Exploring Ordained Vocation

Thank you for taking the time to consider this pack. In it you will find out more about the people involved in the discernment process, discover what is involved in helping you find the right path on this important journey and resources to help you find out more for yourself. We are all praying for you as you take your journey further. The Vocations Team

1. Understanding Discernment to Ordained Ministry Discernment is a journey of discovery to help you grow your God-given gifts. At some point in the journey, a decision is taken as to whether your gifts are the right ones for ordained ministry.

Time spent discerning your vocation is a time of personal growth. You will be increasing in self-awareness, developing a disciplined prayer-life, and building your knowledge.

Father, I abandon myself into your hands. Do with me whatever you will. Whatever you may do I thank you. I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me and all your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul. I offer it to you with all the love of my heart. For I love you Lord and so need to give myself, surrender myself into your hands without reserve and with boundless confidence for you are my Father. Amen Foucauld (1858–1916)

Confidentiality

People exploring ordination are advised that whatever emerges as part of the process of discernment is liable to be shared with those who are part of the decision-making process within the Diocese, and with the Advisors should the candidate be sponsored for a Selection Conference.

Confidentiality is to be maintained within the process but not between its separate parts. In any matters of safeguarding the DDO team will need to consult with the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser.

If the person considering ordination wishes to discuss matters in confidence this should be done with their spiritual director or other such companion.

2. The DDO Team In the Diocese of Sheffield, discernment and selection for ordained ministry is overseen by the Sponsoring Bishop, the Diocesan Director of Ordinands and their team. See below for information about them.

Bishop Sophie Jelley, Bishop of Doncaster is the Diocesan Sponsoring Bishop and she has oversight of the selection of ordinands, their training and the training of curates.

Bishop Sophie works closely with the Diocesan Director of Ordinands and the DDO Team.

The Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) is the Revd Stephen Hunter. He was appointed DDO in 2013, prior to which he was the Bishops’ Advisor for Self-Supporting Ministry.

He, under the Bishop, has oversight of the selection and training of ordination candidates. His role is to work with men and women who sense that God may be calling them to ordained ministry.

The DDO works with a team of Assistant Diocesan Directors of Ordinands (ADDOs):

The Revd Dr Richard Walton is an SSM Priest in Doncaster. Richard is a Bishops’

adviser at local and national selection panels and is advisor for self-supporting

ministry.

The Revd Canon Kathryn Herrod is ADDO and Priest to seven rural churches in the

Doncaster Archdeaconry. Kathryn promotes vocation in the Diocese and supports those who are exploring their

calling to ordained ministry.

3. The Discernment Process I think God may be calling me to be ordained. What do I do? God calls us all as his children and we all have vocations or callings to different areas of life: to be a doctor, a lawyer, to work in business or as an aid-worker.

Some people are called by God to minister in his Church. There are numerous different callings: to be ordained as a priest or distinctive deacon, to minister as a Reader, to take vows as a monk or nun, or to work as a Church Army Evangelist.

Mainly this pack is aimed at people considering the call to ordained ministry, but there is information that you may find useful if you feel a calling to another type of ministry within the Anglican Church.

Local Selection

The first step is to speak to your parish priest, who will be very pleased to talk this through with you. You may be surprised to find that he or she may have been waiting for you to come and see them about vocation for some time! It may also be good to share your feelings with some close Christian friends, who will talk and pray this through with you.

If your parish priest feels that you do have a potential vocation to ordained ministry to be explored, he or she will refer you to the Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO), who is Revd Stephen Hunter for the Sheffield Diocese.

You will meet with him and he will outline the discernment and selection process to you and check if there are any matters that you need to address before entering the formal process. Once he is satisfied that you are a potential ordinand, he will refer you on to meet a Vocations Adviser for several months of reflection, study, and prayer. Later, you may undertake a placement, do a course of theological study, and then prepare for a Diocesan Local Panel. This part of the selection is based on the Bishops’ Criteria for Selection for Ministry.

The Bishop’s Advisory Panel

The DDO or Assistant DDO will then arrange for you to meet with the Sponsoring Bishop who, if she is satisfied with the report from the DDO, will make the decision as to whether you should attend a Bishops' Advisory Panel (BAP), organised by the Ministry Division which determines whether you should enter training for ordained ministry.

Training

Once the Bishop has confirmed the Panel’s recommendation, he will sponsor you for training. It normally takes between twelve and eighteen months between a candidate seeing the DDO and entering training, but can take longer.

The type of training will depend on you and the ministry you are to exercise within the Church. The DDO will discuss the different options and generally training will be for either two or three years.

Ordination

The decision as to whether you will be ordained will be made by the Bishop, having taken advice from the Principal of your training college or course during your final year of training.

4. Types of Ordained Ministry

Ordination as Priest

Priests or vicars are disciples of Jesus Christ, who love God and neighbour, and are filled with an infectious and life transforming faith.

Priests lead a church through prayer, teaching, and worship, enabling God’s people to be better disciples of Christ. They preside at Holy Communion, baptisms, weddings, and funerals, walking alongside people in their joy and in their grief.

Priests are generous to those who are different, striving to be mature, self-aware, and willing to learn. Priests or vicars are committed to the mission of the Church of England, working with others to build up the Church through recognising where God is at work in the world and in the lives of others.

Ordination as Distinctive Deacon

A deacon’s ministry is marked by mission through service. Deacons are outward moving and community minded.

Deacons prefer to be out and about, building relationships, identifying and meting needs, and creating stepping-stones between God and the world. Deacons are radical in their outlook and ready to try new ways of serving God in the community.

Deacons have a particular concern for poverty and justice, seeking to be the voice of the voiceless, advocating for those on the margins, and loving those in need.

As ambassadors, deacons take the gospel into the community, bringing its needs back to the church for intercession and practical action.

Deacons read the Gospel, assist the priest, encourage intercession, and send out the congregation, going with them as we all play our part in God’s mission.

Ordination as Chaplain

Chaplains are committed to carrying God’s love into hospitals, hospices, prisons, universities, airports, and other areas of life, working with others for the well-being of those who are part of these institutions.

Chaplains love and care for people with humility and compassion, in the good times and the bad, telling the story of God’s love, and helping people make connections between life and faith. Chaplains are usually ordained but some are lay.

5. The Criteria for Selection

On the left is a summary of the Criteria for discernment of vocation prior to training for ordained ministry in the Church of England, authorised by the House of Bishops. On the right are questions to consider relating to each of the nine criteria. It is important to reflect on these deeply as Advisors will use these criteria as guidelines for discernment throughout the whole process.

A. Vocation Candidates should be able to speak of a growing sense of being called by God to ministry and mission, referring both to their own inner conviction and the extent to which others have confirmed it. Their sense of vocation should be obedient, realistic and informed. Candidates should also be able to demonstrate ways in which their vocation has had an impact on their life.

• How have you come to recognise your call? (in yourself and from others)

• What do you believe you are being called to be or do?

• Do you have the wherewithal to realise this vocation?

B. Ministry within the Church of England Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of their own tradition within the Church of England, an awareness of the variety of traditions and practice that are encompassed within the Church of England and commitment to work within that variety. They should be able to speak of the distinctiveness of ministry within the Church of England and of what it means to be a deacon, priest or accredited lay minister. They should show a commitment to a ministry of Gospel proclamation through word and sacrament, pastoral care and social action.

• What has been the extent of your experience of Anglicanism so far?

• What attracts you about the Church of England?

• Does anything irritate you? • How does the nature of society

today affect the ministry and role of the Church of England?

C. Spirituality Candidates should show commitment to a spiritual discipline, involving individual and corporate prayer and worship, including a developing pattern of disciplined daily prayer, Bible study and regular receiving of Holy Communion. Their spiritual practice should be able to sustain and energise them in training and ministry. They should demonstrate a connection between their prayer life and daily living and show an understanding of God’s activity in their life.

• What is your personal pattern of worship and prayer?

• What spiritual disciplines do you find most helpful?

• Are there things you find difficult in prayer and worship?

• How has God guided you in the past?

D. Personality and character Candidates should show an appropriate degree of self-awareness and self-acceptance, and sufficient maturity to sustain the demanding role of a minister. They should be able to face change and pressure in a flexible and balanced way. They should be people of integrity and be seen as such by others. They should demonstrate a desire and capacity for further self-development and growth.

• What are your strategies for coping with change?

• How do you deal with criticism? • Do you believe in speaking the

plain, ungarnished truth at all times?

• Reflect on a recent situation where you had to confront another person: how did you handle it?

E. Relationships Candidates should show an awareness of their strengths, weaknesses and vulnerabilities in order to demonstrate a capacity to build and develop healthy personal, pastoral and professional relationships, together with an awareness of the power dynamic inherent within such relationships. Candidates should show evidence of integrity in all aspects of their life and relationships; emotional, psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and more generally in matters of honesty. Candidates must submit to the disciplines in Issues in Human Sexuality. They should show an ability to listen to others and demonstrate a willingness to negotiate over disagreements.

• Do you make friends easily? • How do you cope with a room full of

strangers? • Do you work best in league with

others or on your own? • Who are the people closest to you

and what role do they play in your life?

F. Leadership and collaboration Candidates should demonstrate the ability to offer leadership in the Church community, and to some extent in the wider community, and to guide and shape the life of the Church community in its mission to the world. This includes a willingness and capacity to draw on and develop the abilities of others. Candidates should be witnesses to the servanthood of Christ and show evidence of providing an example of faith, love and discipleship which is inspiring to others.

• I am called to be a priest – not a manager.’ (Discuss!)

• How do you believe that priestly authority is best exercised?

• What does the ‘priesthood’ of all believers’ mean to you?

• In what sense (if any) does a priest represent God to the people?

G. Faith Candidates should show an understanding of the Christian faith and a desire to deepen their understanding of it. They should demonstrate a personal commitment to Christ and a desire and capacity to communicate the Gospel. Candidates should be able to make connections between faith and the complex demands of contemporary society.

• What are the basic tenets of your faith?

• Are there situations or areas of your life where you find faith difficult?

• What does the concept of ‘conversion’ mean to you?

• How do you communicate your faith?

• How do you ‘discern God in the present moment’?

H. Mission and evangelism Candidates should demonstrate a wide and inclusive understanding of God’s mission to the world that permeates their prayer, thinking and action. They should be able to articulate what it means to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom and be able to speak of Jesus Christ in a way that is attractive and appropriate. They should show an awareness of how changes in culture and society have an impact on the life of the Church. They should also show potential as leaders of mission and a commitment to enable others in mission and evangelism.

• What does mission mean to you? • Give examples of mission that you

have been involved in • How would you share your faith

with someone who asked? • What is the good news of the

kingdom and is it the same for everyone?

I. Quality of Mind Candidates should have the necessary intellectual capacity and quality of mind to undertake satisfactorily a course of theological study and to cope with the intellectual demands of ministry. They should demonstrate a desire and commitment to engage in theological study and a willingness to embark upon lifelong ministerial and theological formation. Candidates should exhibit a readiness to reflect and enquire.

• When you pick up a newspaper, which section do you turn to first?

• What do you like watching on television?

• What was the most interesting book you have read recently?

• What films or music move you and why?

6. Ordained Ministry: What are the expectations? As we are exploring your vocation with you, we will be attentive to your inner sense of calling and help you to develop and express this. At the same time though, we will be looking at your vocation in the context of the needs of the whole church and how we can best use the gifts which God has given you.

If you feel you are called to stipendiary ministry at the level of an incumbent (someone who can exercise leadership in a local congregation), we will expect:

o that you are willing to undertake two or three years of training, with some academic component

o that you will undertake either residential or non-residential training, but that even the non-residential training will involve some time away from home and on placement in a variety of church settings

o that, at the end of your training, you will usually be available for deployment in the Diocese of Sheffield, though we accept that sometimes ordinands ask to be released, or that we have so many candidates that we need to release some to take up a post in another diocese

o that you will be available for deployment throughout the Diocese, which stretches from Goole in the east to Sheffield in the west, and takes in Doncaster, Rotherham, and parts of Barnsley

o that you, and your family, will be willing to move into clergy housing, which will be in your title parish, or as close as possible to it

o that you will serve a curacy (currently 3 years) and then look for a first incumbency position or a similar more senior role

o that you will be committed to serving at least five years, including your curacy, working for the Church of England (which does not include hospital, prison, or education chaplaincy positions, or working overseas in the wider Anglican communion) in either a local or wider role.

If you feel you are called to self-supporting (non-stipendiary) ministry at the level of an incumbent, we will expect:

o that you are willing to undertake two or three years of training, with some academic component

o that you will undertake non-residential training, which will involve some time away from home and on placement in a variety of church settings

o that you may be less able than stipendiary candidates to serve across the whole Diocese, but that you will consider serving a curacy within reasonable commuting distance of your own home

o that you will serve a curacy (currently 3 years) and then explore with us future possibilities for a non-stipendiary incumbency, associate priest, or chaplaincy role

If you feel you are called to self-supporting (non-stipendiary) ministry at the level of an assistant priest, we will expect:

o that you are willing to undertake two or three years of training, with a lesser academic component than other training routes, but with a strong focus on contextual theology and skills for ministry

o that, as part of your training, you will undertake placements in a variety of church and chaplaincy settings, which may mean that you are away from your home church for significant periods of time

o that you may, in due course, wish to serve in your home church, but that, in order to gain adequate training, you may be asked to work in a different church for a length of time (perhaps 18 months)

o that you will be available more widely in the longer term to work, at the request of the Bishop, across the deanery, or in other specific Diocesan roles

In return, you can expect:

➢ that we will take seriously the gifts you bring and the commitment you are offering

➢ that we will bear in mind your family situation when considering training and placement options

➢ that you will be supported financially with a book and travel grant and that your academic fees will be paid if you undertake non-residential training

➢ that you will be supported financially with study costs and that your academic fees will be paid if you undertake residential training

➢ that you (and, if you have one, your family) will be supported in terms of housing, food, travel, and general living costs if you undertake residential training (though we hope your spouse will be able to work to contribute towards your living expenses if at all possible). You can find out more about the support on the Church of England website here.

➢ that we will pay your removal costs to and from college

➢ that we will support you in finding a title parish in which to serve your curacy, whether that is in this Diocese or another

7. Training Initial Ministerial Education (IME) for the clergy comprises the two to three years before ordination to the diaconate and the three years of the initial curacy. IME for licensed lay ministers (Readers) increasingly follows a similar pattern.

What sort of training?

There is a wide variety of residential training colleges, as well as local non-residential courses colleges. In discussion with the DDO, and considering factors such as age, previous education, and family circumstances, you will be able to decide with the Bishop and DDO the most appropriate training route.

You can find out more by looking at the websites of English or Welsh theological colleges:

The College of the Resurrection, Mirfield Cranmer Hall, Durham Oak Hill, London Queen’s College, Birmingham Ridley Hall, Cambridge Ripon College, Cuddesdon, Oxford St Hild College, Yorkshire St Mellitus, London St Michael’s College, Llandaff St Stephen’s House, Oxford Trinity Hall, Bristol Westcott House, Cambridge Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

8. The discernment process; your marital status Your marital history (and that of your current or prospective spouse) must be considered during your discernment process.

What is the legal position?

The Church of England’s starting point is that no one “shall be admitted into holy orders who has re-married and, the other party to that marriage being alive, has a former spouse still living; or who is married to a person who has been previously married and whose former spouse is still living.” However, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York “may grant a faculty for the removal of the impediment”. This is known as a C4 Faculty.

Who needs to apply for a C4 Faculty?

You will need a C4 Faculty from the Archbishop of York before you can be sponsored for a Bishops’ Advisory Panel if you have a previous spouse living or if you are married to a partner with a previous spouse living. Please note that your current marriage must be at least three years old before an application can be made.

What if my personal circumstances change?

If you are divorced and single and remarry during selection or training, or if you have never been married and marry a divorced person with a previous spouse who is still living, you will have to wait for 3 years before applying for a C4 faculty. You should know that, even if you are part way through training, your ordination would not be guaranteed after those three years, and you might need to be interviewed by a Candidates’ Panel.

How do I apply for a C4 Faculty?

Your first step will be to share your marital history with your DDO during your first interview. If the DDO feels that you should explore your vocation to ordination further, he or she will refer you to the Bishop’s C4 Adviser. They will explore your marital history in detail with you and will come to a view about the likelihood of a C4 faculty being granted. They will report accordingly to the Bishop, who may want to talk to you. They will decide whether or not continuing to explore a vocation to ordination is realistic.

If the answer is yes, you will continue discernment until you are ready for a Local Panel. If they recommend you, you will be referred back to the C4 Adviser to apply formally for the C4 Faculty from the Archbishop of York. If this is granted the Bishop will see you again and if he decides he can sponsor you, you will go to the Bishop’s Advisory Panel.

You should be aware that, although those involved with you in your discernment process will try to deal with these issues with all possible sensitivity, the process itself may prove to be unsettling or painful for you and/or your partner. It will be important for you to talk about this together before you decide to proceed with the discernment process.

9. Reading list Below you will find a list of introductory texts for exploring vocation. There is a more comprehensive list on the Church of England’s website here.

On Vocation How to Find your Vocation John Adair (Canterbury Press, 2000) Called or Collared Francis Dewar (new edition, SPCK, 2000) This is our Calling Charles Richardson (SPCK, 2004)

On Ordained Ministry Being a Priest Today C. Cocksworth & R. Brown (Canterbury Press, 2002) Ministry in Three Dimensions Steven Croft (DLT, 1999) The Christian Priest Today Michael Ramsey (SPCK, 1972) Ministry and Priesthood Alastair Redfern (DLT, 1999)

On Liturgy and Worship Creating Uncommon Worship Richard Giles (Canterbury Press, 2004) Holy, Holy, Holy: Worshipping the Trinitarian God

Christopher Cocksworth

On Anglicanism C of E: The State it’s In Monica Furlong (Hodder and Stoughton, 2000) How to be an Anglican Richard Giles (Canterbury Press, 2003) Being Anglican Alastair Redfern (DLT, 2000) Anglicanism: A Very Short Introduction Mark Chapman (OUP, 2006)

On Spirituality Praying the Jesus Prayer Together S. Barrington-Ward and Brother Ramon (BRF, 2001) Praying Through Life Stephen Cottrell (CHP, 1998) God of Surprises Gerard Hughes (BRF, 1993) Holiness Donald Nicholl (DLT, 1981) How I Pray John Wilkins (Ed) (DLT, 1993)

On Biblical Studies Introducing the OT J Drane (revised ed, Lion, 2000) Introduction to Biblical Studies S Moyise (Cassell, 1998)

On Christian Faith and Theology Reasonable Belief Anthony & Richard Hanson (OUP, 1981) The Essence of Christianity Brian Hebblethwaite (SPCK, 1996) Christianity: A Short Introduction Keith Ward (SPCK, 2000)

On Self-knowledge and Pastoral Relationships Knowing Me Knowing You Malcolm Goldsmith & Martin Wharton (SPCK, 1993) Swift to Hear Michael Jacobs (SPCK, 2000) Still Small Voice Michael Jacobs (SPCK, 2001)

On Mission and Evangelism Presence and Prophesy Mission Theological Advisory Group (CHP, 2002) Mission-Shaped Church Mission and Public Affairs (CHP, 2004)

10. Other Resources Find below a list of websites that might help you explore your vocation further:

Church of England Ministry Resources - www.churchofengland.org/life-events/vocations

The Ministry Experience Scheme - www.churchofengland.org/ministryexperience

The Great Vocations Conversation - www.churchofengland.org/greatvocationsconversation

Pioneer Ministry - www.churchofengland.org/pioneering

Church Army – www.churcharmy.org

Licensed Lay (Reader) Ministry – www.transformingministry.co.uk

Lay Ministry in the Diocese of Sheffield - www.sheffield.anglican.org/stpeters

Get in touch:

Contact the DDO directly via stephen.hunter@sheffield.anglican.org

Or contact the Diocesan Offices:

Diocesan Church House 95-99 Effingham Street Rotherham S65 1BL 01709 309 100 reception@sheffield.anglican.org