ORDERS & COMMUNION
Orders is the sacrament through which men are ordained as deacons, priests, or bishops to serve the Church.
Communion, also called the Eucharist, is the sacrament where believers receive the Body and Blood of Christ.
Orders and Communion:
In accordance with the Archbishop’s historic position as the representative of the true Anglican tradition, it shall be open to the Archbishop to appoint Vicar General, Chancellor, Theologian, Secretary, treasurer, Registrar, Director of vocations and any other necessary. It may be conferred by the Archbishop in his absolute discretion as the need arises. The Archbishop may create any other new appointment as may in his judgment become necessary for the good order and governance of the BAECI.
Any person over the age of fifty five years, believing that he has a genuine call to the ministry of God’s word may apply to a Bishop, to have his vocation tested and, subject to a favourable outcome, and with the approval in writing of the Archbishop may be ordained a Permanent deacon. And in that capacity be appointed to assist a Priest in his own locality.
The Priesthood may be conferred only upon those who have completed their twenty-five year of age, and possess a sufficient maturity. There would normally be an interval of at least six months between the Deaconate and the Priesthood. The Deaconate may be conferred only upon those who have completed their twenty-third year age.
After an ordination, names of the individuals ordained, the name of the ordaining Bishop, and the date and place of ordination are to be entered into a Register of Services.
The Ordaining Bishop is to give to each person ordained Priest or Deacon an authentic certificate of the ordination received. Such documents if normally referred to us Letters of Order. It must contain the date and place of ordination, and the seal and signature of the ordaining Bishop.
No rites of ordination will be used without the approval of the Archbishop and such rites will be based on those openly approved within the BAECI.
All Bishops have the power to ordain and Priests of the church. They must both satisfy themselves of the correctness of the rite and the required intention to ordain. The Archbishop shall be informed in advance of all ordinations and each ordaining must be issued in the presence of Archbishop. The Archbishop has an absolute right upon any ordination that he considers undesirable. His decision shall be lead by the Holy Spirit and will be unquestionable.
There shall be no compulsory retirement age for any member within the BAECI clergy; all appointments shall be for life unless indisposed by ills health. However, any member who commits activities or act against the rules and regulations lay down by BAECI will be at the discretion of Archbishop to dismiss after a formal enquiry.
In accordance with the Archbishop’s historic position as the representative of the true Anglican tradition, it shall be open to the Archbishop to grant academic honors in the form of honorary degrees in Theology, Divinity, and Ministry.
Bishops Reverends and Pastors
No Bishops, Reverends and Pastors of the BAECI will enter into any agreement for Inter-Communion with any other church or ecc1esial body without the consent of the Archbishop in writing.
No Bishops, Reverends and Pastors of the BAECI will take it upon himself to act as Episcopal Visitor to anybody or Religious Order whatsoever without the consent of the Archbishop in writing.
No Bishops, Reverends and Pastors of the BAECI will enter into any arrangement whereby he engages in a personal Prelature with any Clerk in Orders in any circumstances whatsoever without the consent of the Archbishop in writing.
No Bishops, Reverends and Pastors of the BAECI will con-celebrate the Eucharist with a woman priest or Bishop of any other jurisdiction whatsoever.
No Bishop within the church can consecrate another Episcopal candidate within the church without consent and participation of the Archbishop.
No Bishop will take part in the consecration of anyone as a Bishop in any other jurisdiction without the consent of the Archbishop in writing.
An Archbishop will carry the title The Most Reverend, and will customarily be addressed as Archbishop (Christian name).
Bishops will carry the title The Right Reverend, and will customarily be addressed as Bishop (Christian name).
Priests will carry the title The Reverend; will customarily be addressed as The Reverend or Father (Christian name).
Deacons will carry the title The Reverend, and will customarily be addressed by their Christian name.
Deaconess will carry the title Deaconess and will customarily be addressed by their Christian name.
A cleric other than a Bishop holding a Diocesan appointment as a secretary, Treasurer, or Director of Vocations etc shall at the discretion of Archbishop carry the title The Reverend in addition to any other distinctions.
It shall be open to the Archbishop to confer such traditional honorary titles as he sees fit on ordained holders of any diocesan appointment, or not as the case may be. It shall be open to the Archbishop to confer honorary titles on any members of the clergy in recognition of special service or other worthy contribution.