The Board of Examining Chaplains’ report to the 2014 Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth is submitted by Ed Waggoner. Waggoner is an assistant professor of theologyin the Rt. Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Chair in Episcopal Studies at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. You may download a PDF of this report here.
In mid-March, 2014, Bishop High created a Board of Examining Chaplains (BEC) for the Diocese of Fort Worth. The chief purpose of the BEC is to assist the bishop and the Commission on Ministry to evaluate the competence of candidates in the seven canonical areas of the Episcopal Church. Those areas are: [1] Holy Scriptures, [2] Church History, including the Ecumenical Movement, [3] Christian Theology, including Missionary Theology and Missiology, [4] Christian Ethics and Moral Theology, [5] Studies in Contemporary Society, including Racial and Minority Groups, [6] Liturgics and Church Music, and [7] Theory and Practice of Ministry.
The first meeting of the Board of Examining Chaplains took place at Trinity Episcopal Church, in Fort Worth, from 5:00-6:30pm, on Thursday, March 27. Present were: Bishop High, the Rev. Bruce Coggin, Dr. David Brockman, Dr. Ed Waggoner, and the Rev. Dr. Andrew Wright. Dr. Ed Waggoner volunteered to serve as Convener for the BEC. Subsequent to this March 27 meeting, Rev. Sandra Michels and Rev. Dr. David Madison became members.
At Bishop High’s request, the BEC examined Tony Hiatt (candidate for Holy Orders) and Carl Saxton (candidate for Holy Orders), on Thursday, May 22, at Trinity Episcopal Church, in Fort Worth. The Board (Madison absent) met with Tony Hiatt from 2:30-3:30pm and with Carl Saxton from 4:00-5:00pm. Both examinees orally answered questions posed by members of the BEC in each of the seven canonical areas. The results of these respective examinations were communicated to Bishop High and to the Rev. Melanie Barbarito, who at that time chaired the Commission on Ministry.
Bishop High subsequently requested that the BEC assist Tony Hiatt to increase his level of preparation in the canonical areas. BEC members Madison, Michels, and Coggin worked with Hiatt over the summer of 2014. On Thursday, August 21, 2014, Waggoner, Convener, reported to Bishop High that – in the judgment of the BEC – Hiatt had significantly improved his knowledge in canonical areas. This formally ended the BEC’s work to evaluate the canonical competence of Carl Saxton and Tony Hiatt.
The Diocese of Fort Worth’s Board of Examining Chaplains will convene again as needed. As of November 1, 2014, its members are: the Rev. Bruce Coggin, the Rev. Sandi Michels, Dr. David Brockman, the Rev. Dr. Andrew Wright, Dr. David Brockman, the Rev. Dr. David Madison, and Dr. Ed Waggoner (Convener).