God Calling
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This exploration of the discernment and selection processes of the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland is based substantially on the policy document known as “God Calling”. God Calling is intended as a comprehensive overview of the process of Vocational Discernment for Ordained Ministry in the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland.
This document sets out the process of Vocational Discernment and Formation and will guide you as you follow your call to ministry. As you do so, you will work in partnership with the church, in order to receive guidance and support, and submit your sense of call to the discernment of the church. Whether this 'testing of vocation' results in affirmation of your ministry as a layperson, or in ordination as a deacon or priest, may God richly bless you in and through it.
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Initially this document is best read in discussion with the priest in the parish or ministry community you are apart. This may lead you to contact the Clergy Development, Training and Wellbeing Team who will assist you into the next appropriate steps.
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”God Calling” has gone through a series of editions and reviews with input from various sources and under the direction of various Directors of Discernment.
The Anglican church in Southern Queensland (ACSQ) gratefully acknowledges assistance in the preparation of this material from the Diocese of Adelaide, the late Canon Lyall Turley, formerly of the Diocese of Brisbane, the Dioceses of New York and Massachusetts, Commission on Ministry, Ministry Discernment Handbook and the Church of England Ministry Division.
“Our ordained leaders will need to be mission-focused, imaginative, collaborative, and adaptive.”
COMPREHENSIVE ANGLICANISM
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“The ACSQ embraces and celebrates Anglican comprehensiveness as central to our identity as a Diocese of the Anglican Church of Australia. This means that our clergy, people and faith communities reflect the breadth of Anglican theology and liturgical style. We seek ordained leaders who reflect this diversity, and who can work collaboratively and generously with people who may express their faith and ministry differently. Our ministry leaders need to empower congregations to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in ways that speak to the varied and emerging missional contexts of our communities. ”
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Compelling spiritual life and a passion for the Gospel
We seek clergy who love God with heart, mind, and soul, and who desire to respond to the spiritual hunger in the culture at large and in our congregations. We seek clergy who have a vision for ministry which reflects the Anglican Church’s distinctive character and who can guide our people to greater faithfulness and spiritual depth; clergy who have both a deep reverence for the sacraments at the heart of our liturgical life and a sacramental worldview.scription text goes here
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Spiritual maturity, self-awareness, and authenticity:
We seek clergy who have a strong Christ-centred spirituality, physical and mental stamina, healthy personal boundaries, and a willingness to grow and learn alongside others. We seek clergy who are able to persevere in challenging circumstances, recognize their personal growth edges, and are willing to learn new skills and ask for help.
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Ability to communicate the Gospel in ways that people and communities find engaging and relevant to their lives: We seek clergy who connect with others and spark their curiosity from the pulpit, in personal conversation, and in emergent media. We seek clergy who are called to minister in a wide variety of contexts and engage people of all ages.
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The ability to lead congregations through change:
We seek clergy who will lead our congregations through the uncertainty of changing parish life, to the mission fields to which God is now calling us. This requires a process of transformation on the journey, as well as the ability to adapt to new ways of being the Church. We seek clergy who are able to show the way, in faithfulness to God’s call and in the challenging work of change.
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A willingness and ability to be vocationally flexible:
Our churches are in a variety of contexts in a variety of locations with a variety of needs. We seek clergy who are able to respond to this variety with their own flexibility. In addition, a growing number of congregations require clergy leaders who do not depend on them for their entire livelihood. Thus, we seek some priests who can offer their presence and their gifts as priests in a part-time or non-stipendiary capacity. We seek clergy who will demonstrate flexibility in their vision of professional ministry in order to respond to God’s call to them and the church in our world.
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A capacity for reflective/reflexive practice:
Clergy must show a willingness and capacity for engaging a reflective/reflexive practices. Reflective practice is essential in complex environments and for a the future of the church we cannot yet see. These practices are integral elements of formation, spiritual development and ongoing professional review. A requirement of holding a license includes compulsory elements of Supervision and Ministry review and in the future on going professional development. Those considering their call for ordination will need to take seriously their capacity for the self awareness, openness to the views of others and the ability to integrate learning into ministry that these reflective practice require.
