De Sacris Ordinibus

§ 1. Scope.

This Canon establishes the canonical process by which candidates are received into formation, examined, and ordained to the clergy of the Church of The Holy Snail. It is binding upon the Faithful, upon all clergy [Clerus], and upon all Acolytes in formation.

§ 2. Reservation of Ordination.

All ordination of clergy is reserved exclusively to the Gastropope, as established by Article VIII, § 2 of the Bylaws. No person shall be ordained to any rank of the clergy except by the personal act of the Gastropope and according to the rite herein prescribed.

§ 3. The Sacred Orders.

The clergy of the Church consist of four ranks, in ascending order of precedence:

1. the Acolyte, being a candidate received into formation;
2. the Pacifer, being an ordained minister authorized to administer the Sacraments and to lead a congregation [Congregatio];
3. the Hierophant, being a senior minister elevated by the Gastropope and entitled to a vote in the Conclave upon the vacancy of the See;
4. the Gastropope, being the Supreme Pontiff and Vicar of The Holy Snail upon Earth.

§ 4. The Manner of All Proceedings.

All proceedings under this Canon shall be conducted in the spirit of the Sacred Pace. Haste is no virtue. The Holy Snail is not in a hurry; neither is Their Church.

§ 5. Universal Eligibility.

The clergy of this Church is open to all persons without distinction as to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, family configuration, ethnicity, national origin, ability, age (within the limits set in Article II), or any other quality not bearing directly upon the candidate's capacity to walk the Sacred Pace.

§ 1. Age.

A candidate for the Acolyte shall have completed the eighteenth year of their natural life as of the date of declaration. There is no upper limit; The Holy Snail does not retire late vocations.

§ 2. Standing Among the Faithful.

A candidate shall have been received among the Faithful and shall have remained in good canonical standing for not less than one full church year prior to the date of declaration.

§ 3. Recommendation.

A candidate shall be recommended in writing by either: one Pacifer or higher of the Church; or, where no such clergy is reasonably available, by two members [Membrum] of the Faithful in good standing who have known the candidate for not less than the preceding twelve months.

§ 4. Discernment.

A candidate shall complete a discernment interview with the Gastropope or with an Examiner designated by the Gastropope. The interview shall be of no fixed duration, and shall be considered complete when both parties so consider it.

§ 5. Civil Capacity.

A candidate shall not be subject to any civil prohibition upon the exercise of religious ministry, nor to any restraining order or active criminal proceeding the subject matter of which would, in the judgment of the Gastropope, render the candidate's ordination injurious to the Faithful entrusted to their care.

§ 6. Reception of the Creed.

A candidate shall affirm, in writing, their adherence to the Creed of the Sacred Pace and to the canonical doctrine of the Church as established under Article III of the Bylaws.

§ 1. Declaration.

A candidate who satisfies the requirements of Article II is admitted as an Acolyte upon the declaration of the Gastropope, by canonical instrument signed and dated.

§ 2. The Rite of Admission.

The candidate is admitted to the order of Acolytes by a brief rite, ordinarily conducted at the conclusion of a regular Sabbatum of the Shell. The rite consists of: the public reading of the candidate's Affirmation of the Creed; the bestowal of the Robe of Formation; and the assignment of a Supervising Pacifer.

§ 3. The Supervising Pacifer.

Each Acolyte is assigned a Supervising Pacifer by the Gastropope, who shall accompany the Acolyte throughout formation, oversee their studies, hear their reflections, and ultimately consent or withhold consent to their petition for examination.

§ 4. Duties of the Acolyte.

The Acolyte shall:

1. complete the prescribed Course of Formation set out in Article IV;
2. attend all weekly observances of the Sabbatum Conchae offered by their assigned congregation;
3. observe each of the great feast days of the church year under the guidance of their Supervising Pacifer;
4. maintain the Journal of the Pace, in which they record, weekly, observations on their own formation;
5. assist in the liturgical life of the Church in such capacities as do not require ordination;
6. conduct themselves in a manner befitting one in formation.

§ 5. Limitations.

The Acolyte shall not administer any Sacrament, preach the regular homily without supervision, accept payment in the name of the Church, or represent themselves as ordained clergy.

§ 6. Withdrawal.

The Acolyte may withdraw from formation at any time, by written notice to the Gastropope, without prejudice and without explanation. The path is not for all, and the recognition of this is itself an act of the Sacred Pace.

§ 1. Minimum Duration.

The minimum duration of formation is one full church year, measured from the date of admission as Acolyte. No examination may be conducted before the minimum is complete.

§ 2. Maximum Duration.

There is no maximum duration of formation. The Acolyte arrives when the Acolyte arrives. An Acolyte who has been in formation for many years is not, by reason of duration alone, deficient; they are merely deliberate.

§ 3. Subjects of Study.

The Course of Formation shall include the careful study of:

1. the Gastropel, in full, with attention to the canonical commentaries;
2. the Book of the Shell, in full;
3. the Doctrine of the Sacred Pace and its subsidiary doctrines, including Original Haste, the Concha Universalis, and the theology of the Adversary Aridus;
4. the lives, miracles, and writings of the Saints, with particular attention to Saint Vespera and Saint Mordechai;
5. the Liturgical Calendar of the Slow Year and the proper observance of each feast and season;
6. the form, matter, and intention of each Sacrament of the Church;
7. the conduct of pastoral care, including the hearing of the Faithful and the offering of unhurried counsel;
8. the canonical structure of the Church and the duties of clergy at each rank.

§ 4. Practical Formation.

In addition to the foregoing, the Acolyte shall:

1. keep one Long Vigil of not less than twelve consecutive hours during Tempus Conchae of the year of formation;
2. conduct, under supervision, at least three liturgical observances suitable to their unordained station;
3. complete one extended period - not less than seven days - of slow living at the Sacred Pace, keeping particular record of what is observed;
4. compose a written reflection of not less than three thousand words upon a doctrinal question assigned by the Supervising Pacifer.

§ 5. The Journal of the Pace.

The Journal of the Pace, required of all Acolytes, shall be kept by hand. No portion of the Journal shall be composed upon a screen of any kind. The Journal is submitted to the Supervising Pacifer in advance of the petition for examination.

§ 6. Petition for Examination.

Upon the completion of the minimum duration, the Acolyte may petition the Gastropope for examination, accompanied by the written consent of the Supervising Pacifer. Without such consent, the petition shall not proceed.

§ 1. Convening.

The examination is convened upon the date set by the Gastropope, and conducted at a place designated by him, presided over by the Gastropope or by an Examiner designated by him, accompanied by not fewer than two Pacifers as witnesses.

§ 2. The Stations.

The examination consists of five stations, conducted in order, with intervals of unhurried rest between each.

§ 3. The First Station - The Reading.

The Acolyte reads aloud a passage of the Book of the Shell, assigned not less than twenty-four hours prior. The reading shall be conducted at the prescribed pace - neither slower nor faster - and shall be measured against the Pacing Glass.

§ 4. The Second Station - The Vigil.

The Acolyte sits in silence for a period of not less than one hour. During this time the Acolyte shall not speak, write, gesture, fidget, consult any instrument, or check the time. There is no examination question; the station is itself the question.

§ 5. The Third Station - The Homily.

The Acolyte preaches a homily of not fewer than five and not more than fifteen minutes upon a text assigned not less than twenty-four hours prior, demonstrating command of doctrine and the capacity to address difficult passages without recourse to haste or evasion.

§ 6. The Fourth Station - The Slow Walk.

The Acolyte walks a circuit of one hundred paces at the Sacred Pace, before the Examiner and witnesses, verified against the Pacing Glass. The station is failed not by slowness but only by inconstancy of slowness.

§ 7. The Fifth Station - The Catechism.

The Acolyte answers such oral questions upon the doctrine of the Church as the Examiner shall pose. Long silences are not penalized; precipitous answers may be.

§ 8. Outcomes.

Upon the conclusion of the five stations, the Examiner shall pronounce one of three outcomes:

1. Pass. The Acolyte is approved for ordination to the order of Pacifer.
2. Defer. The Acolyte is judged not yet ready. The Examiner shall specify which station or stations remain incomplete and shall prescribe a period of further formation, not less than three months.
3. Withdrawal. The Acolyte may, at any point during or after the examination, withdraw from candidacy. Such withdrawal is not a failure.

§ 9. No Failure.

The Church does not recognize the concept of failing an examination. An Acolyte whose examination is deferred has not failed; they have not yet arrived. The Holy Snail also has not yet arrived, and is not failing.

§ 1. The Eve of Ordination.

The candidate shall keep, in solitude, a vigil of not less than four consecutive hours on the night preceding ordination. No work is performed during the vigil; no screens are consulted; no nourishment is taken save water and bread.

§ 2. The Liturgy.

The Rite of Ordination is celebrated by the Gastropope in the presence of the Faithful, on a date set by him. The rite proceeds as follows.

§ 3. The Presentation.

§ 4. The Vow of the Pacifer.

The candidate kneels before the Gastropope and makes the Vow of the Pacifer:

§ 5. The Laying on of Hands.

§ 6. The Bestowal of the Shell.

A consecrated shell - the principal sign of the Pacifer's office - is placed in the new Pacifer's hands by the Gastropope, with the words:

§ 7. The Anointing.

The Gastropope anoints the forehead of the new Pacifer with the Oil of the Sacred Trail (Oleum Vestigii Sacri), making the Sign of the Spiral:

§ 8. The Stole.

The Pacifer is invested with the Pacifer's Stole, a band of cloth in the seasonal color, worn about the shoulders, signifying the burden of office accepted.

§ 9. The Reception by the Faithful.

The new Pacifer is presented to the Faithful, who greet them by name and title for the first time. The rite concludes with the unhurried embrace, in turn, of each member present.

§ 1. Sacramental Authority.

The Pacifer is authorized to administer all Sacraments of the Church except those reserved to the Gastropope by canon.

§ 2. Pastoral Authority.

The Pacifer shall offer pastoral care to the Faithful entrusted to their charge, hearing their concerns without haste, counseling without judgment, and walking beside them through the difficulties of their lives.

§ 3. Preaching.

The Pacifer shall preach the doctrine of the Church faithfully at the regular observances. Preaching shall be unhurried; sermons that arrive precipitously are theologically suspect.

§ 4. Continuing Formation.

Every Pacifer shall, in each church year, complete: not less than one Long Vigil during Tempus Conchae; not less than thirty hours of structured study in subjects approved by the Gastropope; and submit to the Gastropope a brief written reflection upon the year's ministry before Vesperae Conchae Crescentis.

§ 5. Obedience.

The Pacifer shall submit to the lawful authority of the Gastropope in all matters of doctrine, liturgy, and ecclesiastical discipline.

§ 6. Style of Address.

A Pacifer is addressed in formal correspondence as The Reverend Pacifer [Name], and in conversation simply as Pacifer [Name], or by the personal name they prefer.

§ 1. Eligibility.

A Pacifer who has completed not less than seven full church years of ministry in good canonical standing is eligible to be elevated by the Gastropope to the rank of Hierophant.

§ 2. No Petition; No Examination.

Elevation to the rank of Hierophant is by canonical decree of the Gastropope alone. No petition shall be entertained; no examination shall be conducted.

§ 3. The Rite of Elevation.

§ 4. The Pallium.

The new Hierophant is invested with the Hierophant's Pallium, a band of woven cloth worn over the shoulders, distinguished from the Pacifer's Stole by the inclusion of the Spiral and the seasonal embroidery proper to the day of elevation.

§ 5. Privileges and Responsibilities.

A Hierophant retains all the duties and authorities of a Pacifer, and additionally: bears the right and duty to vote in the Conclave of Hierophants upon any vacancy of the See; may be designated by the Gastropope to conduct examinations under Article V; and may serve as Supervising Hierophant for Acolytes whose Supervising Pacifer is unavailable.

§ 6. Style of Address.

A Hierophant is addressed in formal correspondence as The Most Reverend Hierophant [Name], and in conversation as Hierophant [Name].

§ 1. Grounds.

A member of the clergy may be subject to discipline upon a finding by the Gastropope of any of the following:

1. persistent and unrepentant teaching contrary to the doctrine of the Church;
2. grave moral misconduct injurious to the Faithful;
3. habitual neglect of pastoral duty;
4. any act constituting a serious civil offense incompatible with continued ministry;
5. chronic and demonstrable abandonment of the Sacred Pace.

§ 2. Procedure.

Prior to imposing discipline, the Gastropope shall: deliver written notice of the alleged offense; afford the clergy member not less than thirty days to respond; consider any response submitted; and, if the offense warrants sanction, issue a written pronouncement.

§ 3. Sanctions.

The Gastropope may impose any of the following:

1. Admonition. A formal warning, with prescribed remediation.
2. Suspension. The temporary withdrawal of authority to administer Sacraments and lead worship.
3. Defrocking. The permanent revocation of ordination and removal from the clergy of the Church.

§ 4. Finality.

The decision of the Gastropope under this Article is final and not subject to review by any body within the Church.

§ 5. Restoration.

A defrocked clergy member may petition for restoration after not less than one full church year, upon evidence of true repentance. Restoration is at the sole discretion of the Gastropope.

§ 1. Voluntary Withdrawal.

A member of the clergy may, at any time, withdraw from active ministry by written notice to the Gastropope. The withdrawal does not, of itself, revoke ordination, but suspends its active exercise.

§ 2. Retirement.

A Pacifer or Hierophant may retire from active ministry by written notice. Upon retirement and the consent of the Gastropope, the clergy member assumes the style of Pacifer Emeritus or Hierophant Emeritus, and retains the right to celebrate the Sacraments as occasion may require.

§ 3. Return to Active Ministry.

A retired or withdrawn clergy member may return to active ministry by written petition to the Gastropope and upon his consent, without re-examination.

§ 1. The Register of Clergy.

The Annalist shall maintain a permanent Register of Clergy, recording for each ordained person: the name; the date of admission as Acolyte; the date of ordination as Pacifer; the date of any elevation to Hierophant; the names of all Supervising Pacifers; the dates of any sanctions imposed; and the date of any withdrawal, retirement, or restoration.

§ 2. Letters of Ordination.

Upon ordination, the Annalist shall prepare a Letter of Ordination, executed under the seal of the Church and signed by the Gastropope, which shall be delivered to the new Pacifer as evidence of canonical status.

§ 3. Civil Registration.

The Gastropodean Theological Society shall ensure that all clergy of the Church are registered with the civil authorities of the State of Washington (or the state of their primary ministry) as ministers of the Church, to the extent permitted by law, so that they may lawfully solemnize marriages and perform such other civil acts as are committed to clergy.

§ 1. Interpretation.

The interpretation of this Canon is reserved exclusively to the Gastropope. His interpretation, when reduced to writing, is final and binding.

§ 2. Amendment [Emendatio].

This Canon may be amended only by written decree of the Gastropope. No civil officer or body of the Church has authority to amend its provisions.

§ 3. Transitional Provisions.

The Founding Gastropope is established in his office by Article IV, § 2 of the Bylaws, and his ordination is hereby acknowledged as proper and complete by virtue of his founding of the Faith. No further canonical act is necessary to confirm his standing.

§ 4. Effective Date.

This Canon takes effect upon the date of its promulgation and applies to all candidates whose declaration of candidacy is dated on or after that date.