINDS OF GOD ORDINATION STUDIES
Since the Postulants will exercise sacramental Priesthood office for home gatherings, public gathering, spiritual practice, and the education of others, the Community of Friends of God requires all his Postulants to undertake serious ordination study and practices. The Community of Friends qualifies Postulants and Candidates for Holy Orders through a self-paced course of studies designed, simplified, and guided by scholars based upon the profound spirituality of Mar Yeshua, the Master Jesus. Men and women of any educational background may undertake training, which is offered in English language.
Completion of seminary training does not guarantee Ordination. If impediments to Ordination are discovered after acceptance into the seminary program (criminal activities, non-disclosure of previous abuse of clerical authority, etc.), the Presiding Bishops may elect not to authorize Ordination in the Community of Friends of God.
Basic Priesthood Ordination Program Leading to Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) the Community of Friends of God Theological Seminary Degree:
Diaconate and Priesthood Study Modules (see CURRICULUM), which can be completed within 3 years.
Episcopal Program for Consecration as a Bishop:
Those who distinguish themselves in Priesthood may be invited by the Synod to apply for nomination for Consecration
to the Episcopate as a Bishop.
Qualifications for Nomination to the Synod for Consecration as a Bishop include:
(A) Minimal four years of demonstrated spiritual leadership in the Home Temple Priesthood;
(B) Core Curriculum and Major Emphasis Courses taken at the Community of Friends Theological Seminary
(C) successful completion of the COFG Level 4 Diploma in Spiritual Science and admission to the Community of Light.
For the duration of Ordination studies, Subdeacons and Deacons work with special spiritual practices designed to connect the student with authentic practices of the Master Jesus, including the keeping of a Kabbalistic Shabbat seder and brief morning and evening meditation and contemplation with daily journal entries. Students are also encouraged to undertake the Community of Light spiritual practices. The Liturgical and Eucharist spiritual of the Community of Friends of God is designed to develop basic principles for powerful and effective liturgics in the context of the form of mystical communion developed in the Messianic Havurah seder of Mar Yeshua and his disciples. After Ordination to the independent Priesthood, Ordinands are under no obligation to continue using the Community of Friends of God Sacramentary and rituals, whose purposes were specifically for training, but may adopt or create whatever rituals best reflect their ministries.
After Ordination, Priests and Priestesses operate their own independent ministries in compliance with the Community of Friends Code of Ethics. They are licensed under the Presiding Bishop of the Community of Friends. They are empowered to use any liturgy, theology, vestments, or other orientation that seems best to them–Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, Taoist, Theosophical, etc. Their only obligation is to keep the Code of Ethics. They pay no dues or other fees to the Community of Friends or their Bishops but are expected to keep in collegial contact and link their web site or e-mail address to the list of churches in the Community of Friends online and other published directories. Those who develop effective ministries will be nominated by their Bishops and formally invited for advancement into the Independent Episcopate.
curriculum of home studies with online audio, video, and written materials. They include topical courses that have been organized and simplified from curriculums taught in Jewish and Christian seminaries, as well as unique and relevant materials developed specifically for Community of Friends of God students. Students submit written answers in the topical studies and undergo a process of self-exploration and development integrating teachings and practice, for which a spiritual diary is submitted. When this is successfully completed, usually after about two to three years, they qualify as Candidates for Ordination into the Apostolic Succession as Deacons of the Community of Friends. They continue with studies to qualify for Ordination to Priesthood twenty-four months more. The Bachelor of Divinity or B.D. Degree is conferred along with Ordination once the Priesthood Studies have been completed.
When a Postulant for Holy Orders has completed studies and qualified as a Candidate for Ordination to the Priesthood, he or she travels to a Community of Friends of God Bishop for a Saturday orientation and Sunday Ordination done in the context of a Eucharist. Candidates for Ordination to Diaconate may choose travel to a Bishop for laying-on of hands, or they may accept certification from the Presiding Bishop authorizing them to function as the Community of Friends of God Deacons until they complete the Priesthood studies and can afford to travel for hands-on Ordination simultaneously to both Diaconate and Priesthood.
Persons already Ordained as Deacons, Priests, or Bishops in valid lines of Apostolic Succession: Apply to the Presiding Bishops for transfer into the Community of Friends of Gode Priesthood or Synod of Bishops. PROCEDURE:
- E-Mail inquiry followed by the Application Form
- Deacons and Priests must provide Letters Dimissory from their current Bishop or offer a written explanation of why they cannot provide legitimate Letters Dimissory
- Presiding Bishops will evaluate Candidate’s seminary education and design a supplemental course of “fast track” selected the Community of Friends of God studies that must be completed for acceptance into the Community of Friends of God
- A two-year PATREON $10/month sponsorship is requested
- Deacons and Priests will be assigned to the Presiding Bishops; Independent Bishops may be nominated for acceptance into the Synod of Community of Friends of God contingent upon completing Fast Track studies and all COFG Level in Spiritual Science. .
Ministers with non-Apostolic Ordination:
Send in a regular Application Form and copies of seminary transcripts. The Presiding Bishops will evaluate the Candidate’s seminary education and design a supplemental course of low-cost “fast track” selected the Community of Friends of God studies that must be completed for Apostolic Ordination into the Community of Friends of God Priesthood, Minimally, Level 3 COFG Level 4 in Spiritual Science will be required as well as training in Liturgics, Theurgical operation, Sacramentary, and general orientation to the Kabbalistic teachings and practices of Mar Yeshua offered online in the Community of Friends Theological Seminary..
APPLICATION FORM
Take this link to the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM.
You may apply by making initial contact with the Presiding Bishop of the Community of Friends of God
Email:bishop@cofg.co.uk.