CALL WAITING... How can you be sure?

You may feel that God is calling you to ordained ministry in the Church of England. But it’s a big decision—and both you and the Church need to be sure it’s the right one.

TESTING YOUR OWN SENSE OF VOCATION
Firstly, of course, you’ll need to fully explore your own sense of vocation.

TESTING BY OTHERS
Then, if you feel you have a strong sense of vocation to ordained ministry, you’ll need to see if other people in the Church of England can also discern that calling! Your bishop appoints certain people to the role of discernment on behalf of the Church. They will ask themselves two crucial questions:

Are you being called by God and his Church to ordained ministry?
Do you have the necessary gifts and potential to fulfil your vocation?

In answering these questions, they will want to focus on nine aspects of your life, called the ‘criteria for selection’.

THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
You will need to meet these 9 criteria if the answer to the above questions is to be ‘yes’:


VOCATION You should be able to talk about a growing sense of being called by God to ministry and mission, including your own inner belief and how much other people may have confirmed it. Your sense of vocation should be obedient, realistic and informed. You should also be able to show how your sense of calling has had an impact on your life.	What signs have you noticed that God may be calling you to ministry? Who else has noticed your calling? What effect has your vocation had upon you?
MINISTRY WITHIN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND You should be able to show an understanding of your own tradition within the Church of England, as well as an awareness of the variety of traditions and practice within it, and show a commitment to work within that variety. You should be able to talk about the distinctiveness of ministry within the Church of England, and what it means to be a deacon or priest. You should show commitment to a ministry of proclaiming the gospel—through word and sacrament, pastoral care, and social action.	What do you appreciate most about the Church of England? In your experience, what makes a good minister?
SPIRITUALITY You should be able to show that you have spiritual discipline, involving individual and group prayer and worship, including a growing pattern of disciplined daily prayer, Bible study and regularly receiving holy communion. This pattern of prayer should be able to support and energise you in your training and ministry. You should show a connection between your prayer life and daily living, and an understanding of God’s activity in your life.	What is your pattern of prayer? From where do you receive spiritual support and guidance?
PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER You should be appropriately self-aware and self-accepting, and mature enough for the demanding work of a minister. You should be able to face change and pressure in a flexible and balanced way. You should be, and be seen to be, a person of integrity. You should show a desire and capacity for self-development and growth.	What are your main strengths and weaknesses? Temperamentally, how well-suited are you to the ministry to which God may be calling you?
RELATIONSHIPS You should be aware of your strengths, weaknesses and vulnerabilities, showing that you can build and develop healthy personal, pastoral and professional relationships. You also need to be aware of the power structures which may lie within these relationships. In all aspects of your life and relationships, you should show integrity: emotional, psychological, physical, sexual, and financial, as well as in more general aspects of honesty. You must submit to the disciplines in the Church of England’s Issues in Human Sexuality. You should be able to listen to others, and show willingness to resolve disagreements.	How well do you relate to others? What kind of relationships do you need to support you in your vocation?
LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION You should show the ability to offer leadership in the Church community and, to some extent, in the wider community. You should have an ability to guide and shape the life of the Church in its mission to the world. This includes an ability and willingness to use and develop other people’s gifts. You should be a witness to the servanthood of Christ, and show how you provide an example of faith, love and discipleship which is inspiring to others.	What has been your experience of exercising leadership? How good are you at working alongside and motivating others? What is your preferred style of leadership?
FAITH You should show an understanding of the Christian faith, and a desire to deepen your understanding of it. You should demonstrate a personal commitment to Christ and a desire and ability to share the gospel. You should be able to make connections between faith and the complex demands of contemporary society.	What is your gospel? What is at the heart of the good news you want to share? What experiences in your life have strengthened or weakened your faith?
MISSION AND EVANGELISM You should have a solid understanding of the breadth of God’s mission to the world—one which carries through into your prayers, thoughts and actions. You should be able to put into words what it means to share the gospel of Christ, and be able to talk about him in a way which is both attractive and appropriate. You should be aware of how changes in culture and society are having an impact on the life of the Church. You should show potential as a leader of mission, as well as a commitment to enable others in mission and evangelism.	How have you experienced God’s mission to the world? What does it mean to you to share the gospel of Christ?
QUALITY OF MIND You should have the necessary intellectual abilities and quality of mind to succeed on a course of theological study, and be able to cope with the intellectual demands of ministry. You should have a desire and a commitment to do theological study, and a willingness to set off on a life-long journey of ministerial and theological training and development. You should show a readiness to reflect, and to enquire.	How best do you learn? Is it by listening, watching, reading, or other ways? What would excite you most about theological training?