St. Lawrence Lounge (Vocations, lay-ministries, and discernment)

alexier

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As someone within your age range who has been going through the discernment process for ordination for just over a year now, I can say that clarity in procedures is very helpful. Whether you are discerning a call to religious life or ordination, there is a great deal of uncertainty in the process in terms of figuring out what the future might look like. That is find, but when the discernment procedure itself is shrouded in mystery, that can become very complicated.

When taking someone on, they need to know clearly who they can discuss matters with on a regular basis if they have questions, and preferably the entire discernment process should be made clear early on.

Those are the two things that would have been nice for me, as my entire process has been taking place during a time of organizational transition in my diocese, so much of my procedure has seemed ad hoc, and has been different than other postulants and deacons I know.

Thank you so much for this...I've been talking to a New Principal who wholeheartedly agrees that we need to look at what peoples future should look like. To have a direction over a certain set of years (say :- Over 7 years this is what'll happen, this is the possible shape of ministry) I know many will argue that it doesn't allow for the Holy Spirit but actually it does because the clarity of training for Ordinands or those looking at Lay ministry means the Holy Spirit flow freely when its not having to sort through procedural matters lol
 
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Paidiske

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Oh my goodness I TOTALLY agree...when I went through the process it was almost as if we weren't allowed to know what happens next in anything so I can see why you (and others) would want to have some clear direction for formation! Ridiculous isn it?

The problem I had was that I was the first ordination candidate ever to fall pregnant at my college, so they had never thought about it and had no idea how to handle my need for some flexibility. So instead they kicked me out until after my daughter was born. Talk about ridiculous...

Does your diocese have something like a "Year of Discernment" programme? I found that enormously valuable.
 
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Feuerbach

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Good morning (well, it's morning here in the US),

I would like to ask everyone's prayers. I have been pretty quiet about it and I'll try to keep this short, but at the Synod of the Diocese of Mid-America of the Anglican Province of America (APA) July 28-29 the Diocesan Standing Committee will be voting on whether to approve me to be ordained to the (transitional) diaconate. I was previously recommended by my vicar (who is also the bishop) and approved by the Vestry of my parish earlier this year.

Thank you all.
 
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Feuerbach

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:) Excellent, Feuerbach.

Have you finished all of your studies, or do you still have the last part to slog through?

The short answer is that I went to seminary about 10 years ago and at the end of it; ended the process toward ordination. This is a picking up where I left off kind of thing.
 
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Walsinghsm Way

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Baruch Hashem, y'all

Has anyone here gone through discernment process for the OPA (Anglican Dominicans) I have begun exploring that form of spirituality as a 'corrective' to my Eastern leanings and as a complementary exercise to my desire to earn. M.A. Theology from a distance learning RCC that focuses on Thomistic philosophy (and theology), and wanted to see if I was alone in this exploration.

Thanks
 
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Shane R

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Baruch Hashem, y'all

Has anyone here gone through discernment process for the OPA (Anglican Dominicans) I have begun exploring that form of spirituality as a 'corrective' to my Eastern leanings and as a complementary exercise to my desire to earn. M.A. Theology from a distance learning RCC that focuses on Thomistic philosophy (and theology), and wanted to see if I was alone in this exploration.

Thanks
My jurisdiction's affiliate monastic order is Cistercian: Home

Abbot Oscar would likely refer you to St. Stephen Harding Theological College & Seminary: St. Stephen Harding Theological College and Seminary
 
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Walsinghsm Way

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I should perhaps localize myself. I am (currently) a member of The Episcopal Church, worshipping at Church of Our Saviour, Atlanta (in the Diocese of Atlanta) though finding myself out of lockstep with the direction that faith and order has taken in my Church of late.

The OPA as canonical recognized is a dispersed apostolic order committed to the spirit of St Dominic as to preaching the scripture unto salvation of souls. Full membership is open to those baprized (and confirmed?) into the Episcopal Church , or are in communion with TEC/Canterbury, but associate and oblaate membership has no such restrictions.
 
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alexier

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Update: the diocesan standing committee has approved my candidacy and ordination to the transitional diaconate (no date set yet). :)
I was just going to ask about an update....fab news and I hope all is going well with you!
 
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Paidiske

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For those here who are priests or deacons, how did you discern which of the orders you were called to.

It took a long time, for me. Even though I applied for ordination as a priest, when I did so, I did have the thought in mind that I wasn't sure whether the distinctive diaconate was right, and I might not proceed to priesthood. (It's easier to apply for priesthood and not go ahead, than to apply for the diaconate and later convince them to priest you after all, if that makes sense).

I think part of it for me was the process of doing field placements and so forth and seeing how those roles functioned in real life on the ground. In theory, I think I could have felt fulfilled in my vocation as a deacon. In practice, the church (at least where I am) doesn't really seem to know what to do with distinctive deacons, and meaningful roles are few and far between. So partly for me it was a pragmatic decision about where I would actually be able to contribute in a way that used all my gifts and strengths.
 
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Arcangl86

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It took a long time, for me. Even though I applied for ordination as a priest, when I did so, I did have the thought in mind that I wasn't sure whether the distinctive diaconate was right, and I might not proceed to priesthood. (It's easier to apply for priesthood and not go ahead, than to apply for the diaconate and later convince them to priest you after all, if that makes sense).

I think part of it for me was the process of doing field placements and so forth and seeing how those roles functioned in real life on the ground. In theory, I think I could have felt fulfilled in my vocation as a deacon. In practice, the church (at least where I am) doesn't really seem to know what to do with distinctive deacons, and meaningful roles are few and far between. So partly for me it was a pragmatic decision about where I would actually be able to contribute in a way that used all my gifts and strengths.
And I think that's part of what I am currently struggling with. I'm still struggling with some questions of vocation, but part of it is definitely the same issue of the Church still being uncertain about the role of a permanent deacon. It's changing, but for now it's an order that is primarly made up of people who are retired from secular vocations.
 
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Paidiske

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Most of the distinctive deacons I know who've really made it work have taken up chaplaincy roles. Hospital, prison or school work, rather than being based in a parish.

Once I'd discerned that I definitely felt called to parish work rather than chaplaincy, I didn't see a future for a vibrant ministry as a distinctive deacon in that setting. Not with things the way they are now.
 
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Deegie

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For those here who are priests or deacons, how did you discern which of the orders you were called to.

For me, it was really two things which did it. The first was realizing early on as a LEM that I belonged behind the altar. That it just felt right. This was actually one of the experiences which first led me toward discernment for holy orders.

The second was an analysis of the actual tasks which I felt God was calling me to perform. They were primarily preaching, teaching, blessing, liturgical leadership, and parish administration...all of these are more part of the priestly calling than the diaconal one. If those tasks had been more in the realm of outreach, caring for the least and the lost, and other service ministries, then perhaps my discernment process would have been different.
 
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