Vocations

It’s your call

We are all called to spread the Good News of faith to everyone, to ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone as it says in Mark 16 verse 15. 

We also know that some people hear a specific calling in their lives that leads them to a life of ministry and service within the church and we want to encourage those people to help them to discern what that looks like and where they might serve God helping to build his Kingdom here in our Diocese. 

We can support you in a number of ways:

• Praying and Searching - Discernment
• Finding a Spiritual Accompanier/Spiritual Director
• Sharing information about the different and various vocations on offer in the Church of England:
  • VOCATIONS LEAFLET
  • SPIRITUAL DIRECTION LEAFLET
  • READER LEAFLET

Ordination

Since early times the Church has selected a few people to be fully dedicated to ministry and to bear various responsibilities, the process of finding and equipping these people is called Ordination. In the Church of England, the vast majority of those ordained are priests. More information about ordination within the Church of England can be found on their website.

If you, or someone you know, feels they may be called to ordained ministry, this should first always be discussed with the relevant parish priest. The Diocesan Director of Mission and Ministry and Diocesan Director of Vocations and Ordinands, Elizabeth Wild, meets with prospective candidates and oversees the process. Candidates should be prepared for a long testing process of discernment, which can take over at least a year, in order to assess whether this calling to serve Christ is the right path for the candidate.

ORDAINED MINISTRY DISCERNMENT LEAFLET

Young Vocations

If you are aged between 18- 30 and beginning to explore a sense of call, you can find information about the Church of England Ministry Experience Scheme on the national pages. 

Details of our next Vocations events can be found on the events calendar