MEMBERS OF

THE GENERAL BOARD OF EXAMINING CHAPLAINS

Term of Office: 6 years; Number to be elected in 2009: 3 lay persons; 3 faculty members of theological seminaries or other educational institutions; 3 presbyters with pastoral cures; 1 bishop (22 total members on the Board)

(From information furnished by General Board of Examining Chaplains)

 

Position Description: the GBEC members compose the annual General Ordination Examination (GOE) administered to candidates for Holy Orders.  They also produce background material for readers of the examination papers; read and supervise teams of readers; and review and approve written evaluations for all responses to GOE questions.  Board meetings entail evaluation and planning for the succeeding year’s work.

 

Competencies and qualities a nominee should have:  Members are bishops, priests with pastoral cures, members of accredited seminary faculties or other educational institutions, and lay persons with particular expertise.  Previous experience on a diocesan Commission on Ministry, Standing Committee, or as a reader is helpful.  Computer literacy is also important.  Especially needed for the year 2009 will be persons with high degrees of competency in the following canonical areas:  Holy Scripture (particularly New Testament), Christian ethics and moral theology, and liturgics and church music.  Board members should be able to work comfortably in teams and task groups.  The GBEC assignments demand ability to concentrate intently on tasks at hand.  Competency in testing methods and procedures would be useful.

 

Duties of this office:

Number of meeting per year:                 3 (February, June and October)

Usual locations of meetings:                   Cathedral College (Washington, D.C.) and Camp

                                                            Allen (near Houston, TX)

Usual length of meetings:                       February – 3 ½ days; June - 1 ½ days; October – 3½ days.

                                                            Time spent reading at home is not included.

Do members serve on committees?       No, but members are expected to work on individual projects (e.g., developing GOE questions)

How much more time is required?         Time spent reading at home is approximately 60 hours for 15 sets of answers

Are meeting expenses paid?                  Yes     

Are travel advances available?              Yes

Attendance expectation:                        All meetings, arriving on time and staying until the end

 

Other information:  During a six-year term, members are expected to attend a 1 ½ - day planning meeting in Washington D.C. at least three times.  Additional information: Canon III.25.

 

Summary of time expectations:

Regular meetings:                                  7 days per year

Reading Exams:                                    varies (up to 15 exams, 4 hours each)

Individual projects:                                varies

Planning meetings:                                 4 ½ days per 6-year term.