There are several reasons why an "estranged" cleric may wish to incardinate with the OCCE. Through no fault of their own some clerics find in the development of their spiritual life and vocation that they no longer feel called to minister within the original church of their ordination.

The OCCE does not discriminate against clergy who left a celibate ministry to become married or who no longer feel called to a celibate expression of commitment; who no longer feel able in conscience to continue their ministry in the church of their ordination or who for whatever reason resigned their original ministry and wish to become active again.

The process of incardination in the OCCE involves a period of discernment and communication in the first instance between the enquiring cleric and the nominated liaison for the Church. During this time, the candidate is invited to supply as much information as possible as to their reasons for seeking incardination, the circumstances of their leaving the church of their ordination and the liaising representative answers questions about ministry within the OCCE. All discussions at this stage are kept confidential. If after this initial period both parties feel that pursuing incardination would be the best step forward, on recommendation of the liaising representative an Application Form will be sent to the candidate from the Chancellery who will oversee the Incardination Process.

Throughout the Incardination Process candidates will be invited to provide as much information as possible regarding their previous ministry, the circumstances of their leaving, their reasons for seeking incardination within the OCCE and what they feel they can contribute to the mission and ministry of the Church. A cleric will not be incardinated who does not have some plan of ministry for the future unless he is sufficiently prohibited from exercising a ministry through infirmity or advanced age.

Various documents will be required from clergy wishing to incardinate supporting their Application including Certificates of Ordination, Confirmation and Baptism as too any documents providing proof of professional training and academic qualifications. As well evidence of excardination or rescript from a candidate's previous jurisdiction or equivalent documents are desirable. In certain circumstances where it is not always possible or difficult to provide documentary evidence (e.g. the church of baptism no longer exists, documents/records destroyed or mislaid etc), some alternatives of proof are accepted.

References too are required from people who have known personally, worked with or taught the candidate both in secular and church life and if relevant a letter of support for their application from the candidate's spouse. The OCCE believes that incardination is an holistic process seeking to know the "whole person" and candidates are encouraged to be open about their life and experiences - the good and the bad. The OCCE does not discriminate nor re-judge candidates for passed mistakes neither does it seek to inflict renewed condemnaton however, severe legal sanctions whether secular or ecclesiastical will be taken into consideration sensitively.

The OCCE hopes that whatever the outcome of an Application, the process will have been as painless and as spiritually rewarding for the candidate as possble.

Under certain circumstances and only if deemed absolutely necessary, re-ordination or sub-conditional ordination may be offered to candidates as a completion of the Incardination process. Sacramental validity is the overriding reason for such action and will only be administered when there is sufficient doubt that a candidate's original ordination wasn't effective sacramentally. Doubts as to the orthodoxy or authenticity of a previous Bishop's orders and intentions would be of paramount consideration.*

*In exceptional cases and only when a candidate has an existing ministry and is regarded as suitable, will ordination be offered to a man who has never received the sacrament of Orders.

• The Old Catholic Church in Europe is an orthodox jurisdiction possessed of sacramental validity through an unquestionable, authentic and recognised Apostolic Lineage.
• It is a recognised Christian denomination and enjoys membership and affiliation with the World Council of Churches and other Christian bodies and is the only "independent" Catholic jurisdiction so recognised in the UK.
• It has fraternal relationships with other recognised orthodox churches of the Catholic Tradition both nationally and internationally and by Eastern and Western rite churches and has a reputation for stability and propriety. It also enjoys charitable relations with other churches within the UK of various traditions.
• It is a Canonical jurisdiction where the rights and responsiblities of clerics and laity are provided and protected and it conducts its internal affairs appropriately, justly and charitably.
• It is a personable church meaning that due to it's size its clergy and people are known to each other and know and are known by their Bishop(s) a real community of Christian fellowship and a living school of Christian discipleship.