Institute of Ministry
For Partner Jurisdictions
The Institute of Ministry was built to serve the wider independent sacramental and Western Rite tradition, not only one jurisdiction. Compatible bishops, formation directors, communities, and jurisdictions may refer candidates for formation through the Institute while retaining their own discernment, canonical processes, rites, safeguarding responsibilities, and ordination decisions.
The Institute provides formation. It does not absorb partner candidates into the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission, and it does not take over the authority of a candidate's own bishop or jurisdiction.
Who This Is For
Bishops
Bishops who need a serious formation pathway for candidates preparing for diaconal ministry in a compatible independent sacramental or Western Rite setting.
Formation Directors
Formation directors who want a structured curriculum, assessment framework, and cohort model without having to build a full online programme from the ground up.
Compatible Jurisdictions
Jurisdictions whose sacramental practice, polity, and ethical commitments are broadly compatible with the Institute's formation standards.
External Candidates
Candidates outside the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission who have a sponsoring bishop or jurisdiction, or who are seeking formation while being transparent about their ecclesial situation.
How Partner Bodies May Use the LDM
| Candidate referral | A partner body may refer individual candidates for full formation alongside the Institute cohort. |
| Jurisdiction-specific formation | The shared curriculum includes jurisdictional formation space, especially where a candidate must engage the polity, canons, rites, or local practice of their own body. |
| Accompanying formation | A partner body may provide its own additional formation alongside the Institute curriculum, including local canons, local rites, pastoral expectations, or jurisdiction-specific discipline. |
| Formal partnership | Where appropriate, a partner body may discuss a formal partnership arrangement with the Institute. Formal arrangements are confirmed in writing before partner candidates are enrolled. |
What the Institute Provides
| Curriculum | The Institute provides the published curriculum for the relevant formation programme. |
| Learning platform | Candidates work through the Institute's online learning platform. |
| Assessment framework | The Institute provides the assessment structure, submission process, marking, moderation, and formation review process for its award. |
| Cohort community | Partner candidates participate in the same cohort life and are subject to the same formation standards as other candidates. |
| Quality assurance | The Institute maintains its own quality assurance and review cycle, including benchmarking and after-cohort review. |
| Institute award | Candidates who successfully complete the programme receive the relevant Institute of Ministry formation award. |
| Certificate verification | The Institute maintains secure award records and certificate verification for third parties, including ordaining bodies and partner jurisdictions. |
What Partner Bodies Retain
| Canonical formation | Partner bodies remain responsible for their own canons, rites, local discipline, polity, and jurisdiction-specific requirements. |
| Safeguarding under local law | Partner bodies remain responsible for their own safeguarding clearances and background checks where required by their jurisdiction, country, or local law. |
| Discernment | Partner bodies retain responsibility for discerning whether a candidate is called, suitable, and ready for public ministry in that body. |
| Ordination decisions | The ordination decision belongs to the candidate's bishop or jurisdiction. The Institute does not ordain partner candidates. |
| Ministry authority | Partner bodies remain responsible for licences, faculties, appointments, permissions, and public ministry authority. |
| Candidate welfare and conduct | Partner bodies share responsibility for the suitability, welfare, and conduct of candidates they sponsor. |
Compatibility Expectations
The Institute welcomes compatible jurisdictions and communities in the independent sacramental and Western Rite tradition. Compatibility does not mean that a partner body must adopt the Mission's doctrine, liturgy, or governance. It does mean that certain minimum expectations must be clear.
Apostolic sacramental practice
Partner bodies should hold apostolic succession and celebrate valid sacraments in a Western Rite or compatible sacramental tradition.
Safeguarding seriousness
Partner bodies should maintain safeguarding standards equivalent to those required by the Institute.
Formation standards
Partner bodies should accept the academic and formation standards of the programme as published.
Clear communication
Partner bodies should communicate clearly with the Institute about candidate status, suitability, concerns, discernment, and ordination process.
What the Institute Does Not Do
| It does not ordain | The Institute provides formation and an ecclesiastical formation award. It does not ordain candidates for partner bodies. |
| It does not issue ministry licences | Licences, faculties, permissions, and appointments belong to the relevant bishop or jurisdiction. |
| It does not replace a bishop | The Institute does not take over a bishop's responsibility for discernment, pastoral oversight, or canonical decision-making. |
| It does not speak for partner bodies | The Institute's award is not an endorsement of every aspect of a partner body's polity or practice. |
| It does not guarantee outcomes | Completion of formation does not guarantee ordination, incardination, faculties, employment, professional designation, or external recognition. |
External Candidates Without a Sponsoring Body
Candidates who are preparing for diaconal ministry but do not yet belong to a compatible jurisdiction may apply, but they should be transparent about their situation. The Institute can provide formation; it is not, in itself, a jurisdiction and does not itself ordain external candidates.
If a candidate does not have a bishop who will ordain them, that question should be resolved before entering formation, not after completing it.
Safeguarding and Suitability Concerns
Failure to communicate serious concerns may affect the ongoing relationship between the partner body and the Institute. Formation depends on trust, clarity, and the protection of those whom future ministers will serve.
Partnership Enquiries
Bishops, formation directors, and compatible jurisdictions who wish to discuss candidate referral or a possible partnership arrangement should contact the Institute in writing.
Email: institute@apostolicoldcatholic.org
Formal partnership arrangements are confirmed in writing before partner candidates are enrolled.