History of CWACM's Extraordinary Ordination

The idea of offering an "Extraordinary Ordination" surfaced in 2005, four years after the birth of the Movement. Having decided over those years that it was our intention to BE church rather than reform a denomination, the Movement created an Extraordinary Ordination Work Area (EOWA) to outline strategies and procedures for our proposed clergy credentialing of those called to ministry.

The first ordination packet was approved in 2007 and was titled “An Ecumenical Extraordinary Ordination in a Methodist Tradition – Minus the Closet.” In March 2008 the Extraordinary Ordination Work Area interviewed and approved the first two candidates for ordination and presented Annie Britton and J Zirbel to the community for ordination. They received unanimous endorsement.

Rev. Annie Britton and Rev. J Zirbel were ordained at the first CWACM Extraordinary Ordination on October 19, 2008 at Mount Vernon Place UMC, Baltimore, Maryland. “Living Tomorrow Today” was the theme of the ordination worship service.

In October 2011, in Tucson, Arizona, CWACM celebrated the ordination of Rev. DeLyn Celec and Rev. Robyn Morrison.

In July 2013 in La Porte, Indiana, CWACM celebrated the first Transfer of Clergy Credentials for Rev. Vernice Thorn.

In June 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia, CWACM celebrated the credentialing of Rev. Dr. candi dugas.

In August 2015 in San Antonio, Texas, CWACM celebrated the Transfer of Clergy Credentials for Rev. Dr. Mindy Johnson-Hicks.

In October 2016, in Manhattan, Kansas, CWACM celebrated the Transfer of Clergy Credentials for Rev. Colleen Riley.

In January 2017, in Dallas, Texas, CWACM celebrated the ordination of Rev. Shirley Dunn.

Over the years, the EOWA has revised the ordination process to be an Individually Designed Journey for Ordination.

Over the course of each year, the EOWA welcomes our ordained clergy to one of our EOWA calls and enjoy hearing about their current ministries. It is always inspiring to talk with our clergy and to thank them for being important ambassadors for the Movement.

The EOWA is always available to answer questions about the ordination process and to partner interested candidates with a person who is a member of the Movement in order to begin a relationship between the candidate and the CWACM. For more information contact us.

Through the EOWA, CWACM offers three clergy connections:

• A pathway to Extraordinary Ordination which stands in opposition to religious institutions that embody systemic discriminatory behaviors. These harmful morally corrupt practices scapegoat people based on sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, race, ethnicity, able-bodied-ness and inclusive progressive theology among other identities and other falsely constructed disqualifiers. Extraordinary Ordination through CWACM enables a liberating expression of justice ministry through a community of mutual accountability.
• Transfer of Clergy Credentials for clergy who remain in good standing in their ordaining denomination, and want to transfer their credentials to the CWACM because they align with the practices of the Movement and the EOWA Statement of Christian Theology.
• Dual Covenant for ordained clergy who hold credentials in another denomination and who desire to align with the values of CWACM.