General Board of Examining Chaplains (GBEC)

The General Convention of 1970 created this board to standardize the process of canonical examination for ordination. The GBEC includes four bishops, six clergy with pastoral cures or in specialized ministries, six members of accredited seminary faculties or of other educational institutions, and six lay persons. The members of the board are elected by the House of Bishops and confirmed by the House of Deputies for six-year terms. Each member has a special competence in one or more of the seven areas of canonical examination. The seven areas are: 1) the Holy Scriptures; 2) church history, including the ecumenical movement; 3) Christian theology; 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 GBEC is charged with preparing and administering an examination for the entire church. The first meeting of the GBEC was at Trinity Church, New York City, Dec. 1970. See General Ordination Examination (GOE).