Title (3)
Title
to orders in Episcopal churches. This is best explained by quoting the 33rd canon of the Established Church of England:
"It has been long since provided by many decrees of the ancient fathers that none should be admitted, either deacon or priest, who had not first some certain place where he might use his function; according to which examples we do ordain that henceforth no person shall be admitted into sacred orders except (1) he shall at that time exhibit to the bishop of whom he desireth imposition of hands a presentation of himself to some ecclesiastical preferment then void in the diocese; or (2) shall bring to the said bishop a true and undoubted certificate that either he is provided of some church within the said diocese, where he may attend the cure of souls, or (3) of some ministers place vacant, either in the cathedral church of that diocese, or in. some other collegiate church therein: also situate, where he may execute his ministry; or (4) that he is a fellow, or in right as a fellow or (5) a conduct or chaplain in some college in Cambridge or Oxford; or (6) except he be a master of arts of five years standing that liveth of his own charge in either of the universities; or (7) except by the bishop himself that doth ordain him minister he be shortly after to be admitted either to some benefice or curateship then void. And if any bishop shall admit any person into the ministry that hath none of these titles as is aforesaid, then he shall keep and maintain him, with all things necessary till he do prefer him to some ecclesiastical living; and if the said bishop refuse so to do, he shall be suspended by the archbishop, being assisted with another bishop, from giving orders by the space of a year." In the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, canon 19 of 1832, "of the titles of those who are to be ordained priests," declares —
"No person shall be ordained priest unless he shall produce to the bishop a satisfactory certificate from some church, parish, or congregation that he is engaged with them, and that they will receive him as their minister; or unless he be a missionary under the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese to which he belongs, or in the employment of some missionary society recognized by the General Convention; or unless he be engaged as a professor, tutor, or instructor of youth in some college, academy, or other seminary of learning duly incorporated" (Digest of the Canons, p. 20). . See Eden, Theol. Dict. s.v.; Hook, Church Dict. s.v.
