If you’re as sure as you can be that you feel called to ordained ministry in the Church of England, you’re probably wondering what to do next. We suggest you pray, read and talk to help keep your calling moving forward.  

It will help you to explore and to reflect more deeply on your sense of call.  This is a lengthy process, and you mustn’t rush it! What can be more important than discovering what God has in store for you—for his glory, and for the good of his Church.

Every year, vocations events are held all over the country, including our annual Vocations Conference and our new CALL WAITING... conference. More information is in the booklet Vocations Events, available from the Ministry Division.

And please feel free to get in touch with us at the Ministry Division.

PRAY	READ	TALK
Spend time in prayer, asking God for the guidance of his Holy Spirit. Ask to be given the grace to be open to whatever God may be calling you to do, and the courage to say Yes to that call. We’ve compiled some prayers to help you.	It’s essential that you read as much as you can, so we’ve compiled a reading list to help you. One of the signs of a vocation is that it is well-informed—and for it to be informed, you need to gain some understanding of what it is you feel called to do. For instance, if you have a calling to ordained ministry, you’ll need to have done some reading on what that is and what you’d do. And to have done some reading on all the criteria for selection will be of enormous help.	You’ll need to talk to a lot of people about discerning your calling: Your first port of call should normally be your parish priest or chaplain. They will put you in touch with a vocations adviser  or the diocesan director of ordinands (DDO), who will want to talk about your life journey so far in quite a bit of depth. In the course of exploring your vocation, you’ll probably meet other people exploring theirs. Spend time sharing with them and listening—it can help you to reflect on God’s presence and calling in your own life in a new way. If you can, share your thoughts with your family and friends. They know you well—sometimes better than you know yourself— and will be quick to tell you whether they think this is the wrong idea or, more likely, that your vocation comes as no surprise to them. Family and friends can be a source of wonderful support and encouragement in your vocational journey, but it is understood that not everyone has that support.

We’ve compiled some links to other websites which you may find helpful.

is a great way to explore your calling. Check out our list of recommended reading, or ask around.

We’ve collected together some prayers relating to vocation.

Visit the Church of England website.