Frequently Asked Questions
Are you monks or priests?
We are Dominican Friars and Sisters in the Anglican Communion. Some members are Cooperator Friars/Sisters, while others are also ordained to Holy Orders. The term “monk” usually refers to cloistered men who live in monasteries in observance of a rule of life.
Do members have to be celibate?
No. Professed members make vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and may or may not be married. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender/sex, race/ethnicity, or sexual orientation. We do expect all professed members to abstain from sexual intimacy outside of marriage.
Why the "u" in Saviour?
We are Anglican! Hence, we have adopted traditional English spelling for our Order's name, to be consistent with historical Anglican references to Christ our Saviour.
Are religious brothers/sisters lay or ordained?
The answer is technically neither!
Ordered life is not considered either laity or holy orders (i.e. priest, deacon). Religious are set apart as having “consecrated life” that subscribe to a rule of life. They do not fall into either category, it exists in a separate space.
By virtue of this, some religious serve as extraordinary ministers or in other ministerial roles that sometimes overlap with duties customary to clergy. Religious are not inherently granted faculties as ministers of the sacraments. Instead, they usually serve in roles as educators, chaplains, counselors etc. since it is customary for friars/sisters to acquire proficiency in pastoral care with significant theological education. Professed religious in our Order are consecrated under episcopal authority via an examination and the laying on of hands. However, some religious are also ordained or in the process of becoming ordained. This is an entirely distinct vocation. In the Dominican styling, we refer to brothers/sisters who are not called to ordination as “cooperator” and not “lay”, who live out a full vocation in and of itself. In new monasticism, generally speaking, religious brothers and sisters are subject to their direct superior, and are not usually under the jurisdiction of the local diocese (although this varies).
Do I need to get permission from my Bishop to become a member in OCS?
In accordance with Article VII A3 of the Order’s bylaws, Deacons, Priests, and Laity must obtain initial consent from their Bishop Ordinary in writing. Bishop applicants must only provide a letter of intent for requesting to join.
Do you make Deliverance Ministers?
Not necessarily. We do not license, commission, or appoint exorcists— this is solely the right of a Bishop Diocesan with guidance from the Holy Spirit. However, we do provide robust formation through the lens of Dominican spirituality and Thomistic theology for Deliverance Ministers who have been properly authorized by their local Ordinary to practice, or to simply study the field from an academic perspective. We also provide fellowship and community for professed members who have discerned a strong vocation to both deliverance ministry and the Dominican Rule. We work closely with partners across the Anglican Communion, including representatives from the Church of England and Church in Wales.
Do you believe in medicine, science, and modern psychology?
Absolutely! In fact, we have members, endorsers, and consultants with backgrounds in medical science and mental health. We believe that preternatural extraordinary activity is extremely rare, and all efforts should be exhausted to rule out organic causes of suspected phenomena.
What about LGBTQ+ identifying people and other marginalized communities?
We find it prudent to acknowledge that deliverance ministry has a shameful history of being improperly weaponized against women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, beloved individuals of other faith backgrounds, among many others. We firmly condemn this and commit to intentional acts of reconciliation as representatives of this ministry.
We are Dominican Friars and Sisters in the Anglican Communion. Some members are Cooperator Friars/Sisters, while others are also ordained to Holy Orders. The term “monk” usually refers to cloistered men who live in monasteries in observance of a rule of life.
Do members have to be celibate?
No. Professed members make vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and may or may not be married. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender/sex, race/ethnicity, or sexual orientation. We do expect all professed members to abstain from sexual intimacy outside of marriage.
Why the "u" in Saviour?
We are Anglican! Hence, we have adopted traditional English spelling for our Order's name, to be consistent with historical Anglican references to Christ our Saviour.
Are religious brothers/sisters lay or ordained?
The answer is technically neither!
Ordered life is not considered either laity or holy orders (i.e. priest, deacon). Religious are set apart as having “consecrated life” that subscribe to a rule of life. They do not fall into either category, it exists in a separate space.
By virtue of this, some religious serve as extraordinary ministers or in other ministerial roles that sometimes overlap with duties customary to clergy. Religious are not inherently granted faculties as ministers of the sacraments. Instead, they usually serve in roles as educators, chaplains, counselors etc. since it is customary for friars/sisters to acquire proficiency in pastoral care with significant theological education. Professed religious in our Order are consecrated under episcopal authority via an examination and the laying on of hands. However, some religious are also ordained or in the process of becoming ordained. This is an entirely distinct vocation. In the Dominican styling, we refer to brothers/sisters who are not called to ordination as “cooperator” and not “lay”, who live out a full vocation in and of itself. In new monasticism, generally speaking, religious brothers and sisters are subject to their direct superior, and are not usually under the jurisdiction of the local diocese (although this varies).
Do I need to get permission from my Bishop to become a member in OCS?
In accordance with Article VII A3 of the Order’s bylaws, Deacons, Priests, and Laity must obtain initial consent from their Bishop Ordinary in writing. Bishop applicants must only provide a letter of intent for requesting to join.
Do you make Deliverance Ministers?
Not necessarily. We do not license, commission, or appoint exorcists— this is solely the right of a Bishop Diocesan with guidance from the Holy Spirit. However, we do provide robust formation through the lens of Dominican spirituality and Thomistic theology for Deliverance Ministers who have been properly authorized by their local Ordinary to practice, or to simply study the field from an academic perspective. We also provide fellowship and community for professed members who have discerned a strong vocation to both deliverance ministry and the Dominican Rule. We work closely with partners across the Anglican Communion, including representatives from the Church of England and Church in Wales.
Do you believe in medicine, science, and modern psychology?
Absolutely! In fact, we have members, endorsers, and consultants with backgrounds in medical science and mental health. We believe that preternatural extraordinary activity is extremely rare, and all efforts should be exhausted to rule out organic causes of suspected phenomena.
What about LGBTQ+ identifying people and other marginalized communities?
We find it prudent to acknowledge that deliverance ministry has a shameful history of being improperly weaponized against women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, beloved individuals of other faith backgrounds, among many others. We firmly condemn this and commit to intentional acts of reconciliation as representatives of this ministry.
