Becoming a pastor

[InnocentOdion]

Hi guys,
I'll keep it simple.
I want to become a pastor for the Anglican Church.
I live in the UK.
How can I become one?
Please help guide me in the right direction. Though the Spirit is leading me, it's just nice to have some people praying for me and helping me, too. :)

[karen freeinchristman]

:wave:

Talk to your vicar. Get a good feel for what the job entails and that will help you discern your calling. Try out various ministries in your church to get experience. Eventually, your vicar can put you in touch with your Diocesan Director of Ordinands, who will test your vocation further. If that all works out, you will have to go before a local and a national panel to decide whether the wider church calls you to ordination.

Have a look at our vocations thread: http://www.christianforums.com/t1172011-st-lawrence-lounge-vocations-lay-ministries-and-discernment.html

[Naomi4Christ]

Yep - the first thing to do is to talk to your vicar.

You will need to sort your education out - degree etc.

[InnocentOdion]

We don't have a vicar, we are interregnum until May. :sorry:

[karen freeinchristman]

We don't have a vicar, we are interregnum until May. :sorry:
Well, that's not long to wait. Meanwhile, you could read some books:

Being a Priest Today: Exploring priestly identity by Christopher Cocksworth and Rosalind Brown

Ministry in Three Dimensions by Steven Croft

An Introduction to Chrisitan Ministry by Gordon Kuhrt

The Curate's Guide: From calling to first parish Edited by John Witcombe

[TomUK]

Well, that's not long to wait. Meanwhile, you could read some books:

Being a Priest Today: Exploring priestly identity by Christopher Cocksworth and Rosalind Brown

Ministry in Three Dimensions by Steven Croft

An Introduction to Chrisitan Ministry by Gordon Kuhrt

The Curate's Guide: From calling to first parish Edited by John Witcombe

Don't forget Ramsey - the Christian Priest Today

[InnocentOdion]

Well, that's not long to wait. Meanwhile, you could read some books:

Being a Priest Today: Exploring priestly identity by Christopher Cocksworth and Rosalind Brown

Ministry in Three Dimensions by Steven Croft

An Introduction to Chrisitan Ministry by Gordon Kuhrt

The Curate's Guide: From calling to first parish Edited by John Witcombe


Don't forget Ramsey - the Christian Priest Today

Thanks guys.

I'll be sure to dive right into reading them, if I can find them. I don't know if they do them at my local libraries. I can see if they can order them in though, or can you name somewhere which may have them?

[Father Rick]

Another important "first step" is to get involved in your local parish. Find what areas currently have needs and see how you can serve to meet those needs.

Most people don't really see the ministry involved in being a priest. Officiating at Sunday services is actually only a small part of ministry. In addition to being "the guy up front" on Sunday, priests routinely:


Visit the sick at home/ in hospitals
Help administer the church business (finances, etc.)
Spend time with parishioners during crises (deaths, divorces, criminal cases, loss of jobs, etc.)
Help care for the church grounds (everything from decorated for special services to weeding the flower beds to cleaning toilets)
Provide counseling to those in need
Lead Sunday School classes
Care for the poor/homeless

I could keep going, but the list would take forever...

The only way to get experience doing these things (which you will need if you eventually do become a priest) is by actually doing them. And this kind of "hands on" ministry will actually help you find exactly where you fit in ministry. There are many different roles priests play, depending on the particular parish in which they serve-- as well as those who do not serve in a parish, per se, but in administrative roles-- or seminaries-- or monastic settings, etc.

[InnocentOdion]

I'll ask them if I can help them do these things when I see one of the church wardens on Wednesday. :) I know there is a Sunday school, but I don't know when or where. In my gut, I think big things will happen with our new vicar, and I'm going to be trying to do my best to be out there with him and serving the Lord. :)

[Naomi4Christ]

Thanks guys.

I'll be sure to dive right into reading them, if I can find them. I don't know if they do them at my local libraries. I can see if they can order them in though, or can you name somewhere which may have them?
Your DDO should have them :)

There is a page on the CofE website about becoming part of ordained ministry. It explains the process.

As others have said, there are other measures you can take. Notably, these are becoming part of the Reader ministry (which is basically preaching and teaching, with the odd marriage and funeral thrown in), and the Pastoral Assistant ministry (which involves a lot of visiting and praying with people). Both roles have long periods of training, with licensing by the bishop.

I think the key thing for you now is to get a degree. Training for the ministry is usually a post graduate degree.

[Naomi4Christ]

Thanks guys.

I'll be sure to dive right into reading them, if I can find them. I don't know if they do them at my local libraries. I can see if they can order them in though, or can you name somewhere which may have them?
Your DDO should have them :)

There is a page on the CofE website about becoming part of ordained ministry. It explains the process.

As others have said, there are other measures you can take. Notably, these are becoming part of the Reader ministry (which is basically preaching and teaching, with the odd marriage and funeral thrown in), and the Pastoral Assistant ministry (which involves a lot of visiting and praying with people). Both roles have long periods of training, with licensing by the bishop.

I think the key thing for you now is to get a degree. Training for the ministry is usually a post graduate degree.

[picnic]

You could to get some experience try and get a parish assistant job for a year. That should help you decide whether being a pastor is what you really want to do.

[InnocentOdion]

Your DDO should have them
Erm. What's a DDO? Lol, I know this sounds bad, but I can't find what it is. Ignorance is bliss?

I'll be sure to check the CofE website. The length of time is the only problem, but oh well. If God wants me to do it, then I shall.

You could to get some experience try and get a parish assistant job for a year. That should help you decide whether being a pastor is what you really want to do.
What qualifications do I need to try being a parish assistant? :) I'll speak to the churchwardens on Wednesday, if I can get this out of them.

[picnic]

What qualifications do I need to try being a parish assistant? :) I'll speak to the churchwardens on Wednesday, if I can get this out of them.

It would depend on the church. I've known several people go and do a year with a church after they graduate. Some as a stepping stone to working in full time Christian ministry others just as experience. I know quite a few evangelical churches offer parish assistant positions for a year which generally involve general administrative tasks (folding service sheets/photocopying)/setting up for services/maybe doing youth work and also doing some studying/training as well.

[Naomi4Christ]

Erm. What's a DDO? Lol, I know this sounds bad, but I can't find what it is. Ignorance is bliss?

I'll be sure to check the CofE website. The length of time is the only problem, but oh well. If God wants me to do it, then I shall.
What qualifications do I need to try being a parish assistant? :) I'll speak to the churchwardens on Wednesday, if I can get this out of them.
DDO = diocesan director of ordinands.

As well as the CofE website, have a look at your diocesan website - there may be helpful pointers there too.

[InnocentOdion]

DDO = diocesan director of ordinands.

As well as the CofE website, have a look at your diocesan website - there may be helpful pointers there too.
Done and e-mailed.
Can only wait for a response from them now.
:pray:

[Naomi4Christ]

Done and e-mailed.
Can only wait for a response from them now.
:pray:
Exciting stuff!

[Naomi4Christ]

Don't know if you have come across this page yet:

http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/ministry/ministryinthecofe/