Congregation for Education

Congregation for Seminary Education is a collective of ordained priests who seek to improve the succession of the church's holy body through education in both church orthodoxy and faith. Currently, the congregation is headed by a prefect who works out of Northshire Abbey.

Cleric Ranking System

 * Acolyte
 * Monastic (Brother / Sister)
 * Ordained Priest (Battlecleric / Divination)
 * Bishop (The Council)
 * Bishop

Information:
1. All priests, clerics, monastics and the like begin as "Neophytes." This means that you are beginning the path of the Three Virtues. Whether the priest is old or seasoned to the Light or just starting out, there is plenty to learn. Stormwind's bishopric and Lordaeron's are different in how the traditions are carried out and how strict we are to how they are done and what is to be gleaned from them. If you don't want to start as a neophyte, then this church and this band of clerics is not for you. All positions are earned.

2. Once someone has proven themselves a willing convert by helping to keep Stormwind's Cathedral or Northshire Abbey clean and its people taken care of, they are then called "Acolytes." An ordained priest will take on two or more acolytes and show them how the church operates as far as tending to celebrations, worship services and traditions. They also assist their mentor in daily tasks. Acolytes are not yet considered full members of the church and may come and go without reprisal; however, if they choose to leave the church before being made a full member and then choose to come back and try again, they will have to start as a neophyte. A person may only "try again" twice before being denied.

3. When the ordained priest feels that their acolyte has adequately preformed their duties and understands the basics of tending to the altar, they are placed for review before either the brotherhood or sisterhood (gender depending). While both the fraternity and sorority teach identical courses (i.e., swordsmanship, ale-making, and tending to the church grounds), it is the fellowship of men and women that make transition and teaching easier. Monastics are not to partake in any of the following:


 * Drinking in excess
 * Dressing in expensive clothing. All robes are to be modest in dark colors. Shoes should be equally as modest; sandals are to be worn majority of the time.
 * Public intoxication, fighting or anything that is against the tenets.

Any monastic that is caught doing these things will be reprimanded. Once an acolyte has been accepted into the fraternity, they become a sworn member of the church and are expected to conduct themselves accordingly. Removal at this level is not recommended as those who are removed are often shunned while still allowed to attend regular masses and services. Those who choose to leave are often treated the same.

Each fraternity has an ordained priest that organizes the order and makes recommendations.

4. When the ordained priest(s) have viewed a monastic as being worthy and having completed their tasks to or above standard, they are placed up for review. The Council of Bishops (or a Collective of Ordained Priests) then convenes to discuss if the person is physical, mental, emotional and moral condition to ascend the rank. It must be a 2/3 vote for the monastic to be considered worthy to take the pilgrimage. If they complete the pilgrimage, they are given a public ceremony of ordination. If they cannot or do not complete it, they must wait 2 months before being considered again. (Some circumstances may allot for them to take it before that, but that is at the discretion of the Ordinary and the Prefect)

3. Bishop is the final step. The bishop is given this position through the Church of Faol and by the will of the Highlord. They work in unison when it comes to various decisions. The Council of Bishops are generally ordained priests who have proven themselves though time, deed and word. They are chorbishops who are headed by a Ordinary.

Induction to the Light (First Ceremony)
When one chooses to become part of the church as a member, they need only swear themselves to the Light.

When one chooses to become part of the order of clerics (i.e., not just a member but one who works within the clergy), they must swear themselves at the altar in a private ceremony before the Prefect and several ordained priests.

In this private ceremony, they are stripped of whatever ill deeds they have done in the past and are given a clean slate. It is advised that none of their betters view them with discrimination nor treat them any differently than any other neophyte. With this clean slate, they are asked to give up their worldly possessions and give them to charity. The reason we have them give up all titles, land and items of intrinsic value is that if they are to live in the grace of the Light - and not in the grace of their nobility - they are to live among their peers and live a life of humility. It also places each person on equal ground.

If they have chosen to give of themselves in the physical sense, they must then be asked to give of themselves in the spiritual sense. With this, they are blessed from a bowl of anointing oil and asked to swear their spirit to the Light.

But why not swear to the church?

As they are not considered members of the church at this stage, they do not need to swear themselves to the church. In order to proceed, they must swear themselves to the holiness and goodness of the Light. In essence, they are "baptized" into the faith and are meant to work toward acceptance from the Light where in later stages it will be acceptance from their peers. The Light's will always comes before Man's.

==Life as a Monastic ==

Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame (Male Priests / Monastics)
The first thing one might ask is: Why separate the sexes when teaching them?

The simple answer is that in order to feel comfortable, and to not distract one from their intended lessons, we allow male priests and monastics to fall into a fraternity and the female priests and monastics into a sorority. The lessons remain the same but the fellowships can often be different. (Think Boy Scouts vs. Girl Scouts or Nuns and Priests)

The Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame is run by two ordained priests and one member of the Council of Bishops. These are males, of course. The ranking structure for the acolytes ranges from "cubs" to "seniors." The newer acolytes are often given more to learn whereas the monastics who have been part of the brotherhood for much longer are given more responsibility.

In order to be accepted in, one must prove themselves devout to the Light. It is then at the discretion of the leader of the fraternity to have a private ceremony with the inductee and his "brothers" to have the intended swear themselves to the church. This ceremony generally consists of being "washed" by their brothers and cleansed of the sins of the outside world. Being naked is not necessary at any given point.

After they are washed clean, they are passed through the archway of the church and essentially reborn as a member. They are given a modest set of brown robes, sandals and are asked to cultivate a beard. The beard is a symbol of the humble nature of the monastic. Their hair; however, is cut short and kept clean. (We don't do the bald spot.) They are then told what is forbidden of them.

NOTE: Only priests may ascend from this rank where as monks (monastics), warriors (guardians), rogues (guardians) may only stay at this rank. Monastics are generally forbidden from marrying or having relationships outside of their relationship with the church, but when they are seasoned enough, they may request permission to marry from the Council of Bishops.

The Sisterhood of Faol's Mercy (Female Priests / Monastics)
Like the fraternity, the Sisterhood is meant to be a coalition of women who work together and learn together in comfort of not being judged by the opposite sex. While monastics - both men and women - will work together, the lessons and fellowship (this does not include worship services) are done within the sorority.

The sisterhood is run by one female member of the Council of Bishops and two ordained priests. Female monastics are often referred to as "nuns" or "sisters." Like their male counterparts, they range from inducted acolytes to seasoned nuns. The most seasoned monastic is often called "the Reverend Mother" and it becomes her duty to ensure the organization of those who cannot ascend past this rank. While the ordained priests essentially are the overall upkeep of the sisterhood, the Reverend Mother is the daily upkeep.

As in the brotherhood, the female who is inducted is given a private ceremony to swear her duties to the church. Again, she is washed by her sisters and she is given a white, modest robe as a symbol of her chosen purity to the Light. (NOTE: Purity in this sense does NOT mean she needs to be a virgin. This is meant to symbolize that she will not soil herself by going against the tenets or doctrine of the church) She will be given a pair of sandals and her hair is to be cleaned and kept away from her face. Ponytails and buns are acceptable in lieu of cropped hair. Hair is not to fall about the shoulders and is to be manageable.

NOTE: ''Only priests may ascend from this rank where as monks (monastics), warriors (guardians), rogues (guardians) may only stay at this rank. Monastics are generally forbidden from marrying or having relationships outside of their relationship with the church, but when they are seasoned enough, they may request permission to marry from the Council of Bishops.''

What Is Taught

 * Swordsmanship


 * Archery


 * Writing / Reading


 * Gardening


 * Cooking


 * Groundskeeping


 * Sewing


 * First Aid / Bandaging / Medical


 * Traditions

Seminary (Traditional Classes)
The full course is once a week, every week for a month over four months. After the four months, we begin again for those who are new. You must attend each course as each course has information I will not go over again until the next cycle. At the end of the cycle, you will be tested accordingly. Classes usually run about an hour or more depending on interactions and questions.

Deeds of the Three Virtues
After a cleric has reached the rank of monastic, they will be going through not only seminary but daily lessons through their respective fraternity. Once a month, a chosen few monastics will be given a deed or task that is meant to employ one of the virtues. They must complete three tasks - one for each virtue.


 * Compassion


 * Respect


 * Tenacity

No task will be the same for each monastic. They may range from working at the orphanage to being placed in a situation that requires a more physical activity. When the monastic feels they have completed the given task, they are to return to the ordained priests of their fraternity and explain what they had learned and what they employed.

Examples:

As a monastic, you must try to spread the gospel of Faol to the town of Booty Bay and try to convert them into seeing the evil of their ways

As a monastic, you are charged with assisting the knights on their quest to Southshore. You must maintain their motivation and keep them in congruency with the tenets.

The First Liturgy
Before one can become ordained, they must give their first liturgy. Whether this sermon is given in celebration of something or simple fellowship in daily prayer - it doesn't matter. The criteria for the passing of this task is the following:


 * The sermon must be written by the priest
 * Must be accepted by at least one ordained priest and one chorbishop
 * The time and date of the liturgy must be made public by the priest
 * The sermon must be in congruency with the given situation and/or celebration

The traditions must be adhered to as well. Opening and closing prayers as well as all readings must be set up by the priest with one ordained priest to watch over the procession. Success or failure will not be dependent on the audience but on the actions of the priest and if protocol was followed adequately. Work as an acolyte / neophyte will have given them first glances on how to light the candles and the procession of the liturgy.



==The Final Stages ==

Ceremony of Completion
Two days (give or take) after the priest has given their first liturgy, the ordained priests who have been mentoring him/her must take their recommendation to the Council of Bishops in order to have them convene and discuss if the individual is prepared for ordination. If 2/3 vote that the person is ready, they will be called into a private conclave where they will be given a ceremony to prepare them.

The Pilgrimage to Faol's Rest
Alonsus Faol was the founder of the Church of the Holy Light. No priest ought to forget this. In order to make this concrete in the minds of those who seek to be ordained, they are to walk to Alonsus Faol's burial site in Forsaken territory in faith that the Light will spare them the darkness as it has spared Faol's teachings for future generations.

The priest may only leave with the following:


 * A book entitled: "The Epistles of Faol"
 * A bowl
 * A spoon
 * 1 pound of salted meat
 * 2 flasks of pure water
 * 1 loaf of hardtack
 * An athame
 * 1 longsword
 * 1 roll of linen bandages

The priest will only wear the humble robes that he/she was given as a monastic and the sandals upon their feet. The walk will begin at Light's Hope Chapel and the priest will meditate and pray for three days at the site once they reach it. The Epistles of Faol is to be read and meditated upon.

The priest will be at the mercy of whatever animals or unnatural beings come their way. Their knowledge of the Light will either be adequate for their survival or they will perish. Some have come back not being able to complete it and in fear. ''' What is the point of this? '''

Darkness penetrates every aspect of our lives. If we are faithful to the tenets, then we can overcome any adversity. The Light is the point of anything we say or do and should not be forgotten no matter what the consequence.

The Ceremony of Ordination
Once the priest has had time to recuperate from a successful return, they will be washed and dressed in robes befitting an ordained priest. In a public ceremony, they will be prayed over and blessed accordingly by the Council of Bishops and the ordained priests who mentored them.

After the blessings, they will give a small speech about their trials and tribulations as well as a brief prayer to affirm their faith in a public manner. When this is complete, they will be introduced as an ordained priest and allowed the responsibility of teaching future generations as well as speaking on behalf of the church in missionary work.

List of Ecclesiastic Professors
This is a brief listing of those who have been accepted in a scholarly role and have the church's official nod to teach within their synod. (For those who wish to teach, they should contact the Prefect via letter of intent.)