From The Customary for Vocational Deacons

All active deacons shall complete 8 (eight) hours of continuing education per year in addition to the Deacon’s Conference. It is possible to combine these hours to 16 (sixteen) hours every two years. Topics chosen should either improve skills and vision for the deacon’s current ministry or prepare the deacon for a new ministry of justice (ex. areas of racism, affordable housing, prison, etc.). It is important at the beginning of each year to know the general areas of study anticipated, but not the particulars of time or place. The details can be acknowledged in the final report.

Continuing education is to be completed in community, not in isolation.  Suggested is weekend or one or two day classes or seminars sponsored by hospitals, civic organizations, and educational institutions, as well as religious organizations (houses of faith, denominational entities) at the state, national or international level. Also online continuing educating hours that may be available.

 Continuing Education: Priests are required to complete thirty-six (36) contact hours annually, to be divided as follows:

• Twelve (12) hours "Religious Studies" from any of these six canonical areas - Scripture, Ethics, Theology, Church History, Contemporary Society. It is hoped that over a period of several years, each of these areas will receive attention.
• Twelve (12) hours "Professional Studies." These hours may include the canonical area "Theory and Practice of Ministry" and such things as Developing Community, Leadership Skills, Effective Communications, Demographics, Church Financial Planning, Volunteer Management, etc.
• Twelve (12) hours "Personal Studies." These hours may include such things as Interpersonal Skills, Living with Stress, Healthy Living, Meditation, Directed Retreat, etc.

All congregations and institutions of the diocese remunerating clergy must make adequate provisions of  money and time to comply with this policy.

Click on the link below to access the:

Clergy Continuing Education Accountability Report