Eligibility for Ordination and Incardination

The LCCMR welcomes all who feel called to serve. Eligibility for ordination or incardination is grounded in discernment, maturity, and a sincere commitment to ministry.

To be considered:

Candidates must be at least 25 years of age.

People of all genders, sexualities, and backgrounds are fully eligible for both ordination and incardination.

Applicants should demonstrate a life of compassion, integrity, and spiritual openness.

A willingness to serve in a spirit of inclusivity, justice, and pastoral care is essential.

Candidates participate in a shared process of formation, discernment, and evaluation to confirm that ordained ministry is the right path for them and for the community.

The LCCMR affirms that the call to ministry is not limited by identity, orientation, or past experience—only by the depth of one’s vocation and readiness to serve.

Why Seek Ordination?

People seek ordination for many deeply personal and spiritual reasons, but at its heart, ordination is a response to a calling—an inner sense that one is meant to serve others in a dedicated and sacramental way. It is not about status or authority; it is about compassionate presence, spiritual leadership, and walking alongside others in their joys and struggles.

Individuals may seek ordination because:

• They feel a profound call to serve. Something within them draws them toward ministry, care, and spiritual guidance.

• They desire to be a source of healing and hope. Ordination allows them to offer pastoral support, prayer, and encouragement in meaningful, grounded ways.

• They want to celebrate the sacred in everyday life. Ordained ministers help communities encounter grace through liturgy, sacraments, and ritual.

• They feel compelled to advocate for justice and inclusion. Ministry offers a platform to uplift the marginalised, affirm the rejected, and champion the dignity of all.

• They seek to embody love, compassion, and service. Ordination becomes an outward expression of an inward commitment.

• They long to help create spiritual communities that welcome everyone. Many pursue ordination because they want to be part of building a church that affirms all genders, sexualities, and backgrounds.

Ultimately, someone seeks ordination because they recognise that their life’s purpose is intertwined with service — to people, to community, and to the sacred. It is a journey of giving, growing, and becoming a vessel of love in the world.

All clergy within the LCCMR are required to be self-supporting. This means that clergy serve in a non-stipendiary capacity and are considered volunteers within the church. Ministry is offered freely as an act of service, vocation, and love for the community, without expectation of financial compensation.

This approach affirms that ordained ministry is grounded in commitment, generosity, and a shared desire to support the spiritual life of the church while allowing each minister to maintain their own livelihood independently.

Eligibility for Incardination

In the Liberal Catholic Church of the Mystical Rose, incardination is open to those who feel called to serve within our community’s sacramental, pastoral, and spiritual life. Eligibility is based on readiness, character, and alignment with our mission rather than on restrictive criteria. The following are required for consideration:

• Age: Applicants must be at least 25 years old.
• Openness to Inclusion: People of all genders, sexualities, marital statuses, and backgrounds are welcome to apply.
• Existing Holy Orders: Applicants seeking incardination must already be validly ordained as a deacon, priest, or bishop within a recognised independent Catholic, Old Catholic, Liberal Catholic, or sacramental tradition.
• Good Standing: The applicant must be in good standing with their previous jurisdiction, or be able to demonstrate honesty, integrity, and transparency regarding their past ministry.
• Commitment to Our Values: Incardination requires a sincere commitment to the LCCMR’s inclusive theology, pastoral ethos, and Statement of Faith.
• Safeguarding Compliance: Because we prioritise safety and trust, all candidates must pass safeguarding checks and complete required training.
• Self-Supporting Ministry: Since all clergy of the LCCMR are non-stipendiary and volunteer-based, applicants must be able to support themselves financially.
• Formation Review: Applicants may be asked to complete additional formation, retreats, or coursework to ensure alignment with the spiritual, pastoral, and liturgical practices of the LCCMR.

The Process of Incardination

The Liberal Catholic Church of the Mystical Rose welcomes clergy who feel called to continue their ministry within our inclusive and sacramental tradition. The process of incardination is designed to ensure transparency, integrity, and mutual discernment. It proceeds as follows:

 

1. Initial Enquiry

A prospective candidate contacts the LCCMR expressing their desire to seek incardination. They receive information about our mission, values, and expectations for clergy.

 

2. Completion of the Incardination Application

The candidate completes the official Incardination Application Form, providing personal details, ministry experience, and a statement of their vocational intention.
This form serves as the starting point for formal discernment.

 

3. Submission of Required Documentation

Applicants must provide the following documents as part of their application:

• Ordination and/or Consecration Certificates demonstrating their current clerical status.

• Police Record Clearance, such as a DBS certificate (United Kingdom) or an equivalent safeguarding background check for overseas candidates.

• Proof of Leaving Former Jurisdiction, such as a letter of release, letter of good standing, or other appropriate documentation confirming their previous ecclesiastical affiliation and current standing.

• Any additional references or supporting documents requested during the process.

 

4. Review by the Vocations and Clergy Office

The submitted application and documents are reviewed to ensure authenticity, safeguarding compliance, and alignment with the LCCMR’s values and pastoral approach.

 

5. Interview and Discernment Conversation

The candidate meets with the Primus-Bishop, a delegated bishop, or a vocations officer for a conversation about their ministry, pastoral experience, and hopes for service within the LCCMR.

 

6. Formation Assessment

Depending on the applicant’s background, additional formation, retreats, or short coursework may be recommended to support integration into the spiritual, liturgical, and pastoral life of the LCCMR.

 

7. Approval for Incardination

If approved, the candidate receives a Certificate of Incardination, formally recognising them as clergy of the LCCMR. Their name is added to the clergy register, and they are welcomed into the life of the church.

 

8. Ongoing Ministry

As all LCCMR clergy are non-stipendiary and self-supporting, incardinated clergy join the community as volunteer ministers committed to inclusive sacramental service, accountability, safeguarding, and continual spiritual development.

Process for Ordination

The Liberal Catholic Church of the Mystical Rose upholds a thoughtful, prayerful, and transparent process for those discerning a call to ordained ministry. The procedure ensures readiness, safeguarding, and alignment with the values of our inclusive Catholic tradition.

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1. Initial Enquiry

A person feeling called to ordained ministry contacts the LCCMR to express their interest. They receive information about the ministry pathways, expectations, and the nature of non-stipendiary (volunteer) clergy service.

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2. Discernment Conversation

The applicant meets with a designated vocations officer, spiritual director, or bishop for an informal discernment conversation.
This allows both the applicant and the church to explore the sense of vocation, personal spirituality, and readiness for ministry.

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3. Completion of the Vocations / Ordination Application

The candidate completes the Ordination Application Form, which includes:

• Personal and spiritual background

• Experience in ministry or service

• A statement of why they seek ordination

• References, if requested

Applicants must also affirm their commitment to the inclusive theology and mission of the LCCMR.

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4. Submission of Required Documentation

Alongside the application, the candidate must provide:

• Proof of age (minimum 25 years)

• Police Record Clearance, such as a DBS certificate (UK) or equivalent for overseas applicants

• Any relevant certificates of previous formation or training

• Any other documents requested during the discernment process

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5. Safeguarding and Integrity Checks

Safeguarding is paramount. All candidates must:

• Submit a valid background check

• Complete safeguarding training

• Agree to follow the LCCMR’s safeguarding, conduct, and inclusion policies

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6. Interview with the Bishop or Vocations Panel

A more formal interview takes place with the Primus-Archbishop, a delegated bishop, or a vocations panel.
The interview explores:

• Spiritual maturity

• Understanding of ministry

• The nature of service within an inclusive community

• The practical realities of non-stipendiary ministry

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7. Formation and Training

Candidates complete the required programme of formation, which may include:

• Theological study

• Liturgical training

• Pastoral skills

• Spiritual direction

• Retreats, reading, or supervised ministry placements

The length and depth of formation vary depending on previous experience and education.

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8. Recommendation for Ordination

Once formation is completed:

• A written recommendation is made to the bishop

• The bishop considers the candidate’s readiness for ministry

• If approved, a date is set for ordination

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9. The Ordination

The rite of ordination takes place within a public liturgy.
The candidate is ordained to the appropriate order (deacon, priest) through prayer and the laying on of hands by the bishop.

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10. Post-Ordination Support

Newly ordained clergy receive continued support through:

• Mentorship

• Ongoing formation

• Pastoral supervision

• Participation in the wider life of the LCCMR

As all clergy are self-supporting and volunteer-based, the newly ordained commit to a ministry that flows from love, service, and the shared life of the community.