Vocation Vocation has a high priority in the Church of England and within the Diocese of Leeds. Recent reports have recognised the need for rapid growth in lay and ordained vocations. Of course, all Christians are called to come to Christ and in following him we are called to worship, to Christian community and to mission. We are called to receive the sacraments, to love our neighbours, to make disciples and to make new disciples. Within society we are called to love our neighbours by serving them through our work, rather than seeing what we do as a means to gain more money or status. Within the home we have a vocation to love our family. Within the church, we are told that The manifestation of the Spirit is seen in each one for the good of all. (1 Corinthians 12:7) We all are members of Christ s body and we all have parts to play. Some are called to specific ministries and roles, paid and unpaid, lay and ordained. This leaflet is a simple guide to encouraging vocation in your church. The emphasis is upon ordained ministry, which can include a wide range of roles such as chaplain or pioneer minister. Questions about the vital work of Reader Ministry should be addressed to the Warden of Readers details on the Diocesan website. The middle pages of this booklet contain a summary of the current criteria for selection of ordained ministers in the Church of England. These change from time time and the discernment process is always under review; but please read them and consider who within your congregation might have these attributes. Sometimes it is only when
you speak to them that the idea begins to crystallise. As clergy, you will be one of the key people supporting them through the discernment process. What can I do? Local clergy are key to growing vocations in this Diocese. Here are seven ways you can play your part. 1. Talk about this make it a habit to discuss with fellow clergy and with your church groups such as PCCs. Preach about vocation and a Christian understanding of work and rest. 2. Reflect upon and renew your own calling/ vocation. Are you living out your calling? Have you lost your spark if so what are you going to do about it? 3. Consider - could you support the vocations team? We have a network of Assistant DDOs who take candidates through the process from enquiry to BAP and ordination, and are vocations champions in their area. We need help with one off interviews. Please get in touch to discuss ways you or others in your congregation might help. 4. Pray regularly for lay and ordained vocations locally, across the Diocese and nationally 5. Think specifically: Are you prayerfully considering the vocation of those in your care? How are you encouraging vocation in its widest sense? 6. See what God is doing. Are there those in your church who God might be calling to a specific role in the church? Ordination perhaps? Who could you encourage to think about this? 7. Invite the DDOV to preach at your church. He d love to come and talk sometime, either in Sunday Services or at special events. A Sunday sermon would normally be adapted to your usual pattern and would not be a narrow appeal for new clergy.
Selection Criteria for There are nine criteria for selection of people for ordained ministry within the Church of England. For younger candidates potential may be seen in some areas rather than necessarily being able to demonstrate them all. The criteria are (in summary form): A) Vocation They should have a realistic, obedient and informed sense of call to ministry within the Church of England and be able to explain how it has developed within them and the effect it has had on them. B) Ministry within the Church of England They should have an understanding of what ministry within the Church of England means and what makes it distinctive. C) Spirituality Candidates should have a commitment to spiritual discipline including regular prayer and Bible study. They should be able to discuss how their engagement with the world and other people affects their prayers. They need to be committed to regular worship and the sacraments. D) Personality and Character They should be mature, self-aware and stable and able to sustain a demanding role as an ordained minister. They should be seen as people of integrity who can be trusted and be sufficiently resilient to face the stresses and pressures of life in ministry.
Ordained Ministers E) Relationships They should be able to build healthy personal, professional and pastoral relationships and have good interpersonal skills. They must be willing to live within the discipline of Issues in Human Sexuality. F) Leadership and Collaboration Candidates should show evidence of leadership skills, a commitment to nurturing the skills of others and collaborative working practices. G) Faith This includes evidence of an understanding of the Christian Faith and a desire to deepen this understanding. The capacity to communicate their faith in an appealing and engaging manner is also required with experience of doing so. H) Mission and Evangelism They should demonstrate a personal commitment to mission and evangelism and be able to articulate the Good News in different contexts and speak about Jesus Christ in a way that is appealing and exciting. I) Quality of mind The person needs to have the quality of mind to satisfactorily undertake a course of theological study and ministerial preparation and show a commitment to lifelong learning and formation. They should show a flexibility of mind and be open to change.
The Diocese of Leeds The Diocese has a full time Director of Ordinands and Vocations, with a full-time administrator in the Diocesan Office. They are your first port of call for further information. Contact details can be found on the back page. The Church of England is particularly keen to foster vocations to the priesthood among young people and those from minority ethnic backgrounds. There are local and national events each year for young people and the Diocese has people you can speak to about these issues. There is also a network of Assistant DDOs who walk with candidates through the discernment process, mostly parish priests, spread across the Episcopal areas and deaneries. Background Reading Lots of new books about vocation have been published in recent years. You can find lists of helpful publications on the vocations web page. The Church of England Ministry Division also has helpful web pages which are listed on the vocations page of the diocesan website.
You think someone may have a calling what next? The local priest is key in the discernment process. Assuming you know someone well, prayerfully consider whether they have the attributes and potential. Remember it is pastorally unfair to encourage a vocation that you don t consider realistic and the loving thing would be to say no. However, if you think that there is something worth exploring then please contact the Vocations Office and we will arrange for them to meet someone to talk further. There are some specific factors that may prevent someone proceeding to ordination. There are some common misunderstandings so it s helpful to know: You do not need to have a degree to be ordained You can be ordained even if you or your partner have been divorced and the previous spouse is still alive (though you have to go through a process called a C4 Faculty after which, depending on what emerges, the application could be turned down) There is a strict upper age-limit applied in this Diocese at the point of ordination (age 58 to stipendiary ministry or 60 for self-supporting ministers) Throughout the process the discernment is always provisional and subject to final decision by the Bishop. BAPS only recommend, and they only recommend for training. At the end of training an ordinand is subject to a final report from their theological training institution.
Remember that as the parish priest you are key throughout the discernment process and you need to support candidates through their explorations. If they cannot proceed at any point your pastoral support is vital, especially if they are not recommended for training. Please let the vocations office know if the candidate s situation changes or other issues come to light You will need to write a reference at the outset and also just before they attend a BAP. Please PRAY for the candidate regularly. Contact us: Email: vocations@leeds.anglican.org Website: www.leeds.anglican.org/vocations Tel: 0113 353 0260 Reader Ministry: Website: http://www.leeds.anglican.org/readers Find us on facebook: www.facebook.com/vocationsleeds And on twitter: www.twitter.com/vocationsleeds