INCARDINATION REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION FORM
The Independent Reformed Catholic Church
Application for Incardination
General Instructions
This application is for clergy who wish to incardinate into the Independent Reformed Catholic Church from other Jurisdictions as part of their intent to become deacons, parish priests or bishops with same. Individuals wishing to incardinate must have prior pastoral experience and must have already been ordained or consecrated. Individuals who have not already been sacramentally ordained or consecrated must submit to instruction and ordination as part of the process of incardination. This application is also used for individuals in discernment of a vocation to Holy Orders. In some cases when differing theology may exist, retraining and instruction is required.
Information requested in this application will be kept confidential. All information submitted with this application will be verified independently, so please be detailed in providing dates and locations and all other relevant information. Any material misstatement of fact shall be considered deliberate, and shall be grounds for rejection of this application. This application in no way guarantees or provides and promise to the recipient of successfully being incardinated.
Basic Information
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
City:__________________________________State:___________________ Zip: _________________
Home Phone: _________________________________
Work: _____________________________________
E-Mail__________________________________________________________________________________
Secular Employer: ______________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________
City: __________________________________ State:_____________________ Zip: _________________
Position: _____________________________________ Years Employed There: _____________________
Do You Make Enough Money to Support Yourself and Family? ___________________________________
Have You Ever Been Convicted of a Felony Offense? ___________ If so, describe on a separate sheet of paper.
Have You Ever Been Adjudicated Mentally Incompetent by any Court, or institutionalized for any mental illness? _____________ If so, describe in detail on a separate sheet of paper.
Do you have any kind of an illness that would interfere with your ability to pastor a parish? ____________________If so, describe in detail on a separate sheet of paper.
Pastoral Information
What denomination are your currently? ______________________________________________________
How long have you been this denomination? ___________ years ________ months
What other churches/denominations have you belonged to in the past eight years? _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
How long have you been actively ministering? ___________________
Where did you receive your formal training and instruction in theology?
List all College Degrees that you currently hold: [NOTE: Enclose all copies of any and all college degrees, and certified transcripts along with this application]
Please describe, on separate sheets of paper, your reasons for wanting to incardinate, where you are theologically and how you came to be where you are theologically. Include also your understanding on the following theological points: The Sacraments, The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Catholicism and why you feel you are drawn to it, and any discussions that you have had with your congregation (if any) regarding becoming catholic or incarnating into the IRCC. Please take your time and be as detailed as possible. Touch upon each point completely.
Are you married? ________________ If so, how long have you been married? _______________________
If so, will your wife approve of your ministry in the Old Catholic Church? ___________________________
Have you ever been divorced? _____________________
Enclosed is a “Statement of Faith” for the church. After reading it; Do you feel that it represents your devout and unchanging faith and belief? (If so, sign the Statement of Faith and return with this Application.)
Do you have any theological problems with Catholicism or personal obstructions that prevent you from fully incardinating? ____________________________ (If so, please state in detail on a separate sheet.)
Do you understand, that as a catholic priest, you will be required loyalty to your jurisdictional (Bishop) as his pastoral assistant in ministering to the faithful of the church, and that you must agree to the Code of Canon Law of the IRCC, in its entirety, and fully support it? ______________
Financial History
Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?____________ If so, when? _______________________________________
(If so, provide certified copy, with clerk’s seal, of final disposition, signed by the federal judge assigned the case. This information can be retrieved by our research department but we do not ask for your social security number which is necessary to conduct a financial background investigation, thus we ask you to furnish the data.)
Have you ever been the subject of any civil or criminal action regarding any outstanding debts? _______________
(If so, please state in detail and the outcome on a separate sheet of paper.)
Has any church that you personally have pastured been the subject of any civil or criminal investigation into any kind of financial wrongdoing, or misappropriation of funds? ___________________________________
(If so, please indicate, in detail, the problems encountered which initiated the investigation, as well as the result of the investigation, on a separate sheet of paper.)
Have you ever had to close any church bank account due to problems with funding or use of existing funds? _________ (If so, please indicate, in detail, the problems encountered which initiated the investigation, as well as the result of the investigation, on a separate sheet of paper.)
How many years have you had being in a position of oversight or responsible charge regarding church finances?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
If an audit of your current congregation’s/parish’s financial records were to be requested, would your Board of Directors be able to provide one? ________________________________________________________
Background Information
Current Address: _____________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State:____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State:____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Documentation Checklist
- Certificate of Ordination
- Copy of Driver’s License or State ID
- One (1) Head & Shoulders Color Photograph in clerics. (if ordained)
- Statement of Faith of current Church you are affiliated with
- Signed “Statement of Faith” of the IRCC
- Certificate of Excardination from former Church, & all additional sheets as requested within the Application,
Acknowledgment
I understand that by submitting this Application for Incardination, that I am not guaranteed acceptance. Further I understand that acceptance shall be based, in part, upon the information and documents that I have submitted (and failed to submit), the investigation of the veracity of any document submitted, along with additional determinations and processes of the IRCC.
I do hereby give my permission to Independent Reformed Catholic Church to conduct a complete, reasonable and diligent inquiry and investigation into my background, for the purpose of determining my suitability and the truth and veracity of any and all information submitted herein. In addition, I understand that the IRCC may use outside agencies to conduct said investigation, may obtain credit reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, may obtain police reports and any and all other public records and reports directly or from outside agencies, in order to reasonably determine my suitability and the truthfulness of the information submitted herein. I further understand that any material misstatement of fact within this Application may be ground for rejection of this application. I do hereby completely and absolutely as well as (my heirs, executors and administrators) indemnify, waive, release and hold harmless, The Independent Reformed Catholic Church, its directors, executives, employees, representatives, agents and subcontracted agents from any and all liability and causes of action, including (but not limited to) third party causes of action, arising in any way, directly or indirectly, out of this Application for Incardination, theological instruction, training (mine or others), and any church activities or any pastoral activities whatsoever, occurring or arising as a result thereof. In consent and full agreement to these terms and provisions, I set my signature below:
Signature: _________________________________________________________ Date: ________________________
This _________ day of ___________________ 200____
I, _________________________________ , having first duly sworn and deposed the above individual under oath, set my seal upon this document. My commission end on:
_______________________________ , 200_____
[NOTARY SEAL]
______________________________________________________
Notary Signature
Application for Incardination
General Instructions
This application is for clergy who wish to incardinate into the Independent Reformed Catholic Church from other Jurisdictions as part of their intent to become deacons, parish priests or bishops with same. Individuals wishing to incardinate must have prior pastoral experience and must have already been ordained or consecrated. Individuals who have not already been sacramentally ordained or consecrated must submit to instruction and ordination as part of the process of incardination. This application is also used for individuals in discernment of a vocation to Holy Orders. In some cases when differing theology may exist, retraining and instruction is required.
Information requested in this application will be kept confidential. All information submitted with this application will be verified independently, so please be detailed in providing dates and locations and all other relevant information. Any material misstatement of fact shall be considered deliberate, and shall be grounds for rejection of this application. This application in no way guarantees or provides and promise to the recipient of successfully being incardinated.
Basic Information
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
City:__________________________________State:___________________ Zip: _________________
Home Phone: _________________________________
Work: _____________________________________
E-Mail__________________________________________________________________________________
Secular Employer: ______________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________
City: __________________________________ State:_____________________ Zip: _________________
Position: _____________________________________ Years Employed There: _____________________
Do You Make Enough Money to Support Yourself and Family? ___________________________________
Have You Ever Been Convicted of a Felony Offense? ___________ If so, describe on a separate sheet of paper.
Have You Ever Been Adjudicated Mentally Incompetent by any Court, or institutionalized for any mental illness? _____________ If so, describe in detail on a separate sheet of paper.
Do you have any kind of an illness that would interfere with your ability to pastor a parish? ____________________If so, describe in detail on a separate sheet of paper.
Pastoral Information
What denomination are your currently? ______________________________________________________
How long have you been this denomination? ___________ years ________ months
What other churches/denominations have you belonged to in the past eight years? _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
How long have you been actively ministering? ___________________
Where did you receive your formal training and instruction in theology?
List all College Degrees that you currently hold: [NOTE: Enclose all copies of any and all college degrees, and certified transcripts along with this application]
Please describe, on separate sheets of paper, your reasons for wanting to incardinate, where you are theologically and how you came to be where you are theologically. Include also your understanding on the following theological points: The Sacraments, The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Catholicism and why you feel you are drawn to it, and any discussions that you have had with your congregation (if any) regarding becoming catholic or incarnating into the IRCC. Please take your time and be as detailed as possible. Touch upon each point completely.
Are you married? ________________ If so, how long have you been married? _______________________
If so, will your wife approve of your ministry in the Old Catholic Church? ___________________________
Have you ever been divorced? _____________________
Enclosed is a “Statement of Faith” for the church. After reading it; Do you feel that it represents your devout and unchanging faith and belief? (If so, sign the Statement of Faith and return with this Application.)
Do you have any theological problems with Catholicism or personal obstructions that prevent you from fully incardinating? ____________________________ (If so, please state in detail on a separate sheet.)
Do you understand, that as a catholic priest, you will be required loyalty to your jurisdictional (Bishop) as his pastoral assistant in ministering to the faithful of the church, and that you must agree to the Code of Canon Law of the IRCC, in its entirety, and fully support it? ______________
Financial History
Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?____________ If so, when? _______________________________________
(If so, provide certified copy, with clerk’s seal, of final disposition, signed by the federal judge assigned the case. This information can be retrieved by our research department but we do not ask for your social security number which is necessary to conduct a financial background investigation, thus we ask you to furnish the data.)
Have you ever been the subject of any civil or criminal action regarding any outstanding debts? _______________
(If so, please state in detail and the outcome on a separate sheet of paper.)
Has any church that you personally have pastured been the subject of any civil or criminal investigation into any kind of financial wrongdoing, or misappropriation of funds? ___________________________________
(If so, please indicate, in detail, the problems encountered which initiated the investigation, as well as the result of the investigation, on a separate sheet of paper.)
Have you ever had to close any church bank account due to problems with funding or use of existing funds? _________ (If so, please indicate, in detail, the problems encountered which initiated the investigation, as well as the result of the investigation, on a separate sheet of paper.)
How many years have you had being in a position of oversight or responsible charge regarding church finances?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
If an audit of your current congregation’s/parish’s financial records were to be requested, would your Board of Directors be able to provide one? ________________________________________________________
Background Information
Current Address: _____________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State:____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State: ____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State:____________________ Zip _______________
Number of Years At This Address: __________________________________________________________
Documentation Checklist
- Certificate of Ordination
- Copy of Driver’s License or State ID
- One (1) Head & Shoulders Color Photograph in clerics. (if ordained)
- Statement of Faith of current Church you are affiliated with
- Signed “Statement of Faith” of the IRCC
- Certificate of Excardination from former Church, & all additional sheets as requested within the Application,
Acknowledgment
I understand that by submitting this Application for Incardination, that I am not guaranteed acceptance. Further I understand that acceptance shall be based, in part, upon the information and documents that I have submitted (and failed to submit), the investigation of the veracity of any document submitted, along with additional determinations and processes of the IRCC.
I do hereby give my permission to Independent Reformed Catholic Church to conduct a complete, reasonable and diligent inquiry and investigation into my background, for the purpose of determining my suitability and the truth and veracity of any and all information submitted herein. In addition, I understand that the IRCC may use outside agencies to conduct said investigation, may obtain credit reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, may obtain police reports and any and all other public records and reports directly or from outside agencies, in order to reasonably determine my suitability and the truthfulness of the information submitted herein. I further understand that any material misstatement of fact within this Application may be ground for rejection of this application. I do hereby completely and absolutely as well as (my heirs, executors and administrators) indemnify, waive, release and hold harmless, The Independent Reformed Catholic Church, its directors, executives, employees, representatives, agents and subcontracted agents from any and all liability and causes of action, including (but not limited to) third party causes of action, arising in any way, directly or indirectly, out of this Application for Incardination, theological instruction, training (mine or others), and any church activities or any pastoral activities whatsoever, occurring or arising as a result thereof. In consent and full agreement to these terms and provisions, I set my signature below:
Signature: _________________________________________________________ Date: ________________________
This _________ day of ___________________ 200____
I, _________________________________ , having first duly sworn and deposed the above individual under oath, set my seal upon this document. My commission end on:
_______________________________ , 200_____
[NOTARY SEAL]
______________________________________________________
Notary Signature