Ministry Discernment

What is Ministry?

Every member of the Church is called to be a minister. We minister when the Church gathers as the Community of Faith and also when the Church scatters to be the salt of the earth and light to the world in a myriad of different ways.

The people of God are sent on mission to the people next door, or on the other side of the world. That mission embraces evangelism, nurture, service to those in need, the transformation of unjust social structures and the care of God's creation. We are equipped for mission with the gifts of the Spirit for ministry.

Some are called to mission and ministry in a lay ministry role. Some are called to mission and ministry in an ordained ministry role.

The ordained ministry of bishops, priests and deacons exists to lead and enable the ministry and mission of all the Church, our life together, and the worship of the God who calls us.

All ministry should be a partnership:

• Of those called into different aspects of the Church's mission
• Of those with different gifts for ministry.
• Of those who are ordained with those who are not.

Exploring your Sense of God's call to Ordination

Those entering into the discernment process will have been actively part of the life and ministry of a Parish or Mission Unit for at least two years, and are introduced to the process when the Director of Ordinands receives a recommendation from their Vicar or Priest in Charge.

We operate a thorough discernment process prior to someone being accepted into training for ordained ministry. This enables an exploration of the sense of God's call upon their life and includes six criteria covering Character, Charism, Call, Capacity, Commitment and Culture.

This period of exploration with the Director of Ordinands will take at least a year and by embarking on it, candidates are calling upon the Church for its guidance and support, and also submitting their sense of call to the discernment of the Church. We hold a discernment and selection weekend for candidates, based on a marae, once a year.

Whether this testing of vocation leads to affirmation of ministry as a lay person or in ordination as a deacon or priest, we pray that it will be a time when God richly blesses and directs you.

Discernment Process information updated June 2015        pdf file

For further information contact:

Director of Ordinands: Reverend Canon Simon Winn
Telephone: 04 472 0286
Email