Exploring God’s Call

Something’s your vocation if it keeps making more of you. 

Gail Godwin, Evensong

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers …

Ephesians 4:11

Discernment is a never-ending process that is part of our lifelong Christian faith. As we engage the questions of what gives us life and what does not in this season of our lives, God will beckon us to another path, another way to the heart of the Sabbath at another time. Where we find our grateful moments today may be different in ten or twenty years. The most important thing is that we continue to seek and follow Jesus wherever he leads us with truth and love.

Bread, Law and Spirit (Pentecost 2) The Rev. Danae M. Ashley, MDiv, MA, LMFTA

Discerning Vocation - Lay and Ordained

 
 
 

Discernment Resources

What gives you life in this season? What are your grateful moments? What is the next step on your Way to follow Jesus?

The first step in discernment is to renew your faith through formation and spiritual practices - for example you can deepen your practice of prayer, practice theological reflection, increase your scripture reading, meet with a spiritual director, create a rule of life or assess your spiritual gifts. Click HERE to go to Christian Formation ideas and resources. 

The second step is to consult with your priest – talk with your priest about what questions are emerging as you deepen your faith and seek the presence of God through spiritual practices, exploring your spiritual gifts, and digging deeper into scripture and theological reflection. Engage with the resources offered below. Contact Canon of Formation, the Rev. Kelly Sundberg Seaman, for more ideas!

Discerning my Path is a 4 month discernment course offered through the Bexley Seabury Pathways program. The next cohorts will be September 11 – December 17, 2022. Click here for more information (and scroll down): www.bexleyseabury.edu/pathways/

Loving the Questions is a yearlong course and cohort of discerners offered by the Diocese of Western Massachusetts and the Diocese of Massachusetts, and is open to people from New Hampshire. This program is accepting registrations through September 9, 2022, for its 2022-23 season. Click here to learn more: Loving the Questions

Please connect with Canon Kelly if you’re curious about either of these programs.

 Self-guided discernment work, recommended reading:

  • Living Into the Answers: A Workbook for Personal Spiritual Discernment by Valerie K. Isenhower and Judith A. Todd

  • The Dream of God by Verna Dozier

  • Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer

  • An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor

  • Deepen your formation and spiritual practices

  • Begin meeting with a spiritual director - Here’s a link to Spiritual Direction resources in New England

  • Speak with your priest - in most cases, you will need to have been a member of good standing in the congregation for a least one year before beginning discernment for ordination.

  • Meet together with the Canon of Formation.

  • Meet with a Clearness Committee: 3-6 months (see more information below)

  • Meet with Canon Kelly or Bishop Rob to determine Lay Vocation or Ordained Vocation

If Lay Vocation, continue to meet with Canon Kelly Sundberg Seaman or appropriate diocesan staff or clergy to develop a plan for ongoing ministry development. 

If Ordained Vocation, continue below: 

  • Write your Spiritual Autobiography and send it, with your resume or CV, to Canon Kelly who will share it with the Bishop

  • Set up a meeting with the Bishop and the Canon of Formation

  • With the Bishop's approval, meet with a Regional Discernment Committee: 3-6 months (see more information below)

  • With the Bishop's approval and a nomination from your congregation, apply to become a Postulant (see additional information below about detailed ordination process)

For questions or more information please contact Canon of Formation Kelly Sundberg Seaman, by email or phone: (603) 224-1914  

Entering into a process for Discernment of Vocation