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“Vocational discernment is the most basic and essential expression of the church’s mission. …We must embrace the truth that every baptized Christian is responding to the compelling love of God, offering his/her life and labor is solidarity with God’s work and will for the world.” Transforming Vocation, Sam Portaro We face many decisions in our lives for which we might long for guidance. What is the right thing to do? What does God desire of me in this situation? And specifically applied to ministry: How and where does God call me to serve? What does God want me to do with my life?
These are matters that require discernment. The process of discernment is based on the assumption that God is not distant or uninvolved in our lives, but rather that God has a desire for each of us. We are listening for the movement of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us to God’s deepest desire for us in any particular situation or in response to any particular question. In discernment we are answering the question: “What can I do in this situation that allows me to be most true to God’s purposes and to be who God made me to be?” Congregation-based Discernment Committees are groups of people within a church who prayerfully take up the journey of discernment for the church itself, and to help individuals discern their own particular calls to lay or ordained ministry. The Commission on Ministry encourages congregations to develop Discernment Committees that operate on an ongoing basis to be in a posture of prayer and active engagement in discerning spiritual gifts and moments of holy resonance. What does the Discernment Committee do? These committees meet to pray and consider the movement of the Holy Spirit within the congregation. Additionally, the committees gather and meet with anyone who desires to clarify how God calls them to participate in the ministry of Christ and the Church, they would actively seek out and solicit persons who might be called to leadership, whether lay or ordained, and they work with the clergy of the church in further discernment and listening. Is a Discernment Committee just for those interested in being ordained? No, the Committee meets to be in prayer about the mission of the Church and the ministry of the congregation in support of their clergy. They would also meet with anyone who desires to clarify how God calls them to participate in the ministry of Christ and the Church, and would actively seek out and solicit persons who might be called to leadership, whether lay or ordained. Though the clergy of the congregation gathers the Committee, the Committee does not include an ordained person. The priest in charge of the congregation, however, may attend the first meeting of the Discernment Committee in order to help it get started. Or the priest may call on the Commission on Ministry to send one of its members to help the Discernment Committee understand its task and start its work. The priest does stay in touch with and informed of the work of the Committee and should schedule regular times to be with the Committee to listen to their observations and reflections. If the Committee has been asked by the priest to work with member(s) of the congregation in their discernment of a call to lay ministry (commissioned by the local church, such as Altar Guild, Wardens, Vestry members, and Sunday School teachers) or licensed ministries (Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, Catechist, etc), the priest in charge will work with the applicant to get them the needed training, information, and resources. If the Committee has been asked by the priest to work with member(s) of the congregation in their discernment of a call to ordained ministry, the Committee’s work is more specific and follows a canonical process and curriculum. For more information, contact the Chair of the Commission on Ministry. |
Discernment ResourcesThe Commission on Ministry (COM) is the diocesan body charged with assisting congregations help their members find the ministry to which God calls them, whether lay or ordained.
Further Discernment ResourcesThe Commission on Ministry (COM) is the diocesan body charged with assisting congregations and clergy in their discernment and formation. Their focus is on leader formation (e.g.: ordained leader formation, Lay Leader Training, licensed ministries, clergy retreats, continuing education, spiritual gifts, support of local formation/education, EfM, Safe Church Training, Anti-Racism Training).
For Congregational Mission and Ministry Discernment:
Signs of Life, Jay Sidebotham Transforming Disciples, Linda L. Grenz Transforming Vocation, Sam Portaro Transforming Evangelism, David Gortner Ears to Hear: Recognizing and Responding to God's Call, by Bishop Ed Little For Spiritual Gifts Discernment: < Resources coming soon! > Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in Community — This book is frequently used by discernment committees, especially those focused on helping an individual discern God's call. It's also a good introduction to discernment in general. The group that wrote it also has a Listening Hearts website. If, after reviewing the information on this page, you have additional questions, please contact Nani Carroll. |
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