After a time of individual/personal discernment, those who feel a call to explore more deeply ordained ministry should pursue parish level discernment.
A quick overview of this journey:
In consultation with a member of the Commission on Ministry, your priest will either meet individually with you or put together a discernment group which will allow you to explore, listen to, and discern your call in community. You might spend time studying together, reading and discussing a workbook on hearing a call from God, and looking at your leadership strengths and growing edges. At the conclusion of your meetings, your priest or committee may make a recommendation to your parish vestry to support your further discernment at the diocesan level. At this point, you and your priest may begin preparations to meet with the Bishop.
A step-by-step list for Parish Level Discernment can be found here.
Preparing to meet with the Bishop.
The diocese requires some extensive paperwork including an application, a spiritual autobiography, an essay, a letter of recommendation from your parish vestry and priest, and a background check. The list of required paperwork can be found below. Once the paperwork is complete, your sponsoring priest can make an appointment for you and she/he to meet with the bishop.
After the meeting, the applicant will receive a letter from the Bishop with notification of the bishop’s decision about admittance into the next phase of the process of discernment. The Bishop may choose to change the direction of discernment for an applicant or move an applicant further along with discernment to become a nominee. If moving forward in the process, the applicant will now be called a “Nominee” and will begin Diocesan Level Discernment.
