The Parish Discernment Committee is a group of parishioners appointed by the rector to assist individuals in examining their call to ministry, lay or ordained. It helps aspirants identify and explore ministry in the Church and their suitability for ordination. Aspirants are referred by the rector to support their discernment and to further their reflections on their ‘call.’

The Committee meets with aspirants in a supportive, guiding role. It is the nature of the meetings to be conversational rather than formalized with a specific agenda. Prior to these meetings, each aspirant is asked to prepare a written spiritual autobiography that identifies relevant history and some of the origins of the aspirant’s interest in ministry. The aspirant’s articulation of his/her call to the committee can illuminate where the aspirant is in the process of discernment and serves to help the committee guide the aspirant forward. Meetings with the aspirant occur periodically and continue anywhere from a few months to several years depending on discernment needs. In this discovery process, it becomes clearer as to whether the aspirant’s call and gifts are more aligned with ordination or with lay ministry. Either outcome is positive as there is much to be done in God's kingdom.

The determination of suitability for ministry entails assessment of emotional health and maturity, understanding of Christian ministry, spiritual growth potential, leadership ability, and alignment of the aspirant’s gifts with either ordination or lay ministry. Throughout the process, the committee represents the parish family, serving as a supportive body, affirming the aspirant’s special gifts of ministry and encouraging the aspirant’s spiritual journey regardless of direction. The nature of the meetings is personal as well as questioning and much more art than science. It asks continually that committee members, as well as aspirants, look deeply within.

When an aspirant is thought to be ready to proceed in the ordination process, the Committee prepares a written report assessing the aspirant’s suitability and refers the aspirant back to the rector for approval. Should the rector concur, the rector writes a letter of endorsement which is sent to the bishop along with the committee report and a copy of the aspirant’s spiritual autobiography. The aspirant then meets with the bishop who decides whether to approve the aspirant in the next step of meeting with the diocesan psychologist. After this, the aspirant meets with the parish vestry to obtain their endorsement.

From here, the aspirant will meet with the Commission on Ministry at the diocesan level, who may recommend the aspirant to the bishop for ordination. If the bishop approves, the aspirant will complete a one-year internship, receiving supervision, support, and guidance in discernment and self-evaluation. If the intern aspires to the priesthood, is recommended by the Commission on Ministry, and is accepted by the bishop, he/she will become a postulant for holy orders and may apply to seminary. A seminary degree (Master’s of Divinity) normally takes three years to achieve. If the intern aspires to the vocational diaconate, is recommended by the Commission on Ministry, and is accepted by the bishop as a postulant for holy orders, the intern will enter the two-year deacon’s training program of the diocese. In either case, the process of applying as a candidate for holy orders may commence after six months of postulancy. Upon approval of the Standing Committee of the Diocese, the bishop may admit a postulant to candidacy. The normal duration for candidacy in this diocese is 12 months. Ordination to the priesthood is preceded by a 12 month transitional diaconate after which time, with the consent of the bishop, a date is set for ordination.

This is a long road which begins in personal discernment likely long before the Parish Discernment Committee ever begins to meet with an aspirant. It is our goal to provide a warmly supportive atmosphere for the journey of discernment, something both aspirants and committee members enter communally and nourish throughout. Always, we pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit as we join with aspirants in their discernment of call to ministry.