Who Discerns? #digidisciple (@minidvr)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Albrecht_Dürer_043.png
Following last months post[2]on ‘the call’, I’ve moved on to the next word ‘Discernment’. I thought about the old joke about “How many Vicars does it take to change a light bulb? Answer – None, as they’ve already seen the light”.Perhaps the question should be, “How many Vicars does it take to discern a vocation?” I’m not sure that I have a complete answer to that one..
Discernment[3] has many different definitions, but the one that I feel fits quite well when discerning a vocation seems to me to be: “Perception of that which is obscure”. As the vocation can be pretty obscure to those involved.
God’s Will need to be discerned.
The individual seeks to discern where a call to ministry could be taking them, it can be a painful, slow process, requiring a great deal of trust in God and hope that his will for you to be discerned fully.
The Spouse/Partner needs to be aware of the vocation. Their discernment and understanding and support for the life changing things the vocation will bring will be essential if the vocation is to be fulfilled.
The Parish Priest seeks to discern with the individual their possible vocation. This is the first formal step in the discernment process. They pass on the offer for ordination to the wider church.
The Parochial Church Council might be involved in discernment, particularly if they going to have to support any future ministry.
The Church operates a ‘Discernment’ process. This explores the authenticity and validity of a vocation. It seeks to discern God’s will for the gifts that you offer and how they might be best deployed. This is delegated by the Diocesan Bishop to a Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) perhaps with assistants.
Spiritual Director (Accompanist) A vital part of any vocational journey, the SD is there to assist and support the candidate in their journey of and growth as a Christian. Their support for the candidates as they wrestle with discernment is vital.
The DDO works with a candidate exploring a vocation. Once they discern that a candidate is ready to move forward (or for the offer to be declined) they advise the Bishop and arrange attendance at a form of selection.
Bishops Advisors appointed by the Bishop (some Ordained, some Lay) to conduct an assessment of candidates to discern to whether they meet some or all of the nine criteria for ordination and be capable of having a successful ministry. They make an initial recommendation to the bishop.
The Bishop meets a candidate to discern for himself whether his DDO and Advisor’s reports are accurate. Ultimately, his discernment (and discretion) is the vital one. It is solely within his remit whether a candidate goes forward for selection and training and eventual ordination.
Bishops Advisory Panel (BAP) (National Selection). Takes the candidates away to a secret location and carries out a formal discernment (selection) process which tests, assesses, evaluates all aspects of a candidates suitability for training. The BAP makes a recommendation to the diocesan bishop of Yes, No, Not Yet. and the training path for successful candidates.
The Bishop sees the candidate after BAP and gives them his decision. He has the discretion to overrule any recommendation of the BAP if he discerns a different path for training and eventual ordination.
Theological Colleges The discernment process doesn’t end after BAP, it continues throughout training and formation for ministry and various individual’s will be consulted and submit reports on progress to the bishop through the DDO during training, which could be stopped at any point, up to and including ordination.
Post Ordination The Bishop, DDO and the Training Incumbent and those involved in Continuing Ministry Education will continue to operate the discernment process throughout curacy and through to a post of ‘First Responsibility’. The individual will continue to discern their vocation throughout their life and service in ministry.
Pitfalls and Hurdles and Hoops to Jump Through. Although not announced as part of the discernment process, they are as much part of it as the candidate, Vicar, DDO, Bishop, Bishop’s Advisors. They are either natural or artificial barriers to candidates testing a vocation through to fulfilment. Some seem quite arcane, some parts are quite obscure, what seems to be clear throughout is that it’s God’s will that is being discerned, not that of the individual, Vicar, DDO or Bishop.
I’ve probably been in every pit, hurdled and jumped quite a lot in the process so far, with still some way to go. But I’m still here ready and waiting for the call to be discerned.
The Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit’s involvement, God’s will would not be fully discerned.
Prayer and Theological Reflection: Are two essential ingredients to the process as are personal qualities such as acceptance, patience, perseverance and a good sense of humour.
May God’s Will be done.
THE WILL OF GOD
The will of God will never take you:
Where the grace of God cannot keep you
Where the arms of God cannot support you
Where the riches of God cannot supply you
Where the power of God cannot endow you
Where the grace of God cannot keep you
Where the arms of God cannot support you
Where the riches of God cannot supply you
Where the power of God cannot endow you
The will of God will never take you:
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you
Where the army of God cannot protect you
Where the hands of God cannot mould you
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you
Where the army of God cannot protect you
Where the hands of God cannot mould you
The will of God will never take you:
Where the love of God cannot enfold you
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you
Where the peace of God cannot calm you
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you
Where the love of God cannot enfold you
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you
Where the peace of God cannot calm you
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you
The will of God will never take you:
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears
Where the Word of God cannot feed you
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears
Where the Word of God cannot feed you
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you
Everything happens for a purpose
We may not see the wisdom of it all now
But trust and believe in the Lord
We may not see the wisdom of it all now
But trust and believe in the Lord
That everything is for the best!
Author Unknown
[1]Picture of Job by Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) from Commons WikiCommons
[3]http://www.thefreedictionary.com/discernment Accessed 4 Jan 2012
This post first appeared at the #bigbible project on 10th Jan 2011
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