Journey Phase 2 · Exploring Candidate

Orientation to Ministry Group Discernment: Participant Guidebook

Your workbook for the five Orientation to Ministry group sessions: what to read and reflect on before each session, and what the group explores together.

A guided journey of discernment, formation, mentoring and vocation

The Journey

Orientation to Ministry Group Discernment is a step of candidacy formation, usually following the Candidacy Summit. Over five sessions, you will meet with a small discernment group and a facilitator to reflect on your story, your theology, and your sense of call - and to discern, together with the Church, the next faithful Step.

Session Focus Movement Date
1. My Story, My Call
How has my call unfolded?		 Life story, grace, gifts, calling Notice
2. Theology of Call
What does it mean to be called?		 Biblical and Theological foundations of vocation; God’s initiative, discipleship Understand
3. Calling Within the UMC
How does my call fit the UMC?		 Wesleyan theology and denominational identity Locate
4. Discerning Your Ministry Pathway
What form might my call take?		 Laity, elder, deacon, licensed local pastor, and other paths Explore
5. Responding to the Call: Readiness, Wholeness, and Next Steps
What would a faithful response mean?		 Readiness, realities, and next steps Respond

Following the zoom sessions you will have an individual meeting with your Orientation to Ministry facilitator.

A Prayer for Discernment

Gracious God, you call each of us by name and equip us with gifts for your service. Help us listen carefully to your Spirit and remain open to the ways you are shaping our lives. Give us wisdom to recognize our gifts, humility to receive the guidance of others, and courage to respond to your invitation. As we consider the many ways to serve, guide us toward the ministry through which we may most faithfully share your love with the world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Session 1 — My Story, My Call

How has my call unfolded throughout my life?

Before this Session

Calling

Which of these quotes on calling most resonates with you?

  1. "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman
  2. “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.” ~Frederick Buechner
  3. “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.” ~ John Wesley
  4. “Calling is not only a matter of being and doing what we are but also of becoming what we are not yet but are called by God to be.” ~ Os Guinness

1 Peter 2:9-10 – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God's own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. Once you weren't a people, but now you are God's people. Once you hadn't received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (CEB)

We often fail to understand that God calls every Christian into ministry. Most Christians look at the title of minister or priest as one held solely by those who are “licensed” or “ordained” – i.e., those with “Reverend” before their name. As we see in 1 Peter, however, followers of Jesus Christ are a “royal priesthood” – a doctrine that has come to be known as “the priesthood of all believers.” Through baptism everyone is called to a ministry of outreaching love, servanthood, and witness. We each have a role to play in God’s kin-dom.

Seeing Wesleyan Grace in Your Life

Wesley taught that grace is not a single moment but a movement — God at work in us before we know it, through the moment we turn toward God, and continuing across a lifetime of formation. Looking back at your life and service within the church you can trace this same movement in your own story.

  1. Prevenient Grace (God Seeks Us)
    What it is: The grace of God that goes before us, working in your life long before you are even aware of it.
    How it moves: It is the divine spark, conscience, and pull toward goodness that reaches out to you in daily life—calling out to you like the voice of Samuel or caring for you before you ever know to ask. It is the reason the UMC practices infant baptism, recognizing that God's love claims us first.

  2. Justifying Grace (God Saves Us)
    What it is: The pardoning, forgiving love of God received through Jesus Christ.
    How it moves: It acts as an open door into a new identity and a personal relationship with God. It is the moment you realize your worth is not earned through perfection, but accepted as a free gift of love—granting deep inner peace and the freedom of knowing you are fully embraced.

  3. Sanctifying Grace (God Shapes Us)
    What it is: The ongoing, lifelong work of the Holy Spirit inside you.
    How it moves: It empowers you to grow closer to God, heal from brokenness, serve others and become more like Jesus day by day. You cooperate with this movement through what Wesley called the means of grace—practices like communal worship, prayer, scripture reading, fasting, and acts of mercy and piety toward your neighbors.

Before Session 2

Session 2 — Theology of Call

What does it mean to be called?

What Does it Mean to be Called?

In Session 1, you began to tell the story of your call—the experiences, relationships, gifts, questions, and moments through which you have sensed God drawing you toward ministry.

This session takes the next step. Before asking, “What am I called to do?”, we pause to ask: “What do Christians mean when we say that God calls someone?”

Your call is personal, but it is not merely private. Christian vocation is understood within the larger story of God's work in the world, the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the movement of the Holy Spirit, and the community of faith. Today we will begin developing a theological framework for understanding your own call.

How God’s Call Takes Shape in Our Lives

Christian calling is more than choosing a role, career, or ministry position. It is a way of understanding how we respond to God's grace and participate in God's work in the world. As we reflect on calling, we can notice four movements that belong together.

The Whole Church Called to Serve

For the Church to thrive, there must be an active and engaged community of both laity and clergy, each responding to God's call to serve. While their roles and responsibilities may differ, both share in the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Through their unique gifts, experiences, and ministries, laity and clergy work together to strengthen the Church and extend God's love into their communities. Neither calling is more important than the other; both are essential to the life, witness, and mission of the Church.

LaityLayperson / Laity A member / members of a local church. - From laos, meaning "people of God," and used to describe members of a congregation or parish who have been called by God to actively participate in worship, service, and ministry. Laity can hold significant leadership roles (e.g. certified lay servant, lay minister) within the church. Laity can also bring servant leadership to their communities in other ways of witness, compassion and justice under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

ClergyClergy Commissioned and ordained deacons and elders; associate members, and local pastors serving under the full or part-time appointment of a bishop (¶142). - Members of the Church who have been set apart for a lifetime of service through licensed or ordained ministry. Clergy help form and equip Christian disciples in covenant community through spiritual formation and guidance for the work of the Holy Spirit that leads to truth, which liberates, and love, which reconciles.

Wesley’s Historic Questions

Wesley’s Historic Questions are found in the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline, ¶310.1d. They have long been used as a framework for examining character, faith, gifts, understanding, and fruitfulness in ministry. They’re organized into three areas:

These are not a test to pass. They are a mirror — a way to notice where God's grace is already at work in you, and where God may be inviting continued growth.

The full worksheet — Reflecting on Wesley's Historic Questions — is a separate document in your candidacy paperwork. It contains the full text of each question, reflection prompts for each of the three categories, and the guided prompts for your written reflection. Use the Reflecting on Wesley’s Historic Questions worksheet in your binder to help you write a brief reflection for your S/PPRC or equivalent body.

Before Session 3

Session 3 — Calling Within the United Methodist Church

How does my calling fit within the values, beliefs, and mission of the United Methodist Church?

Understanding Our United Methodist Identity

In Session 2, we explored the theology of calling and considered how God invites us, how we follow Christ, how the Holy Spirit forms us, and how the Church helps us discern our calling. We also reflected on Wesley's Historic Questions as a way of examining our faith, gifts, and fruitfulness in ministry.

This session invites us to consider another important dimension of discernment: Why The United Methodist Church?

God's call to ministry is rooted in the larger Christian faith, but we live out that calling within particular communities and traditions. Each Christian tradition brings its own theological emphases, practices, and understanding of how the Church participates in God's work.

As you explore your call, it is important not only to understand what United Methodists believe, but also to consider how those beliefs shape the way you understand God, the Church, and your own vocation.

A Wesleyan Understanding of Faith

The United Methodist Church is part of the worldwide Christian Church and draws upon the theological heritage of John and Charles Wesley and the Methodist movement.

At the heart of the Wesleyan tradition is the conviction that God's grace (prevenient, justifying and sanctifying) is actively at work in human lives and that faith is meant to be lived, practiced, and expressed through love of God and neighbor.

United Methodists understand theology as more than a collection of beliefs. Theology helps us interpret our experiences, grow in discipleship, and respond faithfully to the needs of the world.

Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience

United Methodists share the historic, biblical Christian faith while bringing particular emphases to the way we understand and practice it. Scripture is the primary source and criterion for Christian doctrine in the United Methodist tradition. We also draw upon the wisdom of Christian tradition, the gifts of reason, and our experiences of God's presence and activity.

Together, these resources help us reflect on our faith, interpret Scripture, engage difficult questions, and discern faithful responses to the world around us.

For those called to ministry, theological reflection is an ongoing responsibility. We are called not only to know what we believe but to consider how our beliefs shape our actions, relationships, and leadership.

Personal and Social Holiness

John Wesley understood holiness as both personal and social. Our relationship with God is inseparable from our relationships with others.

The Methodist movement has historically emphasized both works of piety and works of mercy as means through which we participate in God's transforming grace.

A Connectional Church

One of the distinctive characteristics of The United Methodist Church is its connectional nature.

United Methodist congregations do not exist as isolated communities. They are connected through shared doctrine, mission, leadership, resources, and accountability.

Our connectional system includes local churches, districts, annual conferences, jurisdictional and central conferences, and the General Conference. Through these relationships, United Methodists seek to accomplish together what individual congregations cannot accomplish alone.

Connectionalism is more than an organizational structure. It expresses a theological conviction that we belong to one another and share responsibility for the mission of the Church.

This connection also shapes ministry leadership. United Methodist clergy serve within relationships of covenant and accountability, and many forms of ministry involve discernment, preparation, and affirmation by the wider Church.

The Mission of the United Methodist Church

“To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

This mission is at the center of United Methodist identity. It reminds us that the purpose of the Church is not simply to maintain an institution, but to participate in God's transforming work. Making disciples involves inviting people into a relationship with Christ, nurturing spiritual growth, forming Christian community, and equipping people to live out their faith. Transformation of the world reminds us that discipleship extends beyond the walls of the church. Our faith calls us to acts of compassion, mercy, justice, service, and witness in our communities. United Methodist ministry seeks to hold together the proclamation of the gospel and the practice of Christian love.

Our General Rules

The Methodist tradition has long emphasized three General Rules that help guide the Christian life:

  1. Do no harm. Recognize how our actions affect others and seek to avoid causing harm.
  2. Do good. Actively seek opportunities to demonstrate God's love through mercy, compassion, and justice.
  3. Attend upon the ordinances of God. Participate faithfully in the means of grace, including worship, prayer, Scripture, the Lord's Supper, and other spiritual practices.

These rules offer a practical framework for living out our calling in everyday life.

Called to Serve Within the United Methodist Church

In Session 2, we explored the shared ministry of laity and clergy. Within The United Methodist Church, there are many ways to respond to God's call, including lay leadership, specialized ministries, licensed pastoral ministry, and ordained ministry.

The Church recognizes that God gives different gifts and calls people to different forms of service. Discerning a call involves exploring not only what we feel drawn to do, but also how our gifts, experiences, theological convictions, and the needs of the Church come together.

For those exploring licensed or ordained ministry, this discernment includes understanding the distinctive responsibilities and commitments of United Methodist clergy.

These may include:

The question is not simply whether you feel called to ministry, but how your calling connects with the particular mission, theology, and commitments of The United Methodist Church. Calling is also about discovering who God is forming us to become and the community with whom we are called to serve.

Before Session 4

Session 4 — Discerning Your Ministry Pathway

How is God calling me to serve, and what form might that ministry take within the United Methodist Church?

From Calling to Ministry Pathway

In our previous sessions, we explored the story of your call, developed a theological understanding of Christian vocation, and considered how your calling connects with the beliefs, values, and mission of The United Methodist Church.

Now we turn toward a more specific question: What form might your calling take within the life and ministry of the Church?

The United Methodist Church recognizes that God calls people into many forms of ministry. Some serve through lay leadership, while others are called to licensed or ordained ministry. Each pathway carries particular responsibilities, opportunities, commitments, and relationships with the wider Church.

Discerning a ministry pathway is more than selecting a role that matches your interests or abilities. It involves listening for God's invitation, recognizing your gifts, understanding the needs of the Church and the world, and remaining open to the wisdom of others.

This session is an opportunity to explore these pathways, learn from those already serving, and consider how your understanding of calling is taking shape.

One Calling, Many Expressions of Ministry

All Christians share in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Through baptism, we are called to participate in God's work of love, reconciliation, justice, and transformation.

Within this shared calling, God equips people with different gifts and invites them into different forms of service.

The United Methodist Church recognizes both the ministry of the laity and the particular ministries of those who are licensed, commissioned, or ordained. These forms of ministry are not arranged according to spiritual importance. Rather, they reflect different responsibilities, commitments, and ways of serving the Church and the world.

As you discern, consider not simply which pathway appeals to you, but how your gifts, experiences, convictions, and sense of calling connect with the particular work of each ministry.

Understanding the Ministry Pathways

Before this session, you reviewed the ministry pathway descriptions in your candidacy materials. Let's consider the distinctive nature of each pathway.

Lay Ministry — Called to Serve in Everyday Life

Laypeople are called to active discipleship and leadership within the Church and the world. Some serve in formal leadership roles, while others express their calling through their professions, communities, families, and acts of witness and service.

Certified lay servants, certified lay speakers, and certified lay ministers are among the recognized forms of lay leadership in The United Methodist Church.

Lay ministry reminds us that the work of the Church extends far beyond the responsibilities of clergy.

Licensed Local Pastor — Called to Pastoral Leadership

Licensed local pastorsLicensed Local Pastor Someone who is not ordained as an elder or deacon but is appointed to preach, conduct worship, and perform the duties of a pastor in a particular setting. That person must complete licensing school, Orientation to Ministry, and receive an appointment to serve. Local pastors attend Course of Study school each year and meet with the district committee on ministry annually for continual approval and eligibility. Local pastors are not required to earn a Master’s of Divinity, or to itinerate, are not guaranteed an appointment, and usually serve smaller congregations (¶315-320). are called to pastoral ministry and are authorized to carry out pastoral responsibilities within their appointment.

Their ministry may include preaching, teaching, providing pastoral care, leading congregations, and administering the sacraments within the authority of their appointment.

Licensed local pastors serve through the appointment system and are accountable to the annual conference through its established processes. They are not ordained, and their ministerial authority is connected to their license and appointment.

Deacon — Called to Word, Service, Compassion, and Justice

DeaconsDeacon Deacons are called by God, authorized by the church, and ordained by a bishop to a lifetime ministry of Word, Service, Compassion, and Justice. They serve the community and congregation in a ministry that connects the two. Deacons are called to a lifetime of servant leadership, serving the congregation and the world. A deacon serves all people, particularly the poor, the sick, and the marginalized, and equips and leads the laity in ministries of compassion, justice, and service. The deacon’s role connects the church’s worship with its service in the world (¶328-331). are ordained to a ministry of Word, Service, Compassion, and Justice.

Their calling emphasizes connecting the Church with the needs, concerns, and struggles of the world. Deacons help the Church recognize and respond to suffering, injustice, and opportunities for transformative service.

Deacons may serve in congregations, community organizations, healthcare settings, educational institutions, or other specialized ministries. Their ministry often creates bridges between the gathered Church and the wider community.

Elder — Called to Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service

EldersElder Those called by God, authorized by the church, and ordained by a bishop to a lifetime ministry of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service. Like all Christians, elders are committed to a lifetime of service, although this service manifests itself in different ways than deacons or the laity. The elder serves in ministry and servant leadership and gives pastoral leadership to order the life of the congregation. Elders devote themselves to the ministry of the Word, including primary responsibility for preaching and teaching the Word of God (¶332-335). are ordained to a ministry of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service.

Their responsibilities include preaching and teaching the gospel, administering the sacraments, ordering the life of the Church, providing pastoral leadership, and equipping others for discipleship and mission.

Elders serve in covenant with the annual conference and participate in the itinerantItinerate Indicates an elder, associate member, or local pastor agrees to serve where the bishop appoints. This system is called itineracy. Often “itineracy”, “guaranteed appointment” or “security of appointment” are discussed as parts of this system that is the basis of the commitment between the church and clergy who serve. appointment system, offering themselves for service according to the needs of the Church.

An important distinction: These pathways are not simply steps on a ladder toward ordination. Licensed local pastoral ministry, the order of deacon, and the order of elder each have their own character, responsibilities, and requirements.

Discernment is not about finding the most impressive role or the pathway with the greatest responsibility. It is about discovering where your gifts, the needs of the world, the wisdom of the Church, and God's invitation come together.

The path may become clear gradually. You may discover that your calling is different from what you first imagined. You may also find that the questions you are asking today are preparing you for ministry in ways you do not yet recognize. As you consider the different pathways before you, what might faithful openness to God's call look like in this season of your life?

Before Session 5

As we prepare for our final session, we will shift our attention toward the personal, relational, and practical skills needed for healthy and sustainable ministry. Consider not only where God may be calling you, but also how God is continuing to form and equip you for that calling.

Session 5 — Responding to the Call: Readiness, Wholeness, and Next Steps

How is God calling me to serve, and what form might that ministry take within the United Methodist Church?

Bringing Our Journey Together

Over the past four sessions, we have explored what it means to hear, understand, and respond to God's call to ministry.

We began by telling our stories and noticing the people, experiences, and moments through which God may have been speaking. We explored the theology of Christian calling and considered how God's grace, the example of Jesus Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the community of faith shape our vocation.

We then examined the distinctive beliefs, mission, and practices of The United Methodist Church and considered how our individual callings connect with this larger community. Most recently, we explored different ministry pathways, listened to the experiences of those already serving, and reflected on the commitments of licensed and ordained ministry.

Throughout this journey, we have returned to an important understanding: Calling is not simply about what we want to do. It is about who God is forming us to become and how we respond faithfully to God's invitation.

In this final session, we turn our attention toward readiness, health, and the practical realities of ministry. We will consider the personal and relational skills that help sustain effective ministry and reflect on what our next faithful step might be.

Called and Continually Formed

A sense of calling is an important beginning, but it does not mean we are already prepared for every responsibility ministry may bring. Ministry requires more than theological knowledge, spiritual gifts, or a desire to help others. It also calls for emotional maturity, healthy relationships, good judgment, self-awareness, adaptability, and a willingness to continue learning.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that God gives different gifts for building up the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12). These gifts are exercised within relationships and communities where love, patience, humility, and mutual care matter.

The process of preparation for ministry is not simply about meeting requirements. It is about becoming a person who can serve others with wisdom, integrity, compassion, and faithfulness.

Reflection: When you think about the person God is forming you to become, what qualities do you hope will characterize your ministry?

Emotional Intelligence: Leading with Self-Awareness and Compassion

Emotional intelligence, often called EQ, is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions while also recognizing and responding thoughtfully to the emotions of others. Pastors and ministry leaders encounter people in moments of celebration, uncertainty, conflict, grief, disappointment, and crisis. They also navigate their own emotions while carrying significant responsibilities. Emotional intelligence does not mean avoiding difficult feelings or always remaining calm. It means developing the awareness and skills to respond intentionally rather than simply reacting.

Five Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence

  1. Self-Awareness — Understanding Myself. Recognizing our emotions, strengths, limitations, assumptions, and the ways our experiences shape our responses. Self-aware leaders notice what triggers defensiveness, anxiety, frustration, or fear and remain open to feedback.
  2. Self-Regulation — Responding Rather Than Reacting. Learning to manage emotional responses, particularly during stress or conflict. This includes pausing before speaking, exercising good judgment, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and taking responsibility when we make mistakes.
  3. Motivation — Understanding What Drives Me. Recognizing the values, commitments, and desires that shape our leadership. In ministry, this includes examining whether our actions are guided by love and service or by a need for approval, recognition, control, or success.
  4. Empathy — Understanding the Experiences of Others. Listening with curiosity and compassion, recognizing that others may experience situations differently, and responding with sensitivity without assuming we fully understand their circumstances.
  5. Social Skills — Building Healthy Relationships. Communicating clearly, navigating disagreement, working collaboratively, building trust, and helping people move through challenges together.

These skills can be developed through reflection, practice, feedback, mentoring, and experience.

Emotional Intelligence in Ministry

Consider the following situation:

A church member approaches you after worship and says, "I don't think you really care about the people in this congregation. You never listen to us." Your immediate response might be hurt, defensiveness, anger, or a desire to explain yourself. Emotional intelligence invites us to notice those feelings without allowing them to determine our response.

Group Conversation

  1. What emotions might you experience in this situation?
  2. How might self-awareness help you respond?
  3. What could empathy help you recognize about the other person?
  4. How might you respond in a way that preserves dignity and opens the possibility for constructive conversation?

Emotional intelligence does not mean agreeing with every criticism or avoiding accountability. It helps us engage difficult situations with greater wisdom and care.

Other Essential Skills for Healthy Ministry

While emotional intelligence provides an important foundation, effective ministry also requires a range of practical and relational skills.

  1. Communication and Active Listening - Ministry involves communicating with people of different backgrounds, ages, experiences, and perspectives. Good communication includes the ability to speak clearly, listen attentively, ask thoughtful questions, and recognize what may remain unspoken. Listening is especially important in pastoral care. Sometimes the most faithful response is not to offer an answer, but to create space for another person to be heard.
  2. Conflict Navigation - Disagreement is a normal part of life in community. Healthy leaders learn to address conflict without avoiding difficult conversations or escalating tensions. This involves understanding different perspectives, communicating expectations, establishing boundaries, and working toward resolution when possible. Not every conflict can be resolved, but leaders can seek to respond with integrity, fairness, and respect.
  3. Adaptability and Resilience - Ministry rarely unfolds exactly as planned. Congregations change, unexpected needs arise, and leaders encounter situations for which they may feel unprepared. Adaptability involves responding thoughtfully to changing circumstances. Resilience involves developing the support, practices, and perspective needed to recover from challenges and continue serving. Resilience is not the ability to endure unlimited demands. It includes recognizing when rest, support, or a change in expectations is necessary.
  4. Collaboration and Shared Leadership - Pastors are not called to do everything themselves. Healthy ministry involves recognizing the gifts of others, developing leaders, sharing responsibilities, and working collaboratively. This is particularly important within The United Methodist Church, where clergy and laity share responsibility for the Church's mission.

Ethical Leadership and Healthy Boundaries

Ministry involves relationships of trust and responsibility. Leaders must be attentive to confidentiality, appropriate boundaries, power dynamics, and the impact of their decisions on others. Healthy boundaries help protect both the people we serve and our own well-being. They allow us to be compassionate without assuming responsibility for meeting every need. Ethical leadership also requires knowing when to seek supervision, consultation, or professional assistance.

Personal Reflection: Which of these skills do you recognize as strengths? Which would you like to develop as you continue preparing for ministry?

Health and Wholeness: Caring for the Whole Person.

Ministry involves the whole person—body, mind, relationships, emotions, time, energy, and spiritual life. The demands of ministry can be meaningful and life-giving, but they can also be emotionally, physically, and spiritually challenging. Pastors may accompany people through grief, conflict, trauma, illness, and significant life transitions while also managing the ordinary responsibilities of leadership. Caring for our own well-being is not a distraction from ministry. It is part of developing the capacity to serve faithfully over time. The biblical pattern of Sabbath reminds us that human beings are not created for endless productivity. Rest, renewal, and dependence upon God are part of faithful living.

Practices That Sustain Healthy Ministry

  1. Spiritual Health: Maintaining practices of prayer, worship, Scripture, Sabbath, and spiritual reflection that nurture our relationship with God beyond our professional responsibilities.
  2. Emotional Health: Recognizing our emotions, identifying sources of stress, and seeking appropriate support when needed.
  3. Physical Health: Attending to rest, nutrition, movement, and medical needs.
  4. Relational Health: Nurturing relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and others who know us beyond our ministry roles.
  5. Healthy Boundaries: Recognizing our limitations, establishing appropriate expectations, and learning when to say yes, no, or not now.
  6. Support and Accountability: Developing relationships with mentors, peers, spiritual directors, counselors, and others who can offer guidance and encouragement.

We do not enter ministry as people who have mastered every aspect of health and wholeness. We enter as people who are continually learning to care for ourselves and others with grace and wisdom.

Financial Literacy: Understanding the Practical Realities of Ministry

Financial considerations are also part of faithful vocational discernment. Ministry pathways involve different educational requirements, employment arrangements, compensation structures, and benefits. These realities may affect not only the individual responding to a call but also their household and long-term financial well-being. Considering financial realities does not diminish the spiritual nature of calling. It helps us approach important decisions with wisdom, honesty, and responsibility.

Areas to Consider

  1. Education and Preparation: What educational requirements and associated expenses are involved in the pathway I am considering?
  2. Debt and Financial Obligations: How might existing debt or future educational expenses affect my choices?
  3. Compensation and Benefits: What should I understand about salary, housing, health insurance, retirement, and other benefits associated with different forms of ministry?
  4. Household Considerations: How might ministry affect my family, partner, dependents, or other financial responsibilities?
  5. Financial Stewardship: What habits of budgeting, saving, planning, and financial accountability will help me serve responsibly?
  6. Long-Term Sustainability: What financial questions should I explore before making significant educational or vocational commitments?

The financial circumstances of ministry vary considerably by appointment, ministry setting, conference policies, and clergy status. Learning to ask informed questions is an important part of preparation.

Financial health is also an important part of leading by example, as practicing responsible stewardship of our personal resources reflects the integrity, accountability, and wisdom we are called to demonstrate in ministry.

Discernment Is an Ongoing Process

Throughout these sessions, we have emphasized that discernment is not simply about reaching a decision as quickly as possible. It involves prayer, theological reflection, learning, experience, honest self-examination, and the wisdom of the Church. You may have begun this journey with a clear sense of the ministry pathway you wanted to pursue. Perhaps that conviction has grown stronger. Perhaps your understanding has changed. Or perhaps you now have more questions than when you began.

All of these experiences can be part of faithful discernment.

After Session 5 — Continuing Your Discernment

Although our five sessions have concluded, your journey of discernment continues. Take time to reflect on what you have learned and identify how you will respond faithfully to God's call.

Remember, discernment is not about having every answer or proving that you are ready. It is about remaining open to God's grace, the wisdom of the Church, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Schedule a Follow-Up Meeting: Contact your Orientation to Ministry facilitator to schedule a meeting after Session 5. During this meeting, you will review your report summarizing your participation and reflections throughout the orientation process, discuss your continuing discernment, growth agenda and identify the next steps in your candidacy journey.

Closing Prayer

Gracious God, you have been present throughout our stories, before we recognized your presence. Continue to guide us as we discern your call. Give us courage to say yes, freedom to say no, patience to live with maybe, and wisdom to recognize the next faithful step. Form us in love of you and love of neighbor, and help us trust the work of your grace. Amen.