Much of the Commission on Ministry’s work deals with the discernment and guiding of persons seeking vocations in the Order of Deacons or the Order of Priests.
The commission has designed a process for the discernment of a call to ordained ministry, and the guidelines for applying for each step of the ordination process. The process involves not only the commission and the candidate, but the local congregation of the candidate.
The COM has been working on updating the diocesan information regarding the discernment process for those who are considering a call to ordination. Much of the information sent out in April of 2004 concerning the canonical requirements is still valid, but these new documents supersede all previous COM materials, and should be utilized for any and all people in the discernment process.
You will find in these materials a description of the process from initial sense of call through ordination. Also included is a description in general of what is discernment, and qualities that we seek in ordained leadership. These are meant to be helpful to the congregation, clergy and aspirant, and are not a full and complete packet of everything necessary for ordination.
Several points of note:
- No discernment committee shall undertake its work prior to being trained by the COM. When a decision has been made that someone is ready to start the formal congregation discernment, the COM should be contacted – specific contact information is given at the end of this document. You will then receive guidelines for how to form a committee and a time will be arranged for training. At that training further materials will be provided regarding the work of the committee. You do not need to contact the Bishop at this step
- The work of the congregation’s discernment committee does not end with the letter of nomination. The period of Postulancy is defined as “a period of discernment within the wider faith community as well as continuing discernment in the local faith community.” Postulancy involves continued exploration and decision about the Postulant’s call to Holy Orders; therefore those who commit to serve on a discernment committee must understand that this task is neither quick nor easy.
- The role of the sponsoring congregation is important and ongoing. The sponsoring congregation is responsible for nominating the aspirant, and in that nomination the congregation is committed to being involved, including financially, with the aspirant’s preparation for ordination. The exact format for nomination can be obtained from the COM.
- Upon receipt of the letter of nomination from the sponsoring congregation to the Bishop, the Bishop may interview the aspirant. The Bishop may at that time pass on that letter of nomination to the COM, and the aspirant will be contacted regarding making a formal application for Postulancy.
- It is the aspirant’s responsibility to make sure that all paperwork is to the COM, and no person shall be interviewed by the COM unless all application paperwork is in at least 30 days prior to an interview date. These dates are set for a year at a time, and are usually not flexible. All of the application materials will be sent to the aspirant when they are invited to apply.
- Every individual is unique; please do not request special consideration or a different process. We have had in the past aspirants and clergy requesting that we give special consideration to an individual due to their “unique circumstance.” The COM has prayerfully tried to have a process which is both fair and thorough. We look upon requests for special consideration with great disfavor.
For more information about ordination in general or about the process for discernment and ordination in the Diocese of Spokane, contact:
The Rev. Gretchen Rehberg
Church of the Nativity, Lewiston
rector@nativitylewiston.com