Presbyteral Canonical Exams - General Information
A common canonical examination for candidates to the Presbyterate covering the 8 Canonical Areas has been developed and is administered by the Board of Examining Chaplains of ACNA West. There are two sections to the Presbyteral Canonical Exam: an Objective Exam portion and an Essay portion. Each of these sections is described below.
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Candidates for ordination are encouraged to review the Canonical Areas listing and the Study Guides for each area as early in their ordination preparation process as possible.
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Once a candidate is ready to write the exams, the Diocesan Representative will submit the candidate's name and contact information to the Common Canonical Exam Coordinator. In addition, the candidate or Diocesan Representative must submit the name and contact information for an Exam Proctor. Exams will be sent by the Common Canonical Exam Coordinator to the Proctor.
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Candidates may take the exams at any time throughout the year. Candidates are encouraged to complete the exams within a 60 day period, though this may be adjusted by Diocesan and candidate request. Objective Exams will typically be returned to the candidate within 7 days. Essay exams will typically be returned to the candidate within 21 days.
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Objective Exams Description
Candidates for ordination to the Presbyterate will take objective exams in the four areas listed below. Detailed information and study guides are available on the Objective Exams page of the ACNA West website.
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Holy Scripture - Old and New Testament
Liturgy
Church History & Anglican Church History
Anglican Ecclesiology & Polity
Essay Exams Description
Presbyteral candidates will write eight essay sets. Each essay set addresses one the eight areas specified in the Canons of the Anglican Church in North America in which candidates for ordination must demonstrate competence. The eight areas are listed below and study guides for each area can be found by clicking on the title of the Canonical Area.
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For each essay set the candidates will have 3 hours of writing time to complete 2 essays. Candidates may write the eight essay sets in any order and may take them on a schedule specified by their Diocese and convenient for their Proctor.
Choose one of the two questions in the Old Testament section. Each essay is intended to take about 1 hour in total.
Choose one of the two questions in the New Testament section. Each essay is intended to take about 1 hour in total.
Liturgy
Choose two of the four questions in the Liturgy section. Each essay is intended to take about 1 hour in total.
Doctrine
Choose two of the four questions in the Doctrine section. Each essay is intended to take about 1 hour in total.
Church History & Anglican Church History
Choose one of the two questions in the Church History section. Choose one of the two questions in the Anglican Church History section. Each essay is intended to take about 1 hour in total.
Ascetical Theology
Choose two of the four questions in the Ascetical Theology section. Each essay is intended to take about 1 hour in total.
Moral Theology & Ethics
Choose two of the four questions in the Moral Theology & Ethics section. Each essay is intended to take about 1 hour in total.
Practical Theology
Choose two of the four questions in the Practical Theology section. Each essay is intended to take about 1 hour in total.
Missionary Work of the Church
Choose two of the four questions in the Missionary Work of the Church section. Each essay is intended to take about 1 hour in total.