Making a decision like this is one that happens in community with others and with God. As you already know, this is the spiritual practice of discernment, which requires a lot of prayer and self-reflection and listening for the movement of God’s Spirit in your life, which is why we have invited you to join us at Discovery Weekend as your next faithful step.

It’s also important to listen to and seek wise counsel from trusted friends and family members. You may also want to begin meeting with a Spiritual Director. It is also vital for you to visit with your Rector, Vicar, or Head of Congregation during your discernment process.

Please take some time to reflect on these Vows and Commitments below to help you as you continue the discernment process. Reflect carefully on these statements. We recommend writing down your thoughts in a journal so you can share your answers with others when you discern with them.

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What are my vows as a priest?

Taken from Ordination Vows (BCP, 531):

• Be loyal to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as the Episcopal Church has received them
• Obey your bishop and other ministers who have authority over you in your work
• Take your share in the councils of the Church
• Proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to fashion your life in accordance with its precepts
• Love and serve the people with whom you work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor
• Preach – Declare God’s forgiveness – Pronounce God’s blessing
• Share in the administration of Holy Baptism and in the celebration of the mysteries of Christ’s Body & Blood
• Perform the other ministrations entrusted to you
• Respect and be guided by the pastoral direction and leadership of your bishop

What are my commitments as a priest?

(adapted from ECMN Discipleship Hallmarks for Leadership)

• Commit to deepen relationship with God and to grow in faith with prayer, reading scripture, and commitment to worship and study
• Regular habit to practices of discipleship, discernment, and deliberation, modeling the rigor and discipline of prayer as a primary vehicle to walking the Way of Jesus
• Have a listening heart, open to listening to God, the community, the congregation, and differing views.
• Be a catalyst for discerning vision and identifying sparks of the Holy Spirit’s movement
• Be a faithful pastor who is intentional, prayerful and always listening to the hopes and concerns of God’s people and finding ways to accompany them in their lives
• Earnestly seek God’s will for the church, and work diligently, with tenacity and respect for the views, thoughts and suggestions of others, to bring about needed transformational and iterative change
• Serve as a ministry developer and seek to identify, nurture, encourage, and support leadership in others
• Be lifelong learners and commit to your own intercultural development and practice of Beloved Community
• Lean into learning specialized skills such as fluency in another language (especially Spanish), church planting, skillful facilitation, missional practices, etc.
• Articulate and preach the priestly invitation to be people of reconciliation, forgiveness, hope and blessing

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What gifts, skills, and talents do you bring with you into this ministry?

If you have already explored the Thresholds of Vocation pages, then you may have a solid grasp on some of your talents. You can also explore these TEAC grids developed by the Anglican Communion to assist you in exploring some gifts and skills needed for the Priesthood.

Go through these grids and highlight the skills you feel confident you possess. Which ones need further discernment and development?

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Part of discernment is trying out some of the ministry practices that you believe you are called to, and there are many ways to do this…

(Be sure to discern with your Rector, Vicar, or Head of Congregation which of these options are right for you and your congregation)

• Use the Book of Common Prayer in your daily life: Pray the Office, Use the Devotionals
• Read the Bible
• Explore Missional Communities
• Practice civic engagement with your congregation to explore your skills around listening and working with opinions that are different than your own
• Join the Eucharistic Ministry team as both a LEM and a LEV to begin exploring your pastoral care skills
• Assist with leading Morning Prayer and engage more deeply with the liturgy of the church
• Work with your Rector, Vicar, or Head of Congregation to craft a sermon and preach once or twice