Fostering vocations
We recognize that this will raise real
challenges, when it is precisely over the
nature of the sacred ministry that the
split will have occurred. However, part of
Any new province or jurisdiction will need to have
the purpose of any new jurisdiction is to
a clear policy on the nurturing of vocations to its ministry
remain within the CofE and not to set up
Ann Turner outlines the proposals of the FiF Working Party the structures for a continuing church;
if that had been the intention, we could
have done it years ago. We should not,
T
he task we were given was to pro- line-managing colleagues whose task is therefore, re-create what already exists;
duce a select number of propos- to help candidates explore vocation to this would only waste time, energy and
als for the fostering of vocations particular ministries within the Church money.
in the light of a possible new province. of God, be they lay or ordained. We should continue to use, work with
We chose six priorities, two immediate, A similar attitude was urged upon all and hopefully contribute to Ministry
two medium-term and two more general parish priests, that they should be open to Division for much of the necessary regu-
themes. If it reads a little as though it were a whole range of vocations for their laity lation, discernment, and so on. We would
devised by a committee, I suppose that’s – to encourage and enable the effective send our candidates to at least some of the
because it was; these ideas were thor- ministry of each member of the parish same theological colleges and courses,
oughly worked over by a group of people (and not merely steer a few towards ordi- relying on our own (scaled-down) ver-
with strong views and commitment. nation). sion of the Archbishops’ Inspections to
If this principle is accepted, then it is ensure they provide what we required.
A wider brief worth beginning now, with a recognized The most difficult task in such shared
To oversee and organize the formal FiF Director of Vocations. This would arrangements will be the sustaining of
discernment of vocations, we advocate show the rest of the church that we can our own enquirers and candidates over a
the Roman model of a Director of Voca- do imaginative work, and it would set the number of years in a possibly hostile envi-
tions in overall charge, with a Director patterns ready for the new jurisdiction. ronment: we will clearly have to provide
of Ordinands under him. To show we are serious, the first appoint- some of our own teaching and formation
The CofE’s structures for recruitment ment should not be a priest; and if pos- over and above the shared provision. The
and selection of ministers reflect the way sible, it should be someone who could advantage is that we would not have to
in which it has only recently moved to join the existing Church House team of create entirely separate structures, and
acknowledge a wider variety of minis- Selection Secretaries. A bit of plotting that we could have an influence upon the
tries than those of the ordained. Some and planning will be necessary. rest of the CofE.
ministries are within the scope of dioc- This has important evangelistic impli-
esan recruitment, e.g. ordained ministry, The women question cations. Recognizing that we will not get
including a permanent diaconate, and Are there to be women deacons in the all our vocations to the priesthood from
Reader ministry; others are not, strictly new province? within our own constituency alone, we
speaking, the responsibility of a diocese The issue of women’s vocations is a will be relying on, and tested by, our abil-
at all. The Church Army is responsible serious one. However, FiF and the PEVs ity to persuade others in the two existing
for its own recruitment and selection, must initially face the more immediate provinces, who are as yet unaware of our
as are other mission agencies. Religious issue of women deacons. We recognize convictions. This has already occurred,
communities are also independent. that (a) most would rather not do so, and by God’s grace will continue to do
The post of Diocesan Director of and (b) opposition to and antagonism so.
Ordinands (DDO) is well established, towards women deacons has increased
as may be that of Warden of Readers. within the constituency, not decreased, The religious life
More recently, some dioceses have begun since 1992. We must take the religious life more
appointing Vocations Advisors who may It may be that women deacons are not seriously than we have done in the
seek to act as a coordinating influence, to be part of the new jurisdiction, but it is recent past.
reminding potential candidates of the crucial that this issue is resolved openly We are keen to establish the impor-
variety of ways that their ministry might and honestly, so that we can consider the tance of the religious life within any new
be expressed. wider question, ‘To what ministries will province, and therefore the serious con-
At present Vocations Advisors are gen- God call women in the new province?’ sideration of the religious life at every
erally appointed on a part-time basis and Dodging the issue of women deacons stage of fostering and discerning voca-
find themselves line-managed by a sti- in order to keep the peace is most unwise: tions. Despite the fact that such voca-
pendiary DDO. The function of recruit- it plays into the hands of all those who tions are more specific (to a particular
ment is too often left to the DDO, with suspect we are no more than a cover community) than, say, the priesthood,
the consequence that candidates have organization for misogyny. The issue is they should be encouraged as a matter
to pass through the hands of the DDO not about the existing women deacons of course. Some of this work will fall to
before being able to consider any non- (few in number) but the future integrity RooT (Religious of orthodox Tradition),
ordained ministry. This inevitably gener- of those who foster vocations, and the but much of it must also be shared by
ates a sense that the DDO is sifting out coherence of their programme. those with direct responsibility for voca-
the best candidates for the ministry with tions.
which he/she is especially concerned, and Shared institutions The Catholic wing often pays lip serv-
passing the less promising candidates to As a continuing part of the Church of ice to the religious communities, but they
others. England, it is important that we share are rarely in the forefront of thinking or
It would seem sensible for a Director many of the existing structures of Can- planning, in teaching material about the
of Vocations to occupy the senior role, terbury and York. faith, or in the presentation of options
April 2008
■
newdirections
■
15
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36