General Ordination Exams
The canons (III.8) require that before ordination a Candidate must be examined and show proficiency in (1) The Holy Scriptures; (2) History of the Christian Church; (3) Christian Theology; (4) Christian Ethics and Moral Theology; (5) Christian Worship according to the use of the Book of Common Prayer, the Hymnal, and authorized supplemental texts; and (6) The Practice of Ministry in contemporary society. These are known as the six canonical areas.
Source: General Board of Examining Chaplains website
Please note: while this is a public LibGuide, some of the resources on this guide are available only to Southwest students, faculty, and staff.
11/10/2023 Session Slides: GOE and Canonical Exam: Logistics, LibGuide, and Library Resources
Access slides from the 11/10/2023 session called GOE and Canonical Exam: Logistics, LibGuide, and Library Resources.
Writing resources from Dr. Claire Colombo
- Common Academic Verbs and What They Want You to DoThis resource is available to current Southwest students, faculty, and staff.
- Deconstructing the PromptThis resource is available to current Southwest students, faculty, and staff.
Dr. Claire Colombo is the Assistant Professor of Writing, Theology, and the Arts and Director of the Center for Writing and Creative Expression at Southwest.
The Archives of the Episcopal Church
The website of the Archives contains The Acts of Convention, Reports to the General Convention, Resolves of Council, Episcopal Press and News, Journals of the General Convention, Constitutions and Canons, and much more.
GOE Test-taking in the Library
Photo credit: The Rev. Charles Lane Cowen, MDiv '18
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Suggestions and Tips from the GBEC
General Board of Examining Chaplains
The official website of the General Ordination Exams. This page gives suggestions and tips for taking the GOEs.
Previous GOEs
Previous Questions
A collection of the previous GOE questions from 2003 onward.
General Board of Examining Chaplains. Previous GOES. n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2019.