Answers to the Questions We Hear Most Often
About the Old Catholic Institute
What is the Old Catholic Institute? The Old Catholic Institute is the official seminary of the Old Catholic Churches International, founded in 2015 by Bishop Greer Godsey. We offer fully online, self-paced, graduate-level formation for men and women called to ordained ministry in the Dutch Old Catholic tradition. Every course and every resource in our programs is free of charge.
Is the Old Catholic Institute accredited? No, and we do not seek accreditation. Our focus is not on producing academics or satisfying the requirements of regional accrediting bodies. Our focus is on forming quality clergy: men and women who are theologically grounded, pastorally capable, and ready to serve real communities. Accreditation is a credential designed for a different purpose than ours. The measure of formation at the Old Catholic Institute is whether a graduate is ready to stand at the altar, preach the Word, celebrate the sacraments, and care for a congregation. That is the only measure that matters to us.
Is the Old Catholic Institute affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church? No. The Old Catholic Churches International and the Old Catholic Institute operate entirely independently of Rome. We are not a breakaway Roman Catholic group. The Dutch Old Catholic Church has maintained its independence from Rome since at least 1122, a history documented in our encyclical De Antiqua Libertate Ultraiectensis. We are Catholic in the ancient sense of that word: holding the faith of the undivided Church as confirmed by the seven Ecumenical Councils and the patristic consensus.
Are you the same as the Union of Utrecht Old Catholics? No. The Old Catholic Churches International has no connection to the Union of Utrecht. We carry forward the Dutch Old Catholic tradition independently, as a worldwide communion under the leadership of Bishop Godsey.
About Admission
Who can apply? Admission is open to men and women who sense a genuine call to ordained ministry in the Old Catholic tradition and who are members in good standing of the Old Catholic Churches International, or who are actively pursuing membership under the guidance of an OCCI bishop or supervising clergy member. There are no age restrictions. There are no academic prerequisites beyond the ability to engage graduate-level reading and writing in English.
How does the admissions process work? Admission to the Old Catholic Institute is not decided by a committee reviewing a file. It is a personal vocational discernment conversation with Bishop Godsey. You submit the application, Bishop Godsey reviews it, and he contacts you directly to begin that conversation. Admission is granted on the basis of demonstrated calling, readiness for formation, and good standing within the OCCI communion.
Is there an application deadline? No. The Old Catholic Institute operates on rolling enrollment with no fixed start dates and no application deadlines. You may apply at any time.
How long does the admissions process take? Once you submit your application, Bishop Godsey aims to respond within two weeks to begin the discernment conversation. The length of the discernment process itself varies depending on the individual situation.
Does submitting an application guarantee admission? No. Submission of the application opens the discernment conversation. Admission is granted by Bishop Godsey following that conversation.
About the Programs
What programs do you offer? The Old Catholic Institute offers two formation programs. The Diaconal Formation Program (DIAC) prepares candidates for ordination to the diaconate and requires 72 credit hours over three years. The Priestly Formation Program (PRST) leads to the Master of Divinity degree and prepares candidates for ordination to the priesthood, requiring 96 credit hours over four years. Full details are available on the Programs page.
What is the difference between the permanent diaconate and the transitional diaconate? The permanent diaconate is a distinct and complete order of ordained ministry in its own right. A permanent deacon serves at the altar, assists in the proclamation of the Gospel, and ministers to those in need, with no intention of proceeding to the priesthood. The transitional diaconate is for those intending to proceed to priestly ordination. Ordination to the diaconate is required before ordination to the priesthood, and transitional deacons typically move into the Priestly Formation Program upon completing the diaconal program.
Can I transfer credits from another seminary? Credit transfer is evaluated on a case-by-case basis by Bishop Godsey. Students who have completed the Diaconal Formation Program may transfer into the Priestly Formation Program under Track 2, requiring approximately 41 additional credit hours rather than the full 96. Prior theological education from other institutions is considered during the admissions discernment conversation.
What language are the courses taught in? All courses are taught in English. All required readings and resources are in English.
About the Format
How does online, self-paced learning work? All courses are delivered entirely online, asynchronously, with no required meeting times, no live sessions, and no fixed deadlines within a course. You work through each module at your own pace, in your own time, wherever you are. Modules must be completed in sequential order, and each module must be completed before the next one begins. There are no cohorts and no classmates to keep pace with. Your formation moves at the pace your life allows.
Is there a minimum or maximum time to complete a program? There is no minimum or maximum time set by the Institute. Some students move quickly; others take several years. The programs are designed to be completed alongside the ordinary demands of adult life, employment, and family. What matters is that formation is taken seriously and completed thoroughly, not that it is completed within a fixed window.
Do I need to relocate or attend any in-person events? No. There are no residency requirements, no in-person intensives, and no required travel. Formation is conducted entirely online. Practica are supervised ministerial assignments carried out within your own community and ministry context.
What technology do I need? A reliable internet connection, a device capable of viewing video lectures and PDF documents, and the ability to submit written work as a Word document or PDF are all that is required. No specialized software is needed.
Do I need to know Greek, Hebrew, or Latin? Not to begin. The programs are designed to be accessible to students without prior language training. Some advanced coursework addresses biblical languages for ministry purposes, and resources are provided within the curriculum. Students are not required to have prior language skills to enroll.
About Cost
How much does it cost to attend the Old Catholic Institute? Nothing. Tuition is free. All course resources, including video lectures, readings, and primary texts, are freely available online. There are no registration fees, no course fees, and no hidden costs. The Old Catholic Institute was founded on the conviction that a genuine call from God should never be turned away for lack of funds.
Are there any costs at all? The only potential costs are those you choose to incur on your own: purchasing optional supplementary books, printing materials for personal use, or any costs associated with your own internet access and device. None of these are required by the Institute.
About Ordination
Does completing a program guarantee ordination? No. Completion of the academic and formation requirements of a program is necessary but not sufficient for ordination. Ordination is a sacramental act discerned and conferred by Bishop Godsey in consultation with the candidate and their supervising clergy. Formation prepares you for ordination. The decision to ordain rests with the bishop.
Who ordains graduates of the Old Catholic Institute? Ordination is conferred by Bishop Godsey or by another bishop of the Old Catholic Churches International in apostolic succession. The Old Catholic Institute trains candidates. The OCCI ordains them.
Is the ordination valid? The apostolic succession of the Old Catholic Churches International traces an unbroken episcopal line through the Church of Utrecht to Willibrord and to the undivided Church. The historical and canonical basis for that succession is documented in the encyclical De Antiqua Libertate Ultraiectensis, available on the Our Tradition page. Graduates are ordained into that succession.
Still Have Questions?
If your question is not answered here, we welcome you to reach out directly. Bishop Godsey is the best person to speak with about your specific situation, your sense of calling, and whether the Old Catholic Institute is the right place for your formation.
Contact us through the Contact page, or go directly to the Apply page to begin the conversation.
The Old Catholic Institute, Seminary of the Old Catholic Churches International, was founded in 2015 | oldcatholicinstitute.org