GOE Results

I know you were holding your breath waiting for the General Ordination Exam (GOE) results. Okay, maybe not, but I was anxiously awaiting the envelope in the mail. We received them around February 13th.

A person's diocese would prefer that you get 3's or better in all areas, if you don't they will devise a way of doing further evaluation.

Grading Scale:
5 = an excellent response
4 = a good response
3 = a satisfactory response
2 = a problematic response, further evaluation is recommended
1 = an unsatisfactory response, diocesan re-examination is recommended.

My scores:

3 = Theology (open book, I ran out of time, expected a 2 or maybe a 1)
2 = History (open book, I really ran out of time on, expected a 2 or a 1, so 2 was not a surprise)
3 = Liturgy & Music - Had felt I did okay and covered what they needed me to.
4 = Contemp. Society (on Affluenza) - I felt really good about this answer.
4 = Holy Scriptures (kind of ran out of time, wasn't sure about this answer)
3 = Ethics (kind of ran out of time, felt good about the utilitarian argument, wasn't sure what they'd think of it over all)
3 = Theory & Practice of Ministry - I felt really good about this one, how sad is it that I was a little bent out of shape for a couple days that I didn't get a "4" on this answer?

Someone I know who's a reader said if you're kind of between a 2 and a 3 sometimes they'll give you grace and bump you up to a 3, but that's not the case when going from a 3 to a 4. That usually the readers have to feel you exceeded their expectations and kind of stepped it up a notch, so she said I should feel really good about the two 4's I received.

When I emailed my scores to R+ at my home parish (she's also on the COM), she said "Good!" and also in her opinion History will influence my ministry the least, so rest easy. Even though I could have done much better on this particular question, quite honestly History is probably my worst subject, so if it is supposed to be a "diagnostic", then it wasn't that far off. I suppose they could still ask me to do some additional reading or a rewrite or show them some papers or something, but so far I haven't heard anything along those lines from the COM or the Bishop. I never did go back and rewrite any of them as I had contemplated. At this point, unless I hear otherwise, I'm assuming they are okay with my answers and scores and don't want anything else.

So basically I was satisfied with the scores and relieved. Felt I could breathe a little easier. Was nice to have one more step completed.