Parish Level Discernment
Introduction
Perhaps the most important work of discernment and formation for ordained ministry occurs right at the beginning of the journey, at the parish level. The local church is the community where we are most deeply formed as believers, and the experience of life in the parish – from how Jesus is present in a community to how a mentor priest or deacon functions in the community – will profoundly shape an aspirant for ministry. As importantly, no community of faith is ever likely to know a person better or more intimately than their parish church. No community can better attest to the fitness and readiness of a person to enter formation than their parish. True discernment can only take place in a community of believers.
For both these reasons, it is vital for people who sense a calling to ordained ministry to do meaningful basic formation and discernment at the parish level, and to secure the real and unreserved support of the parish before moving forward in formal formation.
The following basic steps and guidelines – some of which are new to the Diocese of Nebraska – are meant to be helpful in this regard.
Recruiting
Parish priests should regularly advertise that they love their jobs, and always have their eyes open for people who seem to have the sort of experience, talent, aspiration and faith that suggests the possibility of a calling to serve the Church as a deacon or priest. Most stories of “calling” to the diaconate or priesthood contain an account of a moment where some clergy person suggested that some faithful person might be called to this vocation.
Conversation and Prayer with the Rector
The official process of formation begins when a person presents themselves to the church rector and articulates a sense of calling to – or a desire to explore – ordained ministry. Since all Christian people are called to ministry in some manifestation, this conversation must include careful and prayerful listening and response. The answer is always, “yes, you are called to do ministry.” The question is, to what ministry is the person called, lay or ordained?
Rector’s Evaluation of Basic Health and Faith
We are all beloved of Jesus, but not all are equipped to serve as a deacon or priest. If a person is a poor communicator, a committed heretic, has unhealthy personal boundaries or in any other way is obviously not (at present) a good candidate for ordained ministry, the rector should simply and immediately let them know that entering the process of formation does not make sense. Though this may be a difficult conversation to have, it is unfair to all involved to encourage a person in the formation process who does not belong there.
Gathering Basic Church Ministry Experience
Before continuing in the discernment process, it is desirable for an aspirant to have basic experience as a lay leader in the church. Nobody needs to do every job, but it is a great asset for priests and deacons to have a resume that includes time and energy spent as a lay leader. Sensitivity to a person’s age is important here. Younger aspirants may have had little time to build a grand resume of church volunteer work, and younger vocations are especially to be encouraged. The question is whether the aspirant has been meaningfully involved compared to others in their peer group. An important part of this time should be completing a gifts discernment survey, of which several are available.
The Parish Discernment Committee
Once the rector decides an aspirant has acquired sufficient experience as a lay leader, a Parish Discernment Committee (PDC) is formed by the rector on their behalf. The PDC prayerfully and intentionally reflects over time with the aspirant on their sense of calling, and their on-going experience of serving in and out of the Church community. The PDC needs to be small enough to meet easily and build relationships that are intimate and meaningful, and it needs to be large enough to be somewhat representative of the variety of people in the parish and the wider church. It is often helpful to include a priest or deacon from *outside* the local parish as a member of the PDC. In all but the most extraordinary circumstances, the rector is a member of the PDC.
Opportunities to “try on” different aspects of ministry should be provided. At a minimum, aspirants should be provided a chance to teach, preach, assist in offering pastoral care, and participate at least as an observer in different aspects of church administration and governance. The work of the PDC typically lasts for about one year, and should include regular meetings where:
- Spiritual autobiographies are exchanged
- Relevant bible study is conducted
- Relevant books are read together
- Prayer of different sorts is entered into
- Experiences of ministry are engaged in and reflected upon
- Sermons are preached and reflected upon
- Mentor speakers are welcomed and listened to
- Etc.
Letter of Recommendation from the Rector
Once the PDCs work is completed, the PDC assembles a report for the Rector. If forward movement in the process is indicated, the Rector draws from both their personal experience with the aspirant and the PDC report to write a letter of recommendation to the Bishop commending the aspirant to the ongoing process of formation in the Diocese of Nebraska and the larger Church. The letter MUST include the following information about the candidate:
- Basic biographical info;
- Spiritual autobiography (not a list of churches attended);
- Specific evidences of talent and experience that suggest a readiness to do ministry;
- An affirmation of the person’s basic physical, emotional and spiritual well being;
- An affirmation that the person gives at least 5% of their personal income to support the Church;
- An indication of a willingness by the parish to support financially the aspirant as they move forward in the process (see below.);
- An accounting of the persons “growing edges” – where is God still at work in their life and ministry?
- Etc.
Letters of recommendation from rectors take substantial time and thought to write. Anything less than three pages of single spaced text would suggest that somebody has more work to do. From this point forward, the rector becomes an advocate for the aspirant in the ordination process.
Step Four - On Going Parish Support
As a person moves through the process the ongoing support of the parish church is vital and expected.
- The parish needs to pray regularly for their candidate’s well-being and ongoing formation;
- The parish is expected to offer financial support to the aspirant, including paying for a portion of the required psychological exams and offering tuition support for candidates who attend seminary.
