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Hearing God's Call
On this page: Ministry in the Church of England Am I Called to be Ordained? Diocesan Discernment Days Contact information |
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Ministry in the Church of England
At some point in your Christian journey, you may feel that God is calling you to use the gifts and skills which he has given you in a very particular way in the church or in caring for his world. This is an exciting moment for many people but it is also a very serious one – committing oneself to a particular role or ministry will inevitably mean sacrificing time and effort in training and in living out the ministry God has called you to.
Some of the roles that God calls people to in his church are:
- ordained ministry, working for the church as either a paid or volunteer minister,
- ordained pioneer ministry, concerned with new ways of being church
- licensed lay ministry (also known as ‘Reader’), volunteer ministers who support clergy in preaching, leading worship, taking funerals and caring for the church
- chaplaincy (ordained or lay), either formal or informal (ie workplace ministry)
- home or overseas mission,
- evangelist (including Church Army)
- pastoral care worker
- mentor or spiritual director
- church leadership (eg church warden, treasurer etc)
- monastic life
Our Vocations team is happy to help people find out more about any of these ministries. Many of these roles are encouraged and supported at a local level by your parish church or deanery. However some of these roles are licensed by the Bishop and so require a more structured selection process and training. Ministries currently licensed at Diocesan level comprise:
- Ordained Minister with the potential to become an Incumbent (or Incumbent Status).
This would be for those who feel that they have the skills, gifts and calling to run a church or to run a chaplaincy team, for example at a hospital, school or prison. It usually takes 2-3 years at college or on a course to train for these roles depending on your age and whether you study full-time or part-time. Then you would need to serve a curacy, ie training in a parish, for three–four years after ordination. The age range at ordination would normally be 23 – 50. Most of our churches today are run by full-time paid ministers but increasingly in the future we expect to see more of our churches being overseen by volunteer ministers, many of whom will combine their ministry with equally important roles outside the church, in business, teaching, local government etc. - Ordained Assistant Minister
Many people today feel called to be ordained but do not want the responsibility of running a church or chaplaincy team. They feel that God can use them most effectively using their particular gifts (eg preaching, caring for the church family, leading worship etc) as part of a team of ministers rather than taking on oversight of the whole team. These ministers are almost always volunteers, training part-time on a local course before serving a four year curacy. Normally candidates would be between 23 and 55 at the point of ordination. - Ordained Pioneer Ministry
God is calling a small number of highly gifted, entrepreneurial individuals to be pushing the boundaries of what we think of as ‘church’ today and creating new kinds of congregations and worshipping communities to work alongside our more traditional churches. This ministry is not for the faint-hearted – it requires a high degree of self-reliance and accountability as well as a thorough theological training and strong spiritual life. Training is similar to our Incumbent Status ministers but there are additional requirements related to learning how to be effective missionaries in today’s culture and we would normally expect people to be actively engaged in a ‘Fresh Expression’ of church whilst training. In this diocese, we encourage our Pioneers to be ‘tent-makers’ like St Paul, finding ways of funding their ministry outside of normal church structures. - Ordained Local Ministry (OLM)
From the earliest days of the church, God has called people from within their own congregation to take a leadership role in that community. Often the first sign of this calling is not felt by the candidate themselves but their particular gifts are recognised by their church family as filling a need that the local church has, whether in providing regular sacramental ministry, in teaching or in leading a mission opportunity. Usually candidates are already active and highly regarded church members, perhaps a Lay Minister or Pastoral Worker. They are also a long-standing, well respected person in the community - they should be expecting to remain in that community for the rest of their time in active ministry and so this category of ministry is most appropriate for those who are older, ie between 55 and 70 at the point of ordination. Training is 2-3 years part-time at Trinity College on our specially designed training course for OLMs plus continued ‘on-the-job’ training for three years following ordination. - Licensed Lay Ministry (LLM)
Some people are called not to be ordained but to serve their churches and communities as Lay Ministers. This ministry is focused on preaching, teaching, leading worship and providing pastoral care in the local community and is a vital part of collaborative ministry teams. Training for this ministry is normally by attending our locally run ‘Exploring Christianity’ course for two years followed by a year of practical training in preaching and pastoral care. However for those who are more academically minded, we are able to offer a small number of places training part-time at Trinity College in Bristol each year. Lay Ministers may be between 18 and 70 at the time they are licensed.
If you are interested in either ordained or Licensed Lay Ministry, please talk first with your vicar or chaplain and then, if appropriate, contact Sam Rushton for an initial conversation.
Am I Called to be Ordained?
The aim of the AICTBO? course is to help potential candidates for ordained ministry to answer these questions:
- ‘what is ordination?’
- ‘ is priesthood what I am being called to?’
- ‘what kind of a priest am I called to be?’
- ‘do I have the character, gifts and skills to support this calling?’.
It is not the aim of the course to answer these questions for you – we provide an opportunity which enables candidates to come to the answer themselves. We want you to be sure that that your call is informed, realistic and obedient and that you will be able to support the stresses and strains of a life in ordained ministry.
Who is the course for?
The course is equally appropriate for those thinking about full-time ministry (ie ‘being a vicar’) and for those who want to be ordained but continue to support themselves financially outside the church.
How does the AICTBO? course relate to Diocesan strategy?
The purpose and structure of the course is designed to reflect key elements of the Diocesan strategy:
It is collaborative: candidates work in small groups to explore ideas together and to learn from each other; it also encourages the open sharing of support for each other – people share their hopes and fears and seek support from each other as well as learn how to offer appropriate support and prayer for other ministers;
It encourages mutual respect for difference: people called to different kinds of ordained ministry – potential incumbents, assistant ministers, chaplains, ordained local ministers and ordained pioneer ministers – work together to explore the different skills and gifts they bring to their different roles; we also encourage candidates to graciously explore different models of priesthood, churchmanship, and theology so that all candidates gain a wider perspective on the breadth and diversity of today’s Church and understand and appreciate the value and significance of these emphases.
It sets out the leadership qualities required in today’s Church and its ordained ministry.
It provides a clear process for formation which can be understood by all - candidates, their incumbents, Advisers and other supporters of the process – which is owned by all, and which makes the best use of available resource.
Do I have to come to the AICTBO? course if I want to go to national selection?
We strongly encourage all candidates to attend the AICTBO? course before attending a BAP (Bishops’ Advisory Panel) as we believe that it is a strong foundation for making the important decision as to whether to commit your life to ordained ministry in the Church of England. However we recognise that there will be people for whom the course is not appropriate / possible. You will need to discuss this with one of the Advisers for Licensed Ministry (ALMs).
Diocesan Discernment Days
What is the purpose of the Diocesan Discernment Day?The aim of the day is to help potential candidates for either ordained or Licensed Lay Ministry ‘discern’ (make an informed, God-driven decision about) their calling. The Bishops have chosen a group of experienced lay and ordained ministers to help candidates discern, guided by the Holy Spirit:
- what they are being called to, whether to lay or ordained ministry or to something else entirely, eg evangelism, youth ministry, church warden etc;
- whether their call is obedient, informed, and realistic;
- whether they have the skills and gifts to enable them to exercise their ministry in the place to which they have been called and for the task that the local church has chosen them;
- and, if called to ordained ministry, whether their call is sufficiently developed to encourage them to present themselves for national selection at a Bishop’s Advisory Panel (BAP).
How does the Diocesan Discernment Day relate to Diocesan strategy and to the rest of the ‘Hearing God’s Call’ programme?
The purpose and structure of the Day is designed to reflect key elements of the Diocesan strategy:
- It puts God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, at the heart of our discernment.
- It is collaborative: candidates are allocated to groups of up to 8 people who together undertake a group exercise, testing presentation, facilitation and small group work skills, and who provide support and encouragement to each other during the Day; and the Diocesan Vocation Advisers work in teams of 3 to help each group of candidates discern their vocation.
- It encourages people called to different roles in the church and on the edge of church, lay and ordained, mission-oriented and ministry-oriented, to test their call against a set of common criteria but recognising and affirming difference where appropriate.
- It emphasises the leadership qualities required in today’s church.
- It provides a clear process for discernment which can be understood by all - candidates, their incumbents, Advisers and other supporters of the process – which is owned by all, and which makes the best use of available resource.
How do I apply for the Discernment Day?
Candidates should talk through their application for the Discernment Day with their vicar or chaplain before applying. They may also feel it appropriate to discuss it with their Exploring Christianity tutor or with the Adviser for Licensed Ministry. An application form for the Discernment Day may be downloaded here >>
How regularly are Discernment Days held?
We aim to hold two Days each year, one in March and again in October.
What criteria will be used to help candidates discern their vocation?
Candidates for both ordained and lay ministry will be assessed against a common set of criteria based on the national selection criteria for ordained ministry. Selection in the Church of England today is very much ‘criteria-based’ - Vocation Advisers locally and at a national level are looking for evidence that candidates satisfy criteria under nine headings:
- Vocation
Does the candidate have a good understanding of the ministry that they feel God is calling them to and do they have a good understanding of their own skills and gifts in relation to that calling? - Ministry in The Church of England
Does the candidate have a good understanding of the breadth of the Church of England? Are they happy to minister under the authority of the wider church and particularly in obedience to the Bishop? - Spirituality
Does the candidate have a disciplined and refreshing spiritual life which draws them closer to God? - Personality and Character
Does the candidate have an attractive and resilient personality which will make them good role models and leaders in their community? Are they honest and open in their dealings with others? - Relationships
Is the candidate able to form and maintain strong relationships with others which will support them in ministry and help them to lead the people in worship and mission? - Leadership and Collaboration
Does the candidate have a proven ability to lead others and to work together with others in collaborative teams? - Faith
Can the candidate talk about their faith in a way which shows that is real, well thought-through and developing? - Mission and Evangelism
Does the candidate understand something of what God’s mission in the world is and do they have some experience in this area? - Quality of Mind
Can the candidate show that they will be able to study at an appropriate level for the ministry they are called to?
Download detailed Criteria for Selection here >>
In this Diocese we have chosen to use the same nine headings for candidates for both lay and ordained ministry, reflecting the increasing requirement for lay and ordained ministers to work alongside each other in collaborative teams. However although the basic criteria are the same for all, the substance of the criteria vary according to the kind of ministry to which the candidate is called. As a general rule, the more autonomous the ministry (ie the more remotely the minister works from a ‘supervisor’), the higher the standard the candidate is expected to achieve in each criterion. The most ‘supervised’ ministries will tend to be Licensed Lay Ministers (LLM) and Ordained Local Ministers (OLM) who will generally be ministering with the close guidance of an incumbent; the least supervised ministries will be potential incumbents and particularly Ordained Pioneer Ministers who will often be exercising their ministry outside the normal structures of the Church of England.
What evidence will Vocation Advisers use to help candidates discern their vocation?
The evidence used by the Advisers falls into two categories: written evidence, including an application form and references and experiential evidence gathered during the Day, including evidence from a presentation and group discussion, interviews and a written exercise.
What is the output from the Diocesan Discernment Day?
The role of the Day is advisory. Using a written report, the Diocesan Vocation Advisers will:
- advise the candidates, supporting their call or perhaps suggesting to them ways in which they still need to develop in order to achieve their aspirations;
- advise the Sponsoring Bishop (Bishop Lee) so that he can make the appropriate decision as to whether to license the candidate as a Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) or to allow a candidate for ordained ministry to go forward to a national selection conference (Bishops’ Advisory Panel or BAP).
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For more information on Getting into Ministry:
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