Preparation for Bishops Assessment Panel (BAP)

I had a brilliant day yesterday with 13 other ordination candidates at a pre-BAP preparation day.

We had a briefing on BAP, what to expect and some do's and don’t’s. I met yet again with loads of people who had been on courses with me over the last year or so. It was very affirming to see them still sharing a similar journey.

One, young candidate goes to BAP next Monday. The rest of us have differing dates over the next three months. I and one other candidate are going to the same BAP in May, so we are now tying up arrangements to travel together.

Our group  studied some Pastoral Exercises and delivered our presentations and were offered constructive comments from our fellow candidates. 

As I went up to deliver mine, I abandoned the script and just spoke from the heart and mind. It was me!   I was comfortable, not stilted by the written script.  It appeared to go down very well. It's a very brief outline of i-church and internet outreach - connected to the Mission and Evangelism criteria. It was well received and I was offered some good comments to take on board for BAP itself.

All documentation is complete and handed in, only to be asked for 6 passport photo's, which were not on the 'required’ documents' list.  Visit to the local photo machine next week.

We all felt prayer had been said for us, and we were thankful for all of their prayers now, and ongoing. I now have just under 3 months to prepare and reflect. The discernment process has been a growth experience and I'm loving it all.

Who Discerns? #digidisciple (@minidvr)

JANUARY 10, 2012 BY BIGBIBLE LEAVE A COMMENT

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

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

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

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

Everything happens for a purpose
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

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[1]Picture of Job by Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) from Commons WikiCommons

[2]http://bigbible.org.uk/2011/12/called-to-what-minidvr/#.TunhbLIr27t

[3]http://www.thefreedictionary.com/discernment  Accessed 4 Jan 2012

This post first appeared at the #bigbible project on 10th Jan 2011

Going to BAP : Bishop's Meeting

I was asked to meet the Bishop to discuss whether he would sponsor me for the Bishop’s Assessment Panel (BAP). Advice before the meeting from the DDO was be yourself and don’t wear purple (an illusion to my dress code for the diocesan panel, which had given rise to comment, which was unintentional, but amusing).

On the dot of 10 am, the Bishop came through and invited me into his office. He had a copy of the Diocesan Panel Report and said straight away that it was a good report and that he was going to sponsor me for BAP. He made it clear that all decisions including recommendations from BAP were his to take and he had discretion over the outcomes. I in turn thanked him and spoke briefly about how much I had enjoyed it.

He than said that he needed to just say one or two things to me!

He spoke about being open and accessible. On occasion, my demeanour can present in such a way that others might feel that I’m unapproachable or aloof. He knew that it wasn’t the case, but BAP was an opportunity, which needed to be siezed from the outset.

As guidance, he believed that I should concentrate on three or four things about my vocation, which were important to me - and to speak well about them. There’s little point in preparing for everything and coming across as too glib.

Secondly, he indicated that I shouldn’t suppres my Army background. It had been the major part of my working life, which had given loads of transferable skills and experiences, particularly that of leadership and collaborative leadership. I explained that I had felt that the ‘directness’ of my army style wasn’t always appropriate in pastoral situations. He acknowledged this, but said - “just be yourself”.

He advised me that I should go forward to BAP with anticipation and to enjoy it. Sure it will be intense, it is after all an examination to some extent of suitability - but it is also an opportunity to be seized, experienced and enjoyed for its challenges and blessings. I said that I was looking forward to it.

We discussed my planned future move to be nearer my parish - he advised against moving early. He suggested that I needed to concentrate on the process of discernment, BAP and possible training and ordination. After which, it would be time to consider a move.

What did I get from this meeting:

Firstly, I went into the meeting feeling on a high after the Diocesan Panel Report, but also apprehensive as I was well aware that if the Bishop disagreed with the advisors, it could all end messily or he could refer me back for more discernment as he had done twice previously. When it became clear that it wasn’t to be the case, the apprehension disappeared in an instant. I felt affirmed and encouraged in his trust in the advice given by his advisors.

Secondly, the meeting was a useful tool for me to gauge the approach that I took with him. I went determined to be open and chatty, naturally, not from a forced position. I was comfortable with this and on this occasion the Bishop put me completely at ease. The situation was different from our previous meeting and was productive with an outcome that I had hoped for. His remarks about demeanour I had already registered and have striven to address. I’ll need to just be myself for BAP, because it’s the real person underneath the exterior they want to meet - not the one presented to the world.

Thirdly, it seemed to me to be another step along the path - the journey that I had wanted to speed up, had been slow, for someone who suffers from impetuosity and sometimes impatience. But I appreciate that discernment can’t be rushed., the consequences for getting it wrong, both for the candidate and any possible future ministry could be disastrous. Time, space and reflection are needed from all sides to allow God’s will through discernment to be understood.

I say it often, God is Great!!

Image courtesy of https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3imMJ9l-v0GfCp4JQx2uzDYhnSfnkAh-YIi_QMFGGLEXq0a2Q4g

Meeting with DDO - Post Diocesan Panel

I met the DDO yesterday, to receive a copy of the report and to get feedback from the Panel on my performance.   The meeting went well, beyond my expectations and while there are one or two areas needing to be addressed, but in the main, it was all positive.  Obviously, the assessors saw things latent in me, that I had not specifically identified myself.

I have a firm appointment to meet the Bishop and have discussed BAP and future training options with the DDO.   I need to discuss these with the Bishop, who has the final say.  There are three routes for training, and while I know the route I'd like to follow, the Bishop will I'm sure, have his own views.

BAP is likely to be mid-to late March. And I have a pre-BAP weekend scheduled in February.

I've got to make contact early with the training providers to discuss what option would be best for me and for the church.   I'll be looking to do this next week.   There's also a huge paperwork trail to start all over again.

If God's will is discerned positively at BAP, I hope to commence training at SEITE in the Autumn of 2012.

God is Great.

Picture from www. ststevenshouse.blogspot.com

Recommended by Diocesan Panel

Today I was notified that I've been recommended by a Diocesan Panel as suitable for training for Ordained Ministry.  That's not the end of the process, just one step along the journey.

I've got to meet the Bishop later this month, to see whether he accepts that recommendation and will send me to the Bishop's Advisory Panel (BAP) which is run by the Church as a national selection process.  It's run over a long weekend in different locations a few times a year.

The discernment process might seem to some to be quite long, quite drawn out and to be looking for some strange personal qualities.  I wonder how I managed to get through it so far.  Perhaps I'll be found out later?

But whatever comes of this process, I've had a hugely beneficial journey, shared with so many great and Holy people, supported by prayer and surrounded by the freely given grace of God.

Lots more I could say, but I've been privileged to share so much which has meant so much to me. God has certainly got a sense of humour.  I wanted to turn Cartwheels today when I got the news. But age and dignity precluded that. :)

Signs Received

I went to Aylesford Priory today for a quiet day of prayer and reflection. I’m due to attend a Diocesan Panel this coming Saturday, which is part of the discernment process for Ordained Ministry in the Church of England.

I’ve been in preparation for this panel for a number of weeks, and have done loads of stuff for it, including thinking through the Ordination Criteria and how the church will seek to discern whether my vocation is real, valid and whether my limited gifts could be usefully employed in an active ministry.

During the past few weeks since the date was announced, I’ve had mega-support from my Vicar and other Clergy and lay people within the Parish, culminating with special prayers last Sunday at Holy Communion, combined with the laying on of hands. I’ve felt honoured and humbled by their support, fellowship and evident encouragement to test the vocation I’ve explored for the past two years.

Yesterday I had a meeting with my Spiritual Director, which was enjoyable and which I left feeling very affirmed. In fact, I was totally relaxed and on top of the world. During the meeting in some way, God prompted me that I needed a quiet day, which I resolved to spend at Aylesford Priory.

A few hours later when the magnitude of what I am about to go through hit home. I had what I would call a ‘wobble’ and a crisis of confidence. I really felt that it was all to much, and that I wouldn’t be able to cope. But with support from others, I resolved to continue onto the quiet day and see what God might be saying to me over this.

This morning I arrived at Aylesford by 8. am. My SD had been struck by the words of Colossians 4, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside speech always be with grace” which I felt should be the theme for the quiet day. It was quiet and peaceful and I was able to walk around praying including the Rosary Walk, and than I went and sat in the Cloister Chapel for an hour and read the Gospel of John from the KJV of the bible that I had with me.. The opening words from John 1 to John 8, just seemed to be shouting at me that I too could be a messenger. I sat for a while, but I’d had a huge mood swing from negative to positive. Something was happening to transform me. I prayed in thanks giving.

I went for another longish prayer walk, stopping at the Cafe for a tea break, and decided that I would attend the mid-day Mass in the Cloister chapel. I’m quite comfortable at Mass, but as they were using the Revised Missal, I got a little confused. However, the first reading was from 1Samuel3, where the Lord calls Samuel. Again, God seemed to be shouting at me. Yes, You!!. I passed the rest of the Mass in bit of a daze. Could God actually be giving me signs, telling me that I might just be on the right path? I have to take it in good faith that he is.

I’ve returned home from Aylesford Priory, convinced that it was God’s prompting that drew me there today, where he was waiting to sign post me or to let me have a glimpse of his intentions. God speaking to me through scripture is a wonderful experience. I now go forward to the panel with renewed hope and spirit. God is Great.

 Photograph from Aylesford Priory Website: http://www.thefriars.org.uk/

Called to What?

This was originally posted at the Big Bible Project

http://bigbible.org.uk/2011/12/called-to-what-minidvr/#.TunhbLIr27t

DECEMBER 10, 2011 BY ERNIE FEASEY LEAVE A COMMENT

I’ve been exploring a [1]vocation within the Church of England for a little over two years.  The exploration has been a journey of ups and downs, but mainly ups.  The process described as ‘discernment’ is for the church to discern an individual’s vocation (or call) to ministry, to select and to train and form the individual for their future ministry.  The system is national, with local variations, diocese by diocese.  The process appears convuluted and can be prolonged, but at the end of it, you hope that your call will be discerned and that you will go forward for training for the type of ministry you feel called too.

While I have my own blog[2], I have been excited and envigorated by the Big Bible and digidisciple concepts, in particular the digidisciple blog posts, some from people who I know, or enjoy online relationships with, and others who I don’t know, but want to very soon.  The concept seems to me to be very enabling and particpatory, which has been very much my experience in the vocations journey so far.

So, why write another blog?  I thought that I might write on how I feel about the terminology of the discernment process and how in other contexts words, phrases or terms used relate  speak to me of other things or places in my life, which might point to something different..

I come from a military background, my original ‘call to serve’ was as a soldier.  The first word I’m thinking about is ‘call’! In military terms you might use it to describe a summons to duty, the one perhaps familiar to most people would be the bugle calls ‘Reveille and Last Post’. It is also a call to war.  I’m reminded of of the Poem by Robert Willian Service[3], written from France in August 1914, just after the start of the Great War of 1914-1919.

The Call:

Far and near, high and clear,
Hark to the call of War!
Over the gorse and the golden dells,
Ringing and swinging of clamorous bells,
Praying and saying of wild farewells:
War! War! War!

High and low, all must go:
Hark to the shout of War!
Leave to the women the harvest yield;
Gird ye, men, for the sinister field;
A sabre instead of a scythe to wield:
War! Red War!

Rich and poor, lord and boor,
Hark to the blast of War!
Tinker and tailor and millionaire,
Actor in triumph and priest in prayer,
Comrades now in the hell out there,
Sweep to the fire of War!
Prince and page, sot and sage,
Hark to the roar of War!
Poet,  professor and circus clown,
Chimney-sweeper and fop o’ the town,
Into the pot and be melted down:
Into the pot of War!

Women all, hear the call,
The pitiless call of War!
Look your last on your dearest ones,
Brothers and husbands, fathers, sons:
Swift they go to the ravenous guns,
The gluttonous guns of War.

Everywhere thrill the air
The maniac bells of War.
There will be little of sleeping to-night;
There will be wailing and weeping to-night;
Death’s red sickle is reaping to-night:
War! War! War!

http://media.photobucket.com/image/jesus%20gun/elite_17/jesus-machine-gun.jpg?o=10

Service wasn’t against military service itself.   He enlisted, at age 41,  despite being unfit, before being discharged. He later served as a war correspondent and as a stretcher bearer and ambulance driver with the American Red Cross. Reading this poem, it seems to me to have been prothetic, given that it was written at an early stage of the war, before some of the great war poetry was written by the likes of Rupert Brook[4], Wilfred Owen[5], and Siegfried Sasoon[6].

Why does this speak to me?

Having spent the greater part of my adult life in uniform, several tours of which were active service. Not in today’s context, but the no less dangerous environment of Northern Ireland.    Somewhere along the line, perhaps in the last two years of service, the call to serve in the vocation of military got lost somewhere.  I’m still trying to work out whether it was conscience or disilluison or just plain fatigue?  But somehow, sending more and more young men off to pointless wars seemed illogical and in the case of the second Iraq War, illegal.  We seemed to have gone to war purely on a fabrication of the existence of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Don’t get me wrong.  I am not ashamed of my service. I am proud to have served. I remain enormously proud of our armed services and the job that they are doing, and will continue to do.   I just know that I have somehow become a pacifist.

I became a Christian fairly late in this process, which I’m sure had some impact on my thought process. It was the start of a process of transformation which led to where I am now. With a new ‘call to serve’ but God, not war.  It’s started, where will it take me next?

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[1]^{http://www.churchofengland.org/clergy-office-holders/ministry/vocation.aspx}

[2]^{http://ukviewer.blogspot.com/}

[3]^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Service}

[4]^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Brooke}

[5]^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Owen}

[6]^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siegfried_Sassoon}