Exploring Your Vocation - The Diocese of Sheffield

Exploring Your
Vocation
Contents
Page
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Introduction
The Team
The discernment process
Confidentiality
What does the Church of England
believe about ordination?
6. Selection criteria
7. What type of ministry?
8. Ordained ministry:
what are the expectations?
9. Training
10. Some questions to consider
11. The discernment process:
your marital status
12. What happens now?
13. Forms
2
3
6
8
9
12
15
17
19
20
21
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25
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1. Introduction
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
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)
Diocesan Vision Statement:
The Diocese of Sheffield is called to grow a sustainable network of Christ-like, lively and
diverse Christian communities in every place which are effective in making disciples and
in seeking to transform our society and God’s world.
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2. The Team
Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO)
The Diocesan Director of Ordinands is the Revd Stephen
Hunter. 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.
Stephen works with a team of Assistant Diocesan Directors of Ordinands (ADDOs):
The Revd Canon Lydia Wells is a retired vicar but continues to
work with those exploring ordained ministry. She is a vocations
advisor and a Bishops’ pastoral advisor at local and national
selection panels.
The Revd Canon Jane Bolton is the Priest-in-Charge of the three
parishes in the Braithwell team, Rotherham and is also the Selfsupporting Ministry Officer for the Diocese.
The Revd Harry Steele is Priest-in -charge of St Peter’s in
Greenhill, Sheffield and the ADDO with particular responsibility
for Pioneer Ministry. His role is to help candidates discern if they
are called to Pioneer Ministry; this may be ordained or lay. Harry
also acts as an external supervisor for Pioneer placements in the
Diocese.
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2. The Team (continued)
The Revd Karen Cribb and the Revd Dr Richard Walton are the
Bishop’s Advisors for Self-Supporting Ministry and provide
support for existing Self-Supporting Ministers, those exploring
and in training. They work in particular to encourage the growth
of Self-Supporting ministry throughout the Diocese. Karen is the
part-time SSM Associate Vicar of St Mary’s Church Bramall Lane
in Sheffield.
Richard is SSM Priest-in-Charge of the Parishes of
Burghwallis and Campsall in Doncaster and is also Director of
the regional STEM programmes at Sheffield Hallam University.
In addition, Richard is a Bishop’s adviser at local and national
selection panels.
Candidates may also meet for a number of sessions with one of the team of Vocations
Advisors to explore their calling and discern the right path.
When the time is right, the DDO or one of the ADDOs will work with candidates towards
an interview with a Local Selection Panel before meeting with the Bishop to discuss
sponsorship for a Bishop’s Advisory Panel (BAP).
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Vocations Advisers
Here is a list of Vocations Advisers in the Sheffield Diocese. Your Director of Ordinands
may ask you to contact one of them for some conversations about the vocations
process.






Revd Margaret Caunt
Vicar of St James’ Anston
Revd Dr Jeremy Clines
Chaplain to the University of Sheffield
Revd John Hutchison
Formerly Chaplain of Sheffield Children’s
Hospital
Revd Canon Peter Ingram
Vicar of Holy Trinity Millhouses
Revd Hilary Jowett
Team Rector of Gleadless
Revd Anesia Nascimento Cook
Associate Vicar, Rotherham Minster





Revd Canon Richard Parker
Vicar of Hoyland
Revd Gary Schofield
Vicar of St. John the Baptist, Wales
Revd Eleanor Robertshaw
Rector, The Great Snaith Team
Revd Canon Julian Sullivan
Vicar of St Mary’s, Bramall Lane
Revd Ann Walton
Rector of Adwick-le-Street
The following people act on behalf of the Bishop at a Local Selection Panel and also at
national BAPs for non-Sheffield candidates.

Canon Dr George Lings

Mrs Janet Atkinson
Director
of The Church Army Sheffield
Bishop’s Lay Pastoral Adviser

Revd Andrew Mauchan

Revd Neil Bowler
Bishop’s
Pastoral Adviser
Vicar of St John’s Ranmoor

Revd Canon Julie Upton
Revd Canon Keith Farrow
Team Rector of Sheffield Manor
Canon Missioner at Sheffield Cathedral

Revd Dr Richard Walton

Revd Canon Geoffrey Harbord
Reader at Sheffield Hallam University
Chaplain to the Bishop of Sheffield

Revd Canon Lydia Wells

Revd Canon Liz Turner-Loisel
Retired vicar of St Oswald’s Abbeydale
Priest in Charge of Hatfield St
and St Peter’s Millhouses
Lawrence and Area Dean of Snaith

Mrs Lynne Quinney
and Hatfield
Bishop’s Lay Pastoral Advisor

Dr Linda Kirk
Formerly Senior Lecturer in History,
University of Sheffield
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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.
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 a Vocations Adviser or an Assistant
DDO, 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 DDO or Assistant DDO will then arrange for you to meet with the Bishop who, if he
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. This
is a three-day residential conference, held in a retreat house. At the end of the
conference, the Advisors will write a report to the Bishop, advising whether they recommend that you should enter training for ordained ministry.
Once the Bishop has confirmed the Panel’s recommendation, he will sponsor you for
training. 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.
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.
It normally takes between twelve and eighteen months between a candidate
seeing the DDO and entering training, but can take longer.
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4. 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.
If the person considering ordination wishes to discuss matters in confidence this should
be done with their spiritual director or other such companion.
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5. What does the Church of England believe
about ordination?
The following is taken from the liturgy for ordination and will give you
an idea of what you would be signing up for:
Deacons
The bishop introduces the service
God calls his people to follow Christ, and forms us into a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
to declare the wonderful deeds of him who has called us out of darkness into his
marvellous light.
The Church is the Body of Christ, the people of God and the dwelling-place of the Holy
Spirit. In baptism the whole Church is summoned to witness to God's love and to work for
the coming of his kingdom.
To serve this royal priesthood, God has given a variety of ministries. Deacons are
ordained so that the people of God may be better equipped to make Christ known. Theirs
is a life of visible self-giving. Christ is the pattern of their calling and their commission; as
he washed the feet of his disciples, so they must wash the feet of others.
Deacons are called to work with the Bishop and the priests with whom they serve as
heralds of Christ's kingdom. They are to proclaim the gospel in word and deed, as agents
of God's purposes of love. They are to serve the community in which they are set,
bringing to the Church the needs and hopes of all the people. They are to work with their
fellow members in searching out the poor and weak, the sick and lonely and those who
are oppressed and powerless, reaching into the forgotten corners of the world, that the
love of God may be made visible.
Deacons share in the pastoral ministry of the Church and in leading God's people in
worship. They preach the word and bring the needs of the world before the Church in
intercession. They accompany those searching for faith and bring them to baptism. They
assist in administering the sacraments; they distribute communion and minister to the
sick and housebound.
Deacons are to seek nourishment from the Scriptures; they are to study them with God's
people, that the whole Church may be equipped to live out the gospel in the world. They
are to be faithful in prayer, expectant and watchful for the signs of God's presence, as he
reveals his kingdom among us.
The bishop addresses the ordinands directly
We trust that you are fully determined, by the grace of God, to give yourself wholly to his
service, that you may draw his people into that new life which God has prepared for those
who love him.
And now, in order that we may know your mind and purpose, you must make the
declarations we put to you.
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Do you accept the Holy Scriptures as revealing all things necessary for eternal salvation
through faith in Jesus Christ?
Ordinands: I do so accept them.
Will you be diligent in prayer, in reading Holy Scripture, and in all studies that will deepen
your faith and fit you to bear witness to the truth of the gospel?
Ordinands: By the help of God, I will.
Do you believe the doctrine of the Christian faith as the Church of England has received
it, and in your ministry will you expound and teach it?
Ordinands: I believe it and will so do.
Will you strive to make the love of Christ known through word and example, and have a
particular care for those in need?
The following response is given to each of the following questions
Ordinands: By the help of God, I will.
Will you be a faithful servant in the household of God, after the example of Christ, who
came not to be served but to serve?
Will you endeavour to fashion your own life and that of your household according to the
way of Christ, that you may be a pattern and example to Christ's people?
Will you work with your fellow servants in the gospel for the sake of the kingdom of God?
Will you accept the discipline of this Church and give due respect to those in authority?
Will you then, in the strength of the Holy Spirit, continually stir up the gift of God that is in
you, to grow in holiness and grace?
Priests
The bishop introduces the service (as for deacons), then continues
To serve this royal priesthood, God has given particular ministries. Priests are ordained to
lead God's people in the offering of praise and the proclamation of the gospel. They share
with the Bishop in the oversight of the Church, delighting in its beauty and rejoicing in its
well-being. They are to set the example of the Good Shepherd always before them as the
pattern of their calling. With the Bishop and their fellow presbyters, they are to sustain the
community of the faithful by the ministry of word and sacrament, that we all may grow into
the fullness of Christ and be a living sacrifice acceptable to God.
The ordinands stand before the bishop, who addresses the congregation
Bishop: Priests are called to be servants and shepherds among the people to whom they
are sent. With their Bishop and fellow ministers, they are to proclaim the word of the Lord
and to watch for the signs of God's new creation. They are to be messengers, watchmen
and stewards of the Lord; they are to teach and to admonish, to feed and provide for his
family, to search for his children in the wilderness of this world's temptations, and to guide
them through its confusions, that they may be saved through Christ
for ever. Formed by the word, they are to call their hearers to repentance and to declare in Christ's name the absolution and forgiveness of their sins.
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With all God's people, they are to tell the story of God's love. They are to baptize new
disciples in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and to walk
with them in the way of Christ, nurturing them in the faith. They are to unfold the
Scriptures, to preach the word in season and out of season, and to declare the mighty
acts of God. They are to preside at the Lord's table and lead his people in worship,
offering with them a spiritual sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. They are to bless the
people in God's name. They are to resist evil, support the weak, defend the poor, and
intercede for all in need. They are to minister to the sick and prepare the dying for their
death. Guided by the Spirit, they are to discern and foster the gifts of all God's people,
that the whole Church may be built up in unity and faith.
The bishop addresses the ordinands directly
We trust that long ago you began to weigh and ponder all this, and that you are fully
determined, by the grace of God, to devote yourself wholly to his service, so that as you
daily follow the rule and teaching of our Lord and grow into his likeness, God may sanctify
the lives of all with whom you have to do.
And now, in order that we may know your mind and purpose, you must make the
declarations we put to you.
Do you accept the Holy Scriptures as revealing all things necessary for eternal salvation
through faith in Jesus Christ?
Ordinands: I do so accept them.
Will you be diligent in prayer, in reading Holy Scripture, and in all studies that will deepen
your faith and fit you to bear witness to the truth of the gospel?
The following response is used for each of the following questions
Ordinands: By the help of God, I will.
Will you lead Christ's people in proclaiming his glorious gospel, so that the good news of
salvation may be heard in every place?
Will you faithfully minister the doctrine and sacraments of Christ as the Church of
England has received them, so that the people committed to your charge may be
defended against error and flourish in the faith?
Will you, knowing yourself to be reconciled to God in Christ, strive to be an instrument of
God's peace in the Church and in the world?
Will you endeavour to fashion your own life and that of your household according to the
way of Christ, that you may be a pattern and example to Christ's people?
Will you work with your fellow servants in the gospel for the sake of the kingdom of God?
Will you accept and minister the discipline of this Church, and respect authority duly exercised within it?
Will you then, in the strength of the Holy Spirit, continually stir up the gift of God
that is in you, to make Christ known among all whom you serve?
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6. Selection Criteria
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.
B



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?
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.
C




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?
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?
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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.
E



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?
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.
F





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?
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?
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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.
H





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’?
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.
I




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?
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?
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7. What type of ministry?
Ordination is the Church’s official recognition of your sense of calling to be a priest or a
deacon. It gives you the authority to do certain things in the name of God and the Church.
It’s also a sacrament—an outward sign of the grace of God, given to you through the laying-on of hands by the bishop, to enable you to fulfil your calling.
Ordained people point to the life of Christ crucified and risen, encouraging Christians to
live more Christ-like lives. They also proclaim the gospel of Christ to people who are not
Christians. They share in people’s life journeys, walking with them and sharing their joys
and sorrows.
There is no formal career path for priests, but there are lots of opportunities, including for
further education and training throughout your ministry. Some ordained people work fulltime within the Church of England; others do it as part of their ongoing occupations.
There are stages in the process of being ordained, and there are different jobs available
afterwards:
Deacon
A person who is accepted for ordination as a priest is first ordained as a deacon. The
ministry of a deacon is that of servanthood, within the Church and the wider community.
Usually after a year, a deacon is ordained as a priest; however, some people are called
to remain life-long distinctive deacons.
Priest
The ministry of a priest is one of leadership and mission, helping all Christians to realise
their potential as they witness to Christ.
They help to build up the Church, through

the celebration of the sacraments (including baptism and holy communion)

teaching

preaching

pastoral care.
Bishop
Some priests are called to be bishops. They oversee the life of a diocese, confirm and
ordain, and appoint parish priests. They are ‘consecrated’ in order to serve in this
ministry.
Different jobs clergy can do...
Curate
A curate is in his or her first years of ordained life. They work with the incumbent at the
church to which they have been appointed as they continue with their training ‘on
the job’ (this is part of what is called initial ministerial education, or IME). A curacy
normally lasts for 3 years.
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Parish priest
A parish priest works mostly within the parish to which they are appointed. They're also
likely to act as chaplain to some local organisations (see below). A vicar or rector is called
an incumbent, and will have overall responsibility for the life of the parish church and its
mission to the community. Parish priests are supported by elected lay officers (such as
churchwardens and PCC members), plus any other ordained colleagues. If you become a
parish priest, you don’t have to stay doing it forever—you can move in and out of different
roles, including chaplaincy, and administration within the diocese or the Archbishops’
Council.
Chaplain
Chaplains are ordained or lay people called to ministry in primarily secular (non-church)
contexts; full- or part-time, paid or unpaid. They try to meet the spiritual needs of people
living, working, studying, caring or being cared for. This may be in education (universities,
colleges and schools), hospitals, hospices, prisons, the armed forces, or the workplace.
Chaplains serve people in a variety of ways, including pastoral and spiritual support,
preaching and teaching, worship and prayer, leading discussion, and exploratory groups
and courses for Christians and those exploring prayer and spirituality. Most chaplaincies
are ecumenical (multi-denominational) and/or multi-faith teams, usually working within the
structures of the organisations in which they serve.
Ordained Pioneer Minister
Some ordained ministers feel called to ‘fresh expressions’ of church, working in pioneering ways which are complementary to traditional parish structures. The discernment and
selection process for ordained pioneer ministers is the same as for all priests, but you
need to have had experience of a fresh expression of church and be able to show good
evidence of:
 visionary leadership ability
 a heart for mission and evangelism
 a commitment to the life and values of the Church of England
 a spiritual life that is vibrant enough to sustain you in your ministry.
It is important to remember that there are other, non-ordained roles which are also essential in the life of the Church (such as Evangelist, especially in the Church Army; Missionary; Lay Pioneer; Diocesan Lay Worker, Worship Leader; Reader; and members of religious communities, such as monks, nuns, friars and sisters).
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8. 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:
that you are willing to undertake two or three years of training, with some academic component;
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;
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.
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;
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.
that you will serve a curacy (currently 3 years) and then look for a first incumbency
position or a similar more senior role.
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:
that you are willing to undertake two or three years of training, with some academic component;
that you will undertake non-residential training, which will involve some time away
from home and on placement in a variety of church settings;
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18
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;
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:
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;
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;
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);
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 see the grant forms which would be used to calculate the level of your financial
support here: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/ministry/workofmindiv/
adminandfinance/mindivforms/grantforms/
that we will pay your removal costs to and from college (but not usually storage costs for
additional furniture which you are unable to take with you);
that we will support you in finding a title parish in which to serve your curacy,
whether that is in this Diocese or another.
Vocations
19
9. 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 such as the Yorkshire Ministry Course. In discussion with the DDO, and taking
into account 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 Barnabas Theological Centre, Sheffield
St John’s College, Nottingham
St Mellitus, London
St Michael’s College, Llandaff
St Stephen’s House, Oxford
Trinity Hall, Bristol
Westcott House, Cambridge
Wycliffe Hall, Oxford,
Yorkshire Ministry Course
For those who are thinking of Assistant Self-Supporting Ministry it is also possible to train
for a slightly reduced length of time, plus some additional placements, at Sheffield’s own
School of Ministry/St. Peter’s College.
Vocations
20
10. Some questions to consider
Often the first step in the discernment process is meeting with a Vocations Adviser. Here
are some questions you may want to consider before you meet. Perhaps you want to
chat them through with a friend or write down your answers. The questions begin with
some general reflections on vocations, then deal specifically with ordination.

What am I good at? What am I learning to be good at?

What do I enjoy most? Is there an activity I find especially fulfilling? What do I
enjoy about it?

What accomplishments make me feel best?

What would I do with my days if money were not an issue? Compare that with
now…

What step towards my vocation/purpose can I do practically?

What have I learned about purpose from failures?

Who do I admire for using their talent? How am I like them and what can I learn
from them?

What’s the vision for my life this year? ....for five years? ....for ten years?

What would I like to be remembered for? What would I like to read in my obituary?

What forms of ministry have I considered?

What is it about ordination that attracts me?

What gave me the idea of ordination? If someone suggested it, who?

Did respect or admiration for a particular priest draw me to the idea?

What are the particular activities that attract me?

What parts of the work, as I see it, do I most want to do?

Who are the people I most want to concern myself with or minister to?

What will I offer them, and how?

What gifts do I think are required for this work?

What gifts do other people think I have? How have they communicated this to me?

What will my Christian ministry be if I am not ordained?

What would my reaction be if I am not recommended for training?
Vocations
21
11. The discernment process: your marital status
Your marital history (and that of your current or prospective spouse) must be taken into
account 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 Sarah Bowler, the Bishop’s C4 Adviser.
Sarah will explore your marital history in detail with you and will come to a view about the
likelihood of a C4 faculty being granted. She will report accordingly to Bishop Peter, who
may want to talk to you himself. He 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 Sarah Bowler 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.
Vocations
22
12. What happens now?
If you haven’t done so already:
Pray
Talk to your incumbent or Area Dean
Ask your vicar to write to the Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO)
When you have an appointment with the DDO then fill out the attached forms and bring
them with your current curriculum vitae (CV) for your initial conversation.



In the meantime here are some suggestions for reading:
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)
Wisdom and Ministry: The Call to Leadership
M Sadgrove (SPCK, 2008)
On ordained ministry
Being a Priest Today
Christopher Cocksworth & Rosalind 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)
The Life and Work of a Priest
John Pritchard (SPCK, 2007)
Praying for England : Priestly Presence in Contemporary Culture.
Eds. Sam Wells & Sarah Coakley (continuum 2008)
Making God Possible - the Task of Ordained Ministry Present and Future
Alan Billings (SPCK 2010)
What Clergy Do: Especially When it Looks Like Nothing
Emma Percy (SPCK 2014)
Motherhood as a Metaphor for Ministry
Emma Percy (Ashgate 2014)
On Anglicanism
Anglicanism: A Very Short Introduction
Mark Chapman (OUP, 2006)
C of E: The State it’s In
Monica Furlong (Hodder & Stoughton, 2000)
How to be an Anglican
Richard Giles (Canterbury Press, 2003)
Being Anglican
Alastair Redfern (DLT, 2000)
On spirituality
Praying the Jesus Prayer Together
Praying Through Life
God of Surprises
Holiness
How I Pray
Barefoot Disciple
Simon Barrington-Ward & Brother Ramon (BRF, 2001)
Stephen Cottrell (CHP, 1998)
Gerard Hughes (BRF, 1993)
Donald Nicholl (DLT, 1981)
John Wilkins (Ed) (DLT, 1993)
Stephen Cherry (continuum 2011)
In addition, the booklets in the Grove Books series are often good introductions to aspects of spirituality.
On biblical studies
Introducing the OT
Introduction to Biblical Studies
J Drane (revised edition, Lion, 2000)
S Moyise (Cassell, 1998)
Vocations
23
On Christian faith and theology
Reasonable Belief
The Essence of Christianity
Christianity: A Short Introduction
Anthony & Richard Hanson (OUP, 1981)
Brian Hebblethwaite (SPCK, 1996)
Keith Ward (SPCK, 2000)
On liturgy and worship
Holy, Holy, Holy: Worshipping the Trinitarian God
Christopher Cocksworth
Creating Uncommon Worship
Richard Giles (Canterbury Press, 2004)
On mission and evangelism
Mission-shaped Church—Missionary Values, Church Planting and Fresh Expressions of Church
Paul Bayes (Grove Booklet Ev 67, 2004)
Presence and Prophesy
Mission Theological Advisory Group (CHP, 2002)
Mission-Shaped Church
Mission and Public Affairs (CHP, 2004)
Ancient faith, Future Mission: Fresh expression in the sacramental tradition
Eds .S. Croft and E. Mobsby (Canterbury Press 2009)
On self-knowledge and pastoral relationships
Knowing Me Knowing You
Swift to Hear
Still Small Voice
Malcolm Goldsmith & Martin Wharton (SPCK, 1993)
Michael Jacobs (SPCK, 2000)
Michael Jacobs (SPCK, 2001)
On religious life
Anglican Religious Communities Year Book (Canterbury Press)
Unveiled: Nuns Talking
Mary Loudon (Ebury/Vintage, 1993)
Sing a New Song: The Christian
Vocation
Timothy Radcliffe, OP(Dominican Publications, 1999)
On diversity issues
Rejection, Resistance and Resurrection: Speaking Out Against Racism in the Church
Mukti Barton (Darton, Longman & Todd, 2005)
Black Theology in Britain: A Reader Ed Michael Jagessar & Anthony Reddie (Equinox, 2007)
An Amazing Journey: The Church of England’s Response to Institutional Racism
Glynne Gordon-Carter (Church House Publishing, 2003)
Present and Participating: A Place at the Table A Report from the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican
Concerns (General Synod [GS 1655], 2007)
A much fuller reading list can be found at:
http://www.callwaiting.org.uk/reading-list.aspx
Vocations
24
Select List of Novels with Theological Themes
The list below provides some titles of novels, which explore theological themes.
The list is far from exhaustive.
Mitch Albom:
Saul Bellow:
Georges Bernanos:
Fydor Dostoyevsky:
Shasuko Endo:
Catherine Fox:
William Golding:
Graham Greene:
Hermann Hesse:
Susan Howatch:
P D James:
Barbara Kingsolver:
Sue Monk Kidd:
David Lodge:
Sara Maitland:
Brian Moore:
Iris Murdoch:
Barbara Pym:
Sally Vickers:
Morris West:
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Henderson the Rain King
The Diary of a Country Priest
The Brothers Karamazov
Silence
Angels and Men
Darkness Visible
Rites of Passage
The Spire
The Power and the Glory
Monsignor Quixote
Burnt Out Case
Narziss and Goldmund
Siddhartha
Glittering Images
Death in Holy Orders
Children of Men
The Poisonwood Bible
The Secret Life of Bees
Therapy
Brittle Joys
Black Robe
The Statement
The Bell
A Glass of Blessings
Miss Garnet’s Angel
Mr Golightly’s Holiday
The Devil’s Advocate
Shoes of the Fisherman
Lazarus
The Clowns of God
Eminence
List of Useful Websites and Resources:






The Church of England website: www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/ministry/ministryinthecofe

Religious Life as a monk or nun: www.thekingdomisyours.org.uk
Young Vocations: www.callwaiting.org.uk particularly if you are between 18-30 and considering vocations.
Church Army: www.churcharmy.org.uk
Readers: www.readers.cofe.anglican.org
Lay Training in Sheffield Diocese www.churchofengland.org/clergy-office-holders/ministry/readers-.aspx
Pioneer Ministry: http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/
Vocations
25
13. Forms

Application Form (Expression of Interest)

Statement of Financial Position Form

Protection of Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
Declaration

Data Protection Form
Vocations
Application form
for the Process of Discernment for Ordained Ministry in Sheffield Diocese
MR
¨
SURNAME
MRS ¨
PREVIOUS SURNAME
(if different)
MISS ¨
MS
¨
DR
¨
Initials
AGE
All forenames
The name you prefer to use
FORENAME(S)
OTHER ¨
…………………...
ADDRESS
PERMANENT
PRESENT (if different)
Postcode
Telephone number
Postcode
DAY
MOBILE
EVENING
Email address
DATES (DD/MM/YY)
BIRTH
BAPTISM
NATIONALITY
CONFIRMATION
NAT INS NO.
PRESENT OCCUPATION
SINGLE
¨
IF MARRIED, DATE OF MARRIAGE
ENGAGED
¨
SPOUSE’S FORENAME
MARRIED
¨
SEPARATED
¨
DIVORCED
¨
WIDOWED
¨
OCCUPATION
HAVE YOU OR YOUR SPOUSE/FIANCE(E)
BEEN MARRIED PREVIOUSLY TO A PARTNER WHO IS STILL LIVING?
Tick
Yes ¨ No ¨
CHILDREN’S NAMES AND DATES OF BIRTH
PARISH CHURCH YOU USUALLY ATTEND
HAVE YOU BEEN ADMITTED TO THE OFFICE OF READER?
DO YOU HAVE ANY CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS?
Signed ……………………………………………………………………..…………..
Date ………………………………………….
Please return this form, along with proof of your baptism and confirmation to your Director of Ordinands. Please
also return your Statement of Financial Position Form and Child Declaration Form.
Statement of Financial Position Form
Name
Diocese
College/Course/Scheme
Bank/Building Society
Overdraft
Mortgage
Student Loans (1)
Total outstanding
Bank/Building Society
Loan
Monthly repayments
1. Student Loans Company
(include date of loan(s))
2. Other student loans
Loans from family and
friends
Other loans, including
any business/
professional loans
Hire Purchase
Total outstanding
Monthly repayments
Car
Household goods
Other items
Credit/Store Cards
Please give details of balances which cannot be paid within the current
month.
1.
2.
3.
Any other continuing
financial obligations (2)
MANAGEMENT OF A DEBT
If there is an existing debt or other significant financial obligation, please give details of how it is
planned that this will be managed.
Signature _______________________________________________________Date_______________
NOTES
PURPOSE
The purpose of this form is to ensure that candidates embark upon ordained ministry
free of significant financial difficulties. This is of particular importance in the case of
candidates who will be ordained to a stipendiary title since the level of stipend is not
intended to cover the repayment of existing debts. The form should be completed by
all candidates prior to attending a Bishops’ Advisory Panel. Candidates who have
incumbent ministry in their category of sponsorship are asked to complete the form
again at the end of the penultimate year of training. It is important to stress that this
form must be completed carefully and with total honesty.
SPOUSES
In the case of married candidates who are applying or who have applied for a diocesan family maintenance grant, the candidate’s spouse is asked to jointly complete
and sign the form or, if preferred, to complete a separate form.
(1) STUDENT LOANS
It should be noted that grants from Central Church Funds are allocated on the basis
that ordinands will not receive loans within the Government Student Loan Scheme.
The Student Loan Scheme, up until September 1998, stipulated that a loan need not
be repaid in any year where a graduate’s income falls below 85% of national average
earnings. Student loans taken out from September 1998 do, however, have to be repaid, in instalments, where earned income is in excess of £15,000 per annum.
(2) OTHER CONTINUING FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
Such obligations may include alimony; maintenance payments made through the
Child Support Agency or voluntarily; financial obligations involving leased property;
outstanding bills which, for whatever reason, will be unable to be paid on time .
Bishops’ Advisory Panel
on selection for training for ordained ministry
CONFIDENTIAL DECLARATION
Protection of Children, Young People
and Vulnerable Adults
For ordinands who are likely to be in regular and direct contact with children, young people under
eighteen years of age and vulnerable adults.
This form is strictly confidential and, except under compulsion of law, will be seen only by
those responsible for the appointment and, when appropriate, the Diocesan/ Bishop’s Child
Protection Adviser. All forms will be kept securely under the terms of the Data Protection Act
1998. If you answer yes to any question, please give details, on a separate sheet if necessary, giving the number of the question you are answering.
1a
Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence (including any spent convictions under
the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974)?*
Please tick
YES
If yes, please state the nature and
separate sheet if necessary.
1b
date(s) of the of-
fence(s), continuing on a
Have you ever been cautioned by the police, given a reprimand or warning or bound over
to keep the peace?
Please tick
YES
If yes, please give full details, con-
1c
NO
NO
tinuing on a sepa-
rate sheet if necessary.
Are you at present under investigation by the police or an employer for any offence?
Please tick
YES
If yes, please give full details, con-
NO
tinuing on a sepa-
rate sheet if necessary.
1d
Has your name been placed on the Protection of Children Act (PoCA) list, List 99 or the
Protection of Vulnerable Adults list (PoVA), barring you from work with children or vulnerable people?
Please tick
YES
NO
If yes, please give full details, continuing on a separate sheet if necessary.
1e
Have you ever been found by a court exercising civil jurisdiction (including matrimonial or
family jurisdiction) to have caused significant harm** to a child, young person under the
age of eighteen years, or vulnerable adult, or has any such court made an order against
you on the basis of any finding or allegation that any child, young person or vulnerable
adult was at risk of significant harm from you?
Please tick
YES
NO
If yes, please give full details, continuing on a separate sheet if necessary.
2a
Has your conduct ever caused or been likely to cause significant harm to a child, young
person under the age of eighteen or vulnerable adult, or put a child, young
person or vulnerable adult at risk of significant harm?
Please tick
YES
NO
If yes, please give full details, continuing on a separate sheet if necessary.
2b
To your knowledge, has it ever been alleged that your conduct has resulted in any of
those things?
Please tick
YES
NO
If yes, please give details, including the date(s) and nature of the conduct, or alleged conduct, and whether you were dismissed, disciplined, moved to other work or
resigned from any paid or voluntary work as a result.
3
Has a child in your care or for whom you have or had parental responsibility ever been
removed from your care, been placed on the Child Protection Register or been the subject
of a care order, a supervision order, a child
assessment order or an emergency protection order under the Children Act 1989, or a
similar order under other legislation?
Please tick
YES
NO
If yes, please give full details, continuing on a separate sheet if necessary.
4
Have you any health problem (s) which might affect your work with children, young people
under the age of eighteen, or vulnerable adults?
Please tick
5
YES
NO
If yes, please give full details, con-
tinuing on a sep-
Have you, since the age of eighteen, ever been known by any name other than that given
below?
Please tick
YES
If yes, please give full details, con-
6
arate sheet if necessary.
NO
tinuing on a sep-
arate sheet if necessary.
Have you, during the past five years, had any home address other than that given below?
Please tick
YES
If yes, please give full details, con-
NO
tinuing on a sep-
arate sheet if necessary.
* All previous convictions, with the exception of technical motoring offences leading only to a fine, should be disclosed.
** Significant harm involves serious ill-treatment of any kind including neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse, or
impairment of physical or mental health development. It will also include matters such as a sexual relationship with a
young person or adult for whom you had pastoral responsibility.
Declaration
I declare that the above information (and that on the attached sheets ***) is
accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
Signed……………………………………………………………………………..
Date …………………………………………….…. Date of Birth ………………
Full Name ………………..…………………..……………………………………
Address ………………………………………...…………………………………
…………………………………………………………………….…………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
*** Please delete if not applicable.
Please return completed form to your Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO).
Before you attend a Bishop’s Advisory Panel you must provide an enhanced
Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Consult with the DDO about the
process for this.
Notes for the Confidential Declaration form
Questions 1a and 1b: Declare all convictions, cautions, warnings or reprimands
however old or whether you are at present under investigation by the police.
Motoring offences that cannot be dealt with by a prison sentence need not be
declared. Posts where the person is working or coming into regular contact with
children or vulnerable adults are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
1974.
Convictions obtained abroad must be declared as well as those from the UK.
Question 1c: You must declare any finding of fact by a civil court that your actions
have
significantly harmed a child, young person or vulnerable adult. Declare any court orders
made on this basis.
Question 1e: Declare if you are at present under investigation by the police, social
services or an employer.
Question 2a: Make any statement you wish regarding any incident you wish to declare.
Question 2b: Declare any complaints or allegations made against you, however
long ago, that you have significantly harmed a child, young person or vulnerable adult.
Any allegation or complaint which has been investigated by the police, Children’s Services, an employer or voluntary body must be declared. Checks will be made with the
relevant
authorities.
Question 3: All these matters will be checked with the relevant authorities.
Question 4: Please declare in confidence any health problems that may affect
your
ability to work with children, young people or vulnerable adults. This question is primarily
intended to help you if you subsequently need to withdraw from work with children, young
people or vulnerable adults, for example because of a recurring health problem.
Some of the information requested on the form will be checked with the Criminal Records
Bureau. All information received will be carefully assessed to decide whether it is relevant to the post applied for and will only be used for the purpose of protecting children,
young people or vulnerable adults.
Use of the Confidential Declaration
In accordance with the Criminal Records Bureau code of practice great care must be taken to ensure that those with criminal convictions are not discriminated against.
Background information should only be taken into account if it is relevant to the position
sought. The CRB advise that anyone seeking an appointment with children, young
people or vulnerable adults should be given an early opportunity to declare any relevant
matters. The Confidential Declaration form should be used for this purpose. Information
declared will either be checked with the Criminal Records Bureau or with other relevant
authorities. A confidential declaration must be held by the person who makes the
appointment or provides the licence for all clergy and those paid employees and
volunteers who have contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults.
31
Data Protection
Using your Personal Information
Discernment
In accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998, I give my express consent to you holding and processing sensitive personal and other data about me on my
personal file relating to this employment.
Using your personal information for Discerning Vocation to, and for Selection for, Ordained or Licensed Lay Ministry in the Church of England.
The Diocesan Director of Ordinands will use the personal information which he/ she holds
about you (supplied by you and your referees) to discern your vocation to ordained or licensed lay ministry in the Church of England; and, where appropriate, to enable you to
be assessed by a Bishop’s Advisory Panel; and, if you are recommended for training, to
assist in making arrangements for your training and financial support. He/ She will share
your information as necessary with your diocesan bishop, sponsoring bishop, members
and staff of the Bishops' Advisory Panel, and with any training institution to which you apply. I agree that the Diocesan Director of Ordinands may use my personal information as
described above.
I agree that my personal information may be used as described above.
Signed:
Print your name:
Date: